Print

    Silk Road: Faisalabad - The 'Little Manchester of Pakistan'-XI

    Written by: Amna Javed
    Posted on: June 05, 2015 |

    An aerial view of Faisalabad's famous Clock Tower

    Steering south ahead of Lahore, the road leads us to Faisalabad, the industrial hub of Pakistan. Often referred to as the ‘little Manchester’ of Pakistan because of its textile mills and rapid industrial growth, Faisalabad is located 128 kilometers from Lahore. It was one of the first planned cities within British India and was founded in 1980 with the name of Lyallpur.

    Faisalabad: Manchester of Pakistan

    Clock Tower (Ghanta Ghar), Faisalabad

    After becoming part of Pakistan, the small town of Lyallpur expanded into a dynamic industrial city. With a population exceeding the one million mark, the facilities of health and education have also been extended. Faisalabad’s prime location, at the junction of all road and rail connectivity, has played a vital role in its expansion and development of trade and economy. The city is also one of the largest contributors to Pakistan’s GDP, averaging at about 20% of the total GDP.

    Besides being an industrial city, the surrounding countryside of Faisalabad is irrigated by the River Chenab and has helped in the production of cotton, wheat, sugarcane, vegetables and fruits.

    With the setting up of a dry port, the volume of trade increased manifold, as the city is a major producer of superphosphates, cotton and silk textiles, hosiery, dyes and industrial chemicals. Due to an extremely large number of production units, there are ample employment opportunities for the locals, and with increased connectivity through the economic corridor, these opportunities will increase further.

    Faisalabad offers a variety of transport facilities to get in and around the city. The diverse public transport ranges from auto-rickshaws and buses to railway. A new Metro Bus System has also been planned to ease the traffic congestion in the city. An international airport on the outskirts of the city also caters to flights to and from the Middle East.

    Faisalabad: Manchester of Pakistan

    University of Agriculture, Faisalabad

    Boasting a diverse culture, Faisalabad houses numerous places of attraction for tourists.  The Faisalabad Clock Tower, more commonly known as the ‘Ghanta Ghar’, is one of the oldest monuments from British India that is still standing in its original form. The markets surrounding this clock tower form eight roads that have been designed to look like Union Jack. Each of the market has been given a special name and is renowned for certain goods. ‘Montgomery bazaar’, the most famous out of these markets is famous for yarn and raw cloth trading. Besides these, Jinnah Garden (also known as ‘Company Bagh’), the oldest and central park of the city, is also a famous tourist attraction. The monument of Sir Charles James Lyall is also situated here. In addition to these, Faisalabad’s first heritage museum, the Lyallpur Museum, contains an art gallery that has preserved the memories of the ancient and modern culture of the city of Faisalabad, and is an important stop for those researching on the history of the city. 

    With international food chains opening their doors in Faisalabad, the city now also offers a wide variety of cuisines and a luxurious fine-dining experience. ‘Samosas’ are the most famous and commonly eaten snack in the city. The snack is so popular that near the Clock Tower, a separate square (called the ‘Samosa Chowk’) only offers samosas with a variety of sauces.

    Faisalabad: Manchester of Pakistan

    Citrus Fields in Sargodha

    The proposed economic corridor will also connect the Lahore and Faisalabad region to Sargodha, Pakistan’s finest citrus producing area. Currently, Sargodha lies 30 kilometers from the Islamabad – Lahore Motorway and is connected to Faisalabad via a Highway. Home to Pakistan’s largest air force base, Sargodha is also known as the ‘City of Eagles’. Providing fast connectivity among these regions will open up plenty of new trade opportunities and help boost local, as well as national economy.


    RELATED ARTICLES:

    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021