Rahim Yar Khan
City in Punjab, Pakistan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rahim Yar Khan (Urdu: رحیم یار خان, romanized: Rahīm Yār Khān; Urdu pronunciation: [ɾəɦiːm jɑːɾ xɑːn]) is a city in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the 21st most populous city in Pakistan and is the capital of the Rahim Yar Khan District. The city's administration is divided into nine union councils.[2] Originally named Noshehra, it was renamed to Rahim Yar Khan in honour of the son of Sadeq Mohammad Khan IV.
Rahim Yar Khan
رحیم یار خاں | |
|---|---|
| Rahim Yar Khan | |
| |
  Rahim Yar Khan Location of Rahim Yar Khan  Rahim Yar Khan Rahim Yar Khan (Pakistan) | |
| Coordinates: 28°25′12″N 70°18′0″E | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province |  Punjab |
| District | Rahim Yar Khan |
| Area | |
• Total | 210.2 km2 (81.2 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 83 m (272 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 519,261 |
| • Rank | 21st, Pakistan 14th, Punjab |
| • Density | 2,470/km2 (6,398/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| Postal code | 64200 |
| Calling code | 068 |
| Number of tehsils | 4 |
| Number of Union councils | 139 |
| Website | rykhan |
History
People have lived near this area for a very long time. The ancient tower of Pattan Minara stands 8 km to the east of the city center, and is believed to be the remains of a 5,000-year-old monastery, with the minara built during the Hakrra valley civilization of the Mauryan period (250 BC).[3]
Rahim Yar Khan was founded in 1751 as Noshehra.[4] Its region was part of the Multan province of Mughal Empire.[5] Railway administrators wanted to change the name of the town due to its similar name to Nowshera. In 1881, Sadeq Mohammad Khan IV renamed the area to Rahim Yar Khan in honour of his son.[6]
Rahim Yar Khan was a part of the Bahawalpur State until 1943, when it became a separate district.[7]
Climate
One-fourth of the city is within the Cholistan Desert.[4]
Economy
65% of the population is employed in agricultural work.[4]
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1941 | ... | — |
| 1951 | 14,919 | — |
| 1961 | 43,548 | +191.9% |
| 1972 | 74,262 | +70.5% |
| 1981 | 119,036 | +60.3% |
| 1998 | 233,537 | +96.2% |
| 2017 | 477,100 | +104.3% |
| 2023 | 519,261 | +8.8% |
| Sources:[8] | ||
The population of the city is 519,261 during the 2023 census.[1]
Language
- Punjabi (51.4%)
- Saraiki (35.1%)
- Urdu (8.80%)
- Pashto (1.86%)
- Others (2.76%)
In the 2023 census, 51.44% of the population spoke Punjabi, 35.14% spoke Saraiki, 8.80% spoke Urdu, 1.86% spoke Pashto and an additional 2.76% of the population spoke other languages including 1.13% who did not consider their mother tongue to be among the options given.[9]
Transport
Shaikh Zayed International Airport is located in Rahim Yar Khan. It serves the people of city with domestic and international flights.[4] There are daily flight from this airport to Karachi, twice in a week to/from Lahore, and once a week to Islamabad. This airport was partially damaged in 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.[10][11]
Notable people
- Aima Baig, singer
- Asim Saleem Bajwa, Lieutenant general (Pakistan)
- Talha Chahour, actor
- Saima Akram Chaudhry, Pakistani screenwriter
- Abdullah Darkhawasti, Pakistani Sunni Islamic scholar
- Fida-Ur-Rehman Darkhawasti, Islamic scholar, academic person and politician
- Muniba Mazari, social activist