Hafizabad (Urdu: حافظ آباد) is a city and capital of Hafizabad District located in Punjab, Pakistan.[2] Hafizabad is an old city of Punjab, Pakistan. In 327 BC, during Alexander's invasion of Punjab, the territory of the Sandal Bar was reported to be a well populated area. Large cities were located in this territory, and a lot of sub states were organized here under the presidency of maharajas and rajas. It is located to the east of Chenab River.

Hafizabad
حافظ آباد
Night view of Fawara Chowk, Hafizabad
Night view of Fawara Chowk, Hafizabad
Hafizabad is located in Punjab, Pakistan
Hafizabad
Hafizabad
Location in Punjab, Pakistan
Hafizabad is located in Pakistan
Hafizabad
Hafizabad
Hafizabad (Pakistan)
Coordinates: 32°04′17″N 73°41′16″E / 32.07139°N 73.68778°E / 32.07139; 73.68778
Country Pakistan
Province Punjab
DivisionGujrat
DistrictHafizabad
Union councils25
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Committee
 • AdministratorUmer Farooq[1]
Area
 • Total38.5 km2 (14.9 sq mi)
Elevation
208 m (682 ft)
Population
 (2017)
 • Total245,751
 • Rank31st, Pakistan
 • Density6,400/km2 (17,000/sq mi)
Language
 • OfficialUrdu, Punjabi
Time zoneUTC+5 (PST)
Postal code
52110
Calling code0547
WebsiteMunicipal Committee Hafizabad

History edit

In 327 BC, the area around Hafizabad was reportedly well-populated during Alexander's invasion of Punjab.[3] During the Delhi Sultanate period, majority of the local population were converted to Islam. A large city was situated at the site of the present village of Mehdiabad, northwest of present day Hafizabad. Later it became unpopulated due to shortage of water and Afghan incursions. The region remained uninhabited until the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar, when it became the site of a Mahal as documented in Ain-i-Akbari.[4]

After the Partition of India in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while Muslim refugees from India settled in Hafizabad. Most of the refugees have since settled and inter-married with the local population.[citation needed]

Geography edit

Hafizabad is located 48 kilometres west of Gujranwala, and 60 kilometres southwest of Wazirabad. It hosts the eighth railway station on the Wazirabad-Faisalabad Railway.[5] Its average elevation is 208 metres above the sea level.[6]

Climate edit

Hafizabad has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh). The monsoon season is from July to September. It sees the most precipitation in July, with an average rainfall of 138.1 millimetres or 5.44 inches; and the least precipitation in November, with an average rainfall of 5.5 millimetres or 0.22 inches.

Climate data for Hafizabad
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 19
(66)
22
(72)
27
(81)
33
(91)
39
(102)
40
(104)
36
(97)
35
(95)
34
(93)
31
(88)
26
(79)
21
(70)
30
(87)
Daily mean °C (°F) 12
(54)
15
(59)
20
(68)
27
(81)
32
(90)
34
(93)
32
(90)
31
(88)
29
(84)
25
(77)
18
(64)
13
(55)
24
(75)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 6
(43)
9
(48)
14
(57)
20
(68)
25
(77)
27
(81)
28
(82)
27
(81)
24
(75)
18
(64)
11
(52)
7
(45)
18
(64)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 18.1
(0.71)
30.5
(1.20)
32.8
(1.29)
25.5
(1.00)
17.0
(0.67)
46.2
(1.82)
138.1
(5.44)
121.0
(4.76)
51.7
(2.04)
11.6
(0.46)
5.5
(0.22)
11.6
(0.46)
509.6
(20.07)
Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm) 3.1 3.6 4.7 4.0 3.7 7.2 14.5 13.6 6.7 2.4 0.9 2.0 66.4
Mean daily daylight hours 10.3 11.1 12.0 13.0 13.8 14.2 14.0 13.3 12.3 11.4 10.5 10.1 12.2
Source: Weatherspark.com[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Our Administrator / Chairman - Hafizabad". 2 August 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Hafizabad | Punjab Portal".
  3. ^ "Hafizabad: History". Government of the Punjab. Archived from the original on 5 July 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 13, page 5 – Imperial Gazetteer of India – Digital South Asia Library". dsal.uchicago.edu.
  5. ^ "Our History | Hafizabad". hafizabad.punjab.gov.pk. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Hafizabad topographic map, elevation, terrain". Topographic maps. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  7. ^ "Climate and Average Weather Year Round in Hāfizābād, Pakistan". weatherspark.com. Retrieved 26 April 2023.