Pre-independence
The city was founded
by the British
Lieutenant Governor
of the Punjab, Sir
Charles James Lyall
for whom it was
originally named
Lyallpur. Prior to
the British making
the area into an
urban center, it
largely consisted of
various villages.
However, the
construction of
various canals
allowed the area to
be irrigated. After
the founding of the
city, people were
invited to the city
with promises of
land if they were to
work it. This
allowed the city to
grow rapidly.
The city of Lyallpur
came into being in
1880. The city which
is now well known as
"Manchester of
Pakistan" for its
industrial activity,
was nothing but a
desolate tract of
land 100 years ago.
It did not rain here
for weeks together
and when it rained,
the water vanished
in the city land in
no time. There was
no village nearby.
The city centre of
Lyallpur was
designed by Captain
Poham Young, to
imitate the Union
Jack with eight
roads radiating from
a large clock tower
in the centre to
eight separate
bazaars.
In 1895, the rail
link between
Wazirabad and
Lyallpur was
effected. The
building of Railway
Station wanted time,
therefore, a Goods
train wagon served
at Lyallpur Railway
Station (still
present today). As
the progress of
colonisation stepped
up Lyallpur was
given the status of
Tehsil of Jhang
District and its
administration
carried on the tents
on the old Theh
(Mound) of Pucca
Mari near Tariqabad.
The Majestic Clock
Tower of Lyallpur
was constructed out
of the funds raised
by the Sikh
Zamindars who
collected it at a
rate of Rs. 18 per
square of land. The
fund thus raised was
handed over to the
Municipal Committee
which got it
completed.
In 1902, the
population of the
town had exceeded
4,000. A
considerable number
of houses and shops
to cater to the
ordinary needs of
the population had
constructed. In
1903, decision to
have an agricultural
college was made. In
the very next year,
1904, the new
district of Lyallpur
was constituted
comparing of Tehsils
of Lyallpur,
Samundri and Toba
Tek Singh with a
subtehsil at
Jaranwala which
later turned into a
full fledged Tehsil.
In 1906, the
District
Headquarters began
to function at
Lyallpur and all the
bazars and mohallas
within the bounds of
circular road were
nearing completion
and city began to
spread outside the
circular road. The
Town Committee which
has come into being
in 1904, was
upgraded as
Municipal Committee
in 1909 and Deputy
Commissioner was
declared to be the
lst Chairman. In
1916, the grain
market saw its shops
surging with
customers. In the
same year the civil
Hospital was
expanded. With the
advent of the World
War II, the
political awakening
sprinkled its
influence over the
city. Revolutionary
meetings were held.
Fiery speeches were
made. Slogans were
written on the
walls.
In 1943, Mohammed
Ali Jinnah came to
Lyallpur and
addressed a
gathering of over 2
million in Dhobi
Ghat Grounds. When
Pakistan was
accepted as an
independent unit,
the Muslims of
Lyallpur held
special prayers and
distributed sweets
and food among the
poor on March 3,
1947. |
