Gujar Khan
City in Punjab, Pakistan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gujar Khan (Punjabi: گُجر خاں [ɡʊˈd͡ʒəɾ ˈxãː]; Urdu: گوجر خان [ˈɡoːdʒəɾ ˈxaːn])[3] is a city in Rawalpindi District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is also the headquarters of Gujar Khan Tehsil, the largest tehsil of Punjab by land area.[4]
Gujar Khan
گُجر خاں گوجر خان | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Gujar Khan | |
| |
  Gujar Khan  Gujar Khan | |
| Coordinates: 33.253°N 73.304°E | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province |  Punjab |
| Division | Rawalpindi |
| District | Rawalpindi |
| Tehsil | Gujar Khan |
| Elevation | 461 m (1,512 ft) |
| Population | |
• City | 103,284 |
| Society | |
| • Languages | Punjabi (native and majority) Urdu (minority) |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| Calling code | 0513 |
| Number of union councils | 36[2] |
Gujar Khan is located approximately 57 km (35 mi) southeast of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, and 220 km (140 mi) to the northwest of Lahore, the capital of Punjab. It is bounded on the north by Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Attock, on the south by Jhelum, Lahore, and Gujrat, on the east by Azad Kashmir, and Kahuta and on the west by Chakwal and Khushab.
Situated in the heart of the Pothohar Plateau in northern Punjab, the city and surrounding region is renowned for their martial culture and is sometimes referred to as the 'Land of Martyrs', having produced two recipients of the Nishan-i-Haider.[5] The main district hospital is in the center of the city, along with many other private and public healthcare services.
History
The place was named due to the large population of Gujjars which inhabited this area. Some Gujjar settlements are still present in the Gujar Khan Tehsil. The modern town was developed by the British colonial authorities after the region came under British rule in 1848.
Administration
Gujar Khan is administratively subdivided into 36 union councils, whereas City Gujar Khan is administered by municipal corporation.[6]
Demographics
Population of Gujar Khan city over the years.[7]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 8,496 | — |
| 1961 | 11,529 | +3.10% |
| 1972 | 24,121 | +6.94% |
| 1981 | 33,920 | +3.86% |
| 1998 | 57,099 | +3.11% |
| 2017 | 90,149 | +2.43% |
| 2023 | 103,284 | +2.29% |
| Sources:[8] | ||
Languages
- Punjabi (61.9%)
- Urdu (20.3%)
- Pashto (9.36%)
- "Others" (7.71%)
- Others (0.71%)
According to the 2023 census, Punjabi is the dominant first language, spoken by 61.90% of the population, followed by Urdu at 20.32% and Pashto at 9.36% and 0.71% spoke other languages (mostly Sindhi and Saraiki). 7.71% of the population also chose the "Others" option as they did not consider their mother tongue to be present among the options.[9]
Natural resources
Large reserves of oil and gas were discovered in February 2002 at Tobra, about ten kilometres from Gujar Khan. The field is being developed by the Oil & Gas Development Company. The field could produce 1,600 barrels of crude oil daily. Missa Kaswal and Ahdi is also a major source of energy in Gujar Khan. Missa Kaswal is supplying several cubic meters of gas on a daily basis and is also extracting large quantities of oil. [10]
Transport
Road
Gujar Khan is located on the N5 National highway from Islamabad-Lahore.[11] Railway Road links from the east of the city to the nearby towns of Bewal and Islampura.[12] There are also many other minor roads linking the villages and towns of the region to the city.
Rail
The Gujar Khan railway station is located in the center of the city and provides links to Rawalpindi, Jhelum, and Lahore.
Bus
Local services also provide extensive bus routes to local towns, and smaller shuttles go around the villages in the surrounding area. There are also services to Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Jhelum, and Lahore.[13]
Local auto-rickshaw drivers also provide transport for people in and around the city.[14]
On 21 February 2026, a fleet of electric buses built in China started operating in the city. This is the first time the green public transport system has been implemented at the sub-district level in Punjab. The service will first run along the route that connects the Police Complex, Gujar Khan Bus Terminal, and Sohawa city. The recently introduced buses are a component of Punjab's larger shift to ecologically friendly public transportation. The vehicles, which run solely on electricity, are intended to encourage environmentally friendly mobility options, minimise fuel import prices, and lessen urban air pollution. Modern safety and surveillance systems, including seven onboard cameras to improve passenger security, are installed in every bus. In an effort to improve accessibility and promote the use of public transit, authorities declared that older citizens, women, and students will be able to ride for free.[15]
Notable people
- Chaudhry Muhammad Riaz, politician and Ex-MNA
- Raja Muhammad Sarwar, first recipient of Nishan-e-Haider
- Mohammad Amir, cricketer
- Muhammad Javed Ikhlas, former MPA and MNA from Pakistan Muslim League (N)
- Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Speaker National Assembly, former Prime Minister of Pakistan
- Muhammad Hussain Janjua, first soldier to be awarded Nishan-e-Haider
- Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, former Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan Army
- Najaf Shah, cricketer[16]
Friendship links
Gujar Khan also has formal "Friendship" links with:[17]