Muzaffargarh is a city in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. Located on the bank of the Chenab River, it is the capital of the eponymous district. It is the 39th most populous city of Pakistan.
History
The Muzaffargarh region was an agricultural and forested area during the Indus Valley civilization. Then came the
Vedic period, which was characterized by the introduction of Indo-Aryan culture into the Punjab province. Over time, several other civilizations came to power in the ancient town and surrounding district: the Kambojas, the Daradas, the Kekayas, the Madras, the
Pauravas, the Yaudheyas, the
Malavas and the Kurus.
After the fall of the Achaemenid Empire in 331 BCE, Alexander the Great marched into the present-day Punjab province with an army of 50,000 men. The Muzaffargarh region was, during different time periods, also ruled by the Maurya Empire, the Indo-Greek kingdom, the Kushan Empire, the Gupta Empire, the White Huns, the Kushano-Hephthalites, and the Turk Shahi and Hindu Shahi kingdoms.
In 997 CE, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi took over the Ghaznavids, and, in 1005, conquered the Shahis in Kabul, which granted him power over the Punjab region. The Delhi Sultanate and later the Mughal Empire also ruled the region. The location of the present-day town became predominantly Muslim during this time because of the arrival of missionary whose still persist in the area.
After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikh Empire conquered the Muzaffargarh District. Later, in 1848, the British Raj assumed control of the area.
Foundation as a town
In 1794, the town of Muzaffargarh was founded by governor of Multan, Nawab Muzaffar Khan, who was also the Governor of Multan at the time.[ District Profile: Southern Punjab- Muzaffargarh]
The place was also referred to as Kala Pani ( Black Water), as it is located between two rivers: the Indus and the Chenab River. It was linked to the surrounding lands by bridges during the British era.
Independence 1947
During the independence movement of Pakistan, the Muslim population supported the Muslim League and the Pakistani Movement. In 1947, after Pakistan gained independence, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in Muzaffargarh.
Demographics
Population
According to 2023 census, Muzaffargarh had a population of 235,541.
Geography and climate
Muzaffargarh spreads over an area of and forms a strip between the Chenab River to the east and Indus River to the west. Muzaffargarh is above sea level.
Muzaffargarh was hit especially hard by the 2010 Pakistan floods, given its position between the Chenab and Indus rivers.
Muzaffargarh is located at almost the exact geographical center of Pakistan. The closest major city is
Multan. The area around the city is a flat
alluvial plain and is ideal for agriculture, with many
citrus and
mango farms. There are also canals that cut across the Muzaffargarh District, providing water to farms. During the monsoon season, the land close to the Chenab is usually flooded.
Climate
Muzaffargarh features a semi arid climate with very hot and humid summers and mild winters. The city has experienced some of the most extreme weather in Pakistan. The highest recorded temperature was approximately , and the lowest recorded temperature was approximately . The average rainfall is roughly , concentrated during the monsoon. Dust storms are a common occurrence within the city.
Cultural heritage sites
-
Tomb of Tahir Khan Nahar
-
Tomb of Sheikh Sadan Shaheed
Transportation
Muzaffargarh has connections with other cities by several means of transportation.
Road
The town is linked to the rest of the district by paved roads that stretch for . Buses to
Multan leave frequently, because of their close proximity to each other. There are also buses that travel to more distant destinations. The N-70 National Highway connects the city to other parts of Pakistan. This highway allows for direct travel to,
Islamabad,
Faisalabad,
Karachi,
Lahore, and
Bahawalpur.
Railways
Muzaffargarh is connected by rail with all parts of Pakistan, as it lies on the branch track between
Multan,
Mianwali, and
Attock. The main Peshawar-Karachi railway line passes through
Multan District.
Canals
There are two irrigation canals in Muzaffargarh named Muzaffargarh Canal and Ganesh Wah Canal.
The city is home to the Muzaffargarh Thermal Power Station, a major power generation facility owned and operated by Northern Power Generation Company Limited (GENCO-III).
Over the years, there have been numerous plans to modernize the facility, including proposals to convert the plant to run on coal to reduce costs.
Additionally, in the mid-2010s, Muzaffargarh was selected as a potential site for a new nuclear power complex. However, recent strategic plans published by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission have focused on expanding existing nuclear sites at Chashma and Karachi, and the Muzaffargarh nuclear project is no longer mentioned in active government energy planning.
Notable places
Fayyaz Park
Fayyaz Park Muzaffargarh is situated in the center of the city. The park was named after ex-Deputy Commissioner Muzaffargarh Fayyaz Bashir. Recently, the park has been upgraded and made ready for families to walk and spend their time together. Fayyaz Park is located near Katchehry Chowk beside the National Bank Main City branch. The site of the park was previously the residence of the Deputy Commissioner.
Nawab Muzaffar Khan Park
Nawab Muzaffar Khan Park is situated in Muzaffargarh. The park is named after the founder of Muzaffargarh, Nawab Muzaffar Khan.
It was formally known as Taliri Park, but was renamed in 2021 after Nawab Muzaffar Khan after historical research showed that he had planted exotic trees there upon his return from the Hajj.
This park covers 253 Kanal and 2 Marlas (12.8 ha).
Notable people
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Nawab Muzaffar Khan, founder of Muzaffargarh
-
Sardar Kaure Khan Jatoi, leading personality for his social services
-
Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani, former governor of West Pakistan
-
Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, A prominent political figure in Pakistan
-
Hina Rabbani Khar, former Foreign Minister and the first female foreign minister
-
Ghulam Mustafa Khar, former Governor of Punjab and former Chief Minister of Punjab
-
Ghulam Noor Rabbani Khar, politician
-
Sultan Mehmood, politician
-
Jamshed Dasti, politician
-
Azhar Hussain, wrestler
See also
Notes
External links
