Sargodha (Urdu: سرگودھا) is located in Punjab, Pakistan.

Etymology

There are several theories as to the origins of the name. It may be derived from the Sanskrit 'svargadhaama', meaning 'heavenly abode'. Others suggest that the name Sargodha is derived from that of a Hindu loca, Godha.

Also it is believed that there was an old pond in the middle of the town where an old Hindu monk or sadhu (godha) used to live. The Hindi word for pond is "ser". Since the town had a modest population, people would refer the place as sergodha, the place where that famous Sadhu resided next to the pond.

History

Pakistan's largest air base. Sargodha is one of three planned cities in Pakistan; the other two are Faisalabad and Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.

Just over a century ago, there was a well owned by a Hindu named Goodha, the well was known as "Gool Khuuh" (round well), and travellers used it as a resting place. There is a market at the place where Gool Khuuh used to exist and a grand mosque above the market and it is known as "Goal Chowk", which is the center of downtown Sargodha today.

Sargodha was a small town in early British Raj but due to its geophysical location, the British Royal Air Force set up an airport here which took greater importance after partition for the Pakistan Air Force. Shahpur which is now a tehsil of district Sargodha was the district at that time. Most part of the tehsil Sillanwali and Kirana Pahari region were part of district Jhang and were included later during British Raj in district Sargodha.

Demographics

Sargodha is the eighth largest city of Pakistan, 175 kilometres northwest of Lahore, in Sargodha District. It is called Shaheenõ Ka Shahar (A City of Eagles), having Pakistan Air Force Operational and Central Command Air Base, and an Army Garrison. It is an agricultural city, wheat, rice, and sugar cane being its main crops. Also it is famous for its Kinow Oranges.

Hindu and Sikhs before 1947

Sargodha had a large and prosperous population of Hindus and Sikhs before the partition of India. At the time of the census in 1941 they were about 15%. The Kukhran clan formed a significant population among these people. The entire population was displaced from Sargodha at the time of the partition of India in 1947. The prime minister of India is a Kukhran.

Many of these people now live in North Dehi, India.

Divisional Headquarter

Sargodha is a divisional headquarter of the Sargodha Division. Sargodha division has following districts:

Tehsils of Sargodha

Sargodha District is further divided into the following major Tehsils.

Sargodha is connected to other major cities of Pakistan by motorways through Pindi-bhatian Interchange for Lahore and Bhalwal Interchange for Islamabad/Peshawar.

Communications

Dialing Code: NWD 048 ISD +92 48 xxx xxxx Postal Code: 40100

Electronic Media

• Radio Pakistan Sargodha (FM Band)
• FM Sunrise (96 Mhz) Most popular, also plays Indian and western music
• Pakistan Television Islamabad Center terrestrial transmissions at VHF and UHF band routed from Sakesar rebroadcast center.
• Cable tv transmissions via cable service providers.

Print Media

Local News papers include:

• Daily Express
• Daily Tijarat
• Daily Khabria
• Daily Zaroorat

Internet service providers

• Earth2link Wireless and internet provider compony
• WOL World Online
• Brain net
• Paknet
• Wave Net
• Cybernet
• Pioneer
• sky linker

Mobile Phone Operators

• Paktel GSM (China Mobile)
• Instaphone
• Mobilink GSM (PMCL)
• Ufone(PTML)
• Warid Telecom (WaridTel)
• Telenor (Telenor Pakistan)

WLL Operators

• PTCL-V (Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd.)
• Worldcall Wireless (Worldcall Telecom Ltd.)
• GO CDMA (TeleCard Ltd.)

Schools, colleges and Universities

There are many schools and colleges in Sargodha, including:

• University of Sargodha (formerly Government College, Sargodha)
• Ambala Muslim College
• Government Degree College for Women
• Government College for Women, Farooq Colony
• ''''The Apostles School'''' (Montessori to O`levels and Metric) http:www.apostles.cjb.in
• Govt. Comprehensive High School
• Govt Ambala Muslim High School
• Progressive Public School/College.
• F.G. Public School, Mela mandi Road
• Suffah College
• Combat Commanders School of PAF equivalent to the TOPGUN.
• The PAF (Pakistan Air Force) College, also known as PAF Public School
• Fazaia Inter College Mushaf (formerly Air Base Intermediate College Sargodha, ABICS)
• Fazaia Model Inter College, PAF Base Mushaf
• Divisional Public School
• Army Public School and College
• Punjab College of Information and Technology,
• Quid-e-Azam Law College
• Misali Ravian High School(Residential) Misali Ravian Science Academy
• Logix College of Information, Technology and Business Sciences
• Govt. Model High School No. 1.
• Govt. Central Model High School New Satellite
• F.G. Model School New Cantt.
• Presentation Convent High School
• Punjab College of Commerce
• Beacon House School System
• Chughtai School System
• ELYSIUM HALL {Satellite Town}
• Superior Science College (Faisalabad Road)
• Al-Basharah College of Technology (City Road
• Govt.Polytechnic Institute P.A.F Road
• Govt. postgraduate college of commerce(Faisalabad road)
• The Punjab Girls High School (Qainchi More)
• Superior Girls College
• Superior Grammar School
• Islamic alta vista education system
• ACME college Faisalabad road
• Sani Academy School System(Satellite Town)
• Shiblee college of Commrec Science
• Progressive Public School & College Sargodha

Hospitals and medical centres

Basic health facilities in Sarghoda are provided both by the government and the private sector. District Headquarters Hospital is the major government hospital, while PAF Hospital and CMH are also major hospitals of the city. Sargodha is also famous as a city of hospitals because there are lots of hospitals providing health facilities.

Major Private Hospitals Include:

• Anwar Hospital
• Ibrahim Hospital
• Sadiq Hospital
• Sarwar Hospital
• Fatima Hospital
• Al-Abbas Hospital
• Munir Hospital
• Awab Hospital
• Allah Tawakal Free Hospital
• Niazi Medical Complex
• Cheema Heart Center
• Niazi Hospital
• Cantonment Board Health center sonypora Road
• sahara clinic railway road sargodha
• Shafi Hospital[Zaheer Laser Center
• Mushtaq Ultra sound and CT Scan

Transportation

Inter-city transport on different routes is available in the form of auto-rickshaws, Sargodha Transport Network(STN) vans and buses. For intracity, A/C buses and railways is available. Commercial flights are not operated at airport/air base.

• Daewoo bus service is also available here to go to all over the country except Karachi.
• Al-Shahbaz bus service is available here to Rawalpinid & Islamabad
• Muslim Express is operating on the route of SARGODHA to PESHAWAR for more than 30 years

Nishan-e-Istiqlal

The title Nishan-e-Istiqlal was given to three cities of Punjab in the Indo Pak war of 1965 against showing severe resistance in front enemy. These cities included Sargodha, Lahore and Sialkot. New Khan Road Runners Bandial

Shaheenon Ka Shahar (A city of Eagles)

Sargodha city is also called a city of Eagles or 'Shaheenon Ka Shahhar'. Most people think that it is because of the second largest Pakistan Airforce Airbase. Most of the 1965 India Pakistan Air war was fought over Sargodha city and hence this name was officially adopted. Some people think that M.M. Alam flew his fighter plane from Sargodha base & destroyed nearly 12 fighter jets of India during the air war.

Presidential Awards

Only two people from Sargodha have been Conferred upon with the presidential awards by the President of Pakistan. They are Prof. Ghulam Jilani Asghar and Prof. M.H. Musaddiq for their flawless contribution in the field of education. Prof. Ghulam Jilani Assghar passed away on December 26, 2006. He was born on June 06, 1918 in a village nearby Talagang. He was buried at his native town.

Pioneer

As Sargodha district has distinction in various field of life albeit an agrarian city. It serve the nation with its illustrious sons. As martial races are abundant in Sargodha, one of the sons of the soil is Brig. Ret. Saad Ullah Khan Ghuman HJ . Former active member of the Pakistan Muslim League under the guidance of Quaid e Azam while he was studying at Islamia College Lahore , also have the honour of having first sword of honour of Sargodha District from military academy Kakul in 1951. Author of the book East Pakistan to Bangla desh. He also served as the Chairman of the Faisalabad Development Authority for five years. Dr. Ch. Nasrullah Khan Ghuman was the first MBBS from Sargodha and completed his education from King Edward Medical College Lahore in 1937. He was a great reformer and social activist and rendered a meritorious job for his people.

Citrus Fruit

Sargodha is famous for production of citrus fruit: kinnu (a type of orange), malta, and grapefruit. The soil is very receptive to citrus fruit and Sargodha arguably produces the best quality kinnu in the world. Per acre yield of kinnuis arguably the highest in the world. Demand for kinnu of Sargodha is highest in domestic fruit markets, especially from Tehsil Sillanwali followed by a narrow margin by kinnu of Kot momin.

Recreation and Sports

Although recreational activities are limited, but two major recreational parks, Joy Land in Jinnah Garden (Company Bagh), and Rehmat, a Park in Satellite Town, provide a space for enjoyment and recreation. A cricket stadium adjacent to the university was developed and ODI match between PAK & W. Indies was played here in 1980s but according to the new rules of ICC it is not suitable for today's international cricket. The city is also famous for large scale sports activity in cricket, hockey, kabaddi and volleyball. Muhammad Hafeez (Chanda), Naveed Latif & Misbah-ul-Haq also belongs to Sargodha. An annual seasonal spring festival "Mela Mandi", a tradition of Punjab is organized during the month of march.

Shopping in Sargodha

A decade before, shopping in Sargodha was limited to the bazaars like Ameen Bazaar, Kachehri Bazaar, Urdu Bazaar, Anarkali Bazaar. But now, the city's development is in progress and this has also provided the citizens with a good scope of shopping by the establishment of shopping centers like:

• Pace
• Shaheen Shopping Mall
• Aziz sons
• Paragon
• Jaspal Plaza
• Q-mart
• Trust Plaza

Many shopping centers like Al-Rehman Plaza, Bajwa City Centre, and Radiant Shopping Centre are under construction. The latest variety, specially of fabrics at reasonable attractive prices, is quotable. Daily consumables and products are easily available.

Car showrooms

• Madina Motors,Railway Road.
• Toyota Sargodha Motors, Lahore Road.
• Suzuki Falcon Motors, Lahore Road.
• Hyundai Sargodha Motors, University Road, near Daewoo Bus Terminal.

Hotels and Restaurants

Hoteling, that was not in vogue in Sargodha some years ago, has now become a part and parcel of the citizens' lives today.

Some four-star hotels of Sargodha:

• PC (Pak Continental)
• AFC
• Al Maida
• Grace Multi Purpose Complex (mainly Marriage hall)

Some of the famous restaurants are

• Kirana Bar
• Q's Restaurant
• Aunti Iffat ka Dhabba
• Zam Zam Snack Bar
• Style Broast
• Pizza Land
• Huts
• Pizza Club
• Saltish
• Pizza Heaven
• Taskeen Cafe
• Pizza Classic
• Cakes n' Bakes
• Lahore Broast
• Chaudhry Saleem Hotel (shaheen hotel)
• Famous Chakian Ki Dall
• Tufail Hotel known as Tufail Chaanpoon waalay (chowk block # 12)
• Faqeeria ka choolay
• Malik k choolay
• Amratsari Kulcha House
• Tifay ka cholay
• Maher hotel
• Cafe teria(spy club)

Some of the famous bakeries are

• Ambala Sweets
• Taj Mahal Bakery
• Broadway Sweets and Bakery
• Cakes n' Bakes

News and Events Update

• Jashn-e-Baharan is being celeberated in the city.
• Visit the Website of Sargodha(New)
• News & Information on Sargodha