Multan ( Beautiful and Historical CITY)
Introduction and Location
Multan is famous for traditional and religious fairs and festivals. There were lot of Islamic Saints whose shrines are the assets of Muslims. Multan is well-known as 'City of Saints and Shrines'.
Multan Division lies between north latitude 29'-22' and 30'-45 and east longitude 71'-4' and 72'-4'55. It is located in a bend created by five confluent rivers. The Sutlej separates it from Bahawalpur District and the Chenab from Muzaffar Garh district.
Area and Population
District Multan is spread over an area of 3,721 square Kilometers with a population of approximately 31,17,000 people, comprising of following four tehsils.
* Multan Cantonment
* Multan Sadar
* Shujabad
* Jalalpur Pirwala
Major towns are Makhdoom Rashid, Qadirpur Ran and Basti Maluk.
Baha-ud-din Zakriya Tomb, Multan
Baha-ud-din Zakriya Tomb, Multan
Quick Facts
Population
3.1 Million
Area
3,721 sq. km
No. of Sub-Divisions
4
Climate
District Multan has an extreme climate. The extreme temperature of Multan in summer is 49ºC whereas 1ºC in winter. The average rainfall is 127 mm. The land of the district is plain and very fertile. However, the portions of tehsils Multan and Shujabad close to the river Chenab are flooded during monsoons season.
Agriculture
An area of 1900 acres is under forest in the district. There is also linear plantation of 810 Km alongside the roads/rails/canals in the district. Trees grown in the area are Kikar, Shisham and Mulbury, etc. Wheat, Cotton and Sugarcane are the main crops grown in the district. Main fruits grown are Mangoes, Citrus, Guavas and Pomegranate. Potatoes, Onion and Cauliflower are the main vegetables grown in the district.
The Multan Fort
The Multan Fort was built on a detached, rather, high mound of earth separated from the city by the bed of an old branch of the river Ravi. There is no Fort now as it was destroyed by the British Garrison which was stationed there for a long time but the entire site is known as the Fort. Nobody knows when Multan Fort came into being but it was there and it was admired and desired by kings and emperors throughout centuries'.
Multan Bab-ul-Qasim
Multan Bab-ul-Qasim
City of Shrines
Shrines of:
Sheikh Baha-ud-Din Zakariya
Rukn-i-Alam
Shams-ud-Din
Mosques
Multan also boasts of having some of the oldest mosques which were once considered as the jewels of the city. These mosques now remind us the glorious past of Multan as it was governed by Muslims for more than a thousand years.
The first mosque ever built in Multan was the Jamia Mosque which was constructed on the orders of Mohammad-bin-Qasim the famous general who conquered Multan in 712 AD Ruins of this mosque were visible till 1954 at Qasim Bella which have now been washed away by the repeated floods of the river Chenab.
Sawi mosque is supposed to be the oldest mosque which still exists though it has no roof now and most of its decorations have been damaged. Some portions of this mosque are still intact which indicate that glazed blue tiles were profusely used for ornamentation.
The second oldest mosque of Multan which is still in good shape is Mosque Ali Mohammad Khan also called as Mosque Wali Mohammad Khan. It is an excellent building, situated in the busiest Chowck Bazar of the city. It was built by Nawab Ali Mohammad Khan Khakwani, in 1757 (1171 A.H.) when he was the governor of Multan in the time of Alamgir II. The mosque is provided with a reservoir for the ablutions, baths, and a large hall for prayers.
Shrines
The prime attraction of the Multan is the Mausoleum of Sheikh Baha-ud-Din Zakariya (the ornament of the Faith) generally known as Bahawal Haq and Sheikh Rukn-ud-Din Abul Fath, commonly known by the title of Rukn-i-Alam (pillar of the World). The lofty domes of these Mausoleums are visible, from miles and dominate the skyline of Multan. The Mausoleum of Rukn-i-Alam is the glory of Multan.
Another popular shrine is the Mausoleum of Shams-ud-Din, commonly known as Shah Shams Tabrez is located about half a mile to the east of the Fort Site, on the high bank of the old bed of the river Ravi.
Education and Industry
Multan is famous for its Bahauddin Zikria University, which is the famous for its educational establishments and rankings. Other educational institutes are Al-Khair University, Preston University and Nishtar Medical College.
In district Multan a variety of industrial units are operating including cotton/woollen textile, fruit juice/beverage, fertilizer and chemical, glass, pharmaceutical, vegetable ghee, tannery units and various types of engineering goods industries, etc. Multan Dry Port handles imports and exports of various items. The export items are textile products, grey cloth, cotton yarn, leather goods, raw cotton and rice, etc. The import items are Auto spare parts, PVC, chemicals, cotton
Communication
Multan has connection with other cities by bus and coach. The district has metalled road-length of 983.69 Kilometres. The district is linked with Khanewal, Lodhran and Muzaffargarh districts through metalled roads.
Multan is connected by rail with all parts of the country and lies on the main track between Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore and Quetta. The main Peshawar-Karachi railway line passes through Multan district. The district is linked with Khanewal, Lodhran and Muzafargarh districts through railway network.
