Kasur District (

Punjabi Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to: * Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan * Punjabi language * Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a British Th ...

and ur, , translit=Zilā Qasūr), is a district located in

Lahore Division Lahore Division is an administrative division of Punjab Province, Pakistan. It comprises four Districts - Kasur, Lahore, Nankana Sahib and Sheikhupura. The Lahore Division is commanded by a Commissioner to manage the division. Under the Commi ...

Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi Language, Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also Romanization, romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the I ...

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

. It came into existence on 1 July 1976. Prior to its creation, it was a tehsil of the Lahore District. The district capital is Kasur city, the birth city of the

Sufi Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, r ...

poet Bulleh Shah, who is well known in that region as well as in the whole of Pakistan. The total area of the district is 4,796 square kilometres.

History

In ancient time, Kasur was known for its education and fish. The history of Kasur is more than 1,000 years. Kasur region was agricultural region with forests during the Indus Valley civilization. The Vedic period is characterized by Indo-Aryan culture that migrated from

Central Asia Central Asia, also known as Middle Asia, is a region of Asia that stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. It includes the fo ...

and settled in

Punjab region Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising a ...

. The Kambojas, Daradas, Kaikayas,

Pauravas The Pauravas were an ancient dynasty on the Indus (present-day India and Pakistan) to which King Porus may have belonged. Porus and the Pauravas The origins of the Pauravas are still disputed. The Pauravas may be related to the Puru tribe, d ...

, Yaudheyas,

Malavas The Malavas (Brahmi script: 𑀫𑁆𑀫𑀸𑀭𑀯 ''Mmālava'') or Malwas were an ancient Indian tribe. Modern scholars identify them with the Mallian people (Malloi) who were settled in the Punjab region at the time of Alexander's invasion ...

and

Kuru Kuru may refer to: Anthropology and history * Kuru (disease), a type of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy associated with the cannibalistic funeral practices of the Fore people * Kuru (mythology), part of Meithei mythology * Kuru Kingdom, ...

s migrated, settled and ruled ancient Punjab region. After overrunning the

Achaemenid Empire The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenian Empire (; peo, 𐎧𐏁𐏂, , ), also called the First Persian Empire, was an ancient Iranian empire founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 BC. Based in Western Asia, it was contemporarily the largest em ...

in 331 BCE, Alexander marched into present-day Punjab region with an army of 50,000. The Kasur region was ruled by

Maurya Empire The Maurya Empire, or the Mauryan Empire, was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in the Indian subcontinent based in Magadha, having been founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BCE, and existing in loose-knit fashion until ...

, Indo-Greek kingdom,

Kushan Empire The Kushan Empire ( grc, Βασιλεία Κοσσανῶν; xbc, Κυϸανο, ; sa, कुषाण वंश; Brahmi: , '; BHS: ; xpr, 𐭊𐭅𐭔𐭍 𐭇𐭔𐭕𐭓, ; zh, 貴霜 ) was a syncretic empire, formed by the Yuezhi, ...

Gupta Empire The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire which existed from the early 4th century CE to late 6th century CE. At its zenith, from approximately 319 to 467 CE, it covered much of the Indian subcontinent. This period is considered as the Gold ...

, White Huns,

Kushano-Hephthalites The Hephthalites ( xbc, ηβοδαλο, translit= Ebodalo), sometimes called the White Huns (also known as the White Hunas, in Iranian as the ''Spet Xyon'' and in Sanskrit as the ''Sveta-huna''), were a people who lived in Central Asia during t ...

and the

Turk Turk or Turks may refer to: Communities and ethnic groups * Turkic peoples, a collection of ethnic groups who speak Turkic languages * Turkish people, or the Turks, a Turkic ethnic group and nation * Turkish citizen, a citizen of the Republic o ...

and

Hindu Shahi The Hindu Shahis (also known as Odi Shahis, Uḍi Śāhis, or Brahman Shahis, 822–1026 CE) were a dynasty that held sway over the Kabul Valley, Gandhara and western Punjab during the early medieval period in the Indian subcontinent. Details ...

kingdoms. In 997 CE, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi, took over the Ghaznavid dynasty empire established by his father, Sultan Sebuktegin, In 1005 he conquered the Shahis in

Kabul Kabul (; ps, , ; , ) is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. Located in the eastern half of the country, it is also a municipality, forming part of the Kabul Province; it is administratively divided into #Districts, 22 municipal dist ...

in 1005, and followed it by the conquests of Punjab region. The

Delhi Sultanate The Delhi Sultanate was an Islamic empire based in Delhi that stretched over large parts of the Indian subcontinent for 320 years (1206–1526).

and later

Mughal Empire The Mughal Empire was an early-modern empire that controlled much of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries. Quote: "Although the first two Timurid emperors and many of their noblemen were recent migrants to the subcontinent, the d ...

ruled the region. The Punjab region became predominantly

Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...

due to

missionary A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Tho ...

saints whose dargahs dot the landscape of the Punjab region. The

ruled Kasur for 200 years. After and during the decline of the

, the Sikhs took over the Kasur District. The agriculture lands were given to leaders and supporters of the Sikh army. Most of the Punjab region was annexed by the

East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and Sou ...

in 1849, and was one of the last areas of the

South Asia South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;; ...

to fall under

British colonial rule The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...

. During the

British Raj The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent; * * it is also called Crown rule in India, * * * * or Direct rule in India, * Quote: "Mill, who was him ...

, the irrigation canals were built that irrigated large areas barren lands of the Kasur District. The predominantly Muslim population supported Muslim League and Pakistan Movement. After the

independence Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the stat ...

in 1947, the minority Sikhs and

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

s migrated to

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...

while the Muslim refugees from India settled in the Kasur District.

Demography

At the time of the 2017 census, the district's population was 3,454,881, of which 1,788,617 were males and 1,666,044 females. 2,564,101 were rural and 890,780 urban. The literacy rate was 60.77%.

Muslims Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...

were the predominant religious community with 96.48% of the population while

Christians Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρ� ...

were 3.47% of the population. At the time of the 2017 census, 89.86% of the population spoke

and 1.80%

Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
''

Development

The

Bambawali-Ravi-Bedian Canal __NOTOC__ Bambanwala-Ravi-Bedian Canal (BRB Canal), also called Ichogil Canal, is a manmade waterway in Pakistan that takes off from the Upper Chenab Canal near the Bambanwala village (to the west of Daska), runs southeast until reaching close to ...

was built in Kasur district increasing the agricultural development of the area. There has been commercial and industrial development but the area remain mainly agricultural. Pakistan Army built Cantonment area for an

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mar ...

brigade A brigade is a major tactical military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division. ...

in the district.

Administrative divisions

The district is administratively subdivided into 4 Tehsils spanning a territory of 13 divisions and 125 Union Councils: the total area of Kasur is 3995 km2.

Physical features

The district is bounded by the

Ravi River The Ravi River () is a transboundary river crossing northwestern India and eastern Pakistan. It is one of five rivers associated with the Punjab region. Under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, the waters of the Ravi and two other rivers were ...

in the north-west and river

Sutlej The Sutlej or Satluj River () is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroads region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. The Sutlej River is also known as ''Satadru''. It is the easternmost tributary of the In ...

in the south-east. Whereas the old course of Beas River bifurcates the district into two equal parts locally known as Hither and Uthar or Mithan Majh. Both of the areas have a height differential of approximately 5.5 meters. The natural surface elevation of the district is 198 meters above the sea level, having a general slope from north-east to south- west. Whereas the east and west ends of the district comprise the flood plains of the rivers

Satluj The Sutlej or Satluj River () is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroads region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. The Sutlej River is also known as ''Satadru''. It is the easternmost tributary of the ...

and Ravi, characterized by breaching of looping river Channels braided around meander bars. Kasur district is attached with

Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second List of cities in Pakistan by population, most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th List of largest cities, most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is th ...

from east, attached with Nankana Sahib from north, attached with Faisalabad from west and attached with Okara and India from south.

Topography

Topographically speaking, Kasur District lies between the river

which flows along its boundaries with India and river Ravi which flows its boundary with Nankana Sahib District. The districts may be divided into two parts, a low lying or riverine area along the two bordering rivers and upland, away from the rivers. The riverine area is generally inundates during

monsoon A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annual latitudinal oscil ...

season. The water level in this area is higher than in the upland. The soil is sandy. The upland is flat plains sloping from north-west to south-west. The general height of the area is from 150 to 200 meters above the sea level.

Flora

Flora Flora is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring ( indigenous) native plants. Sometimes bacteria and fungi are also referred to as flora, as in the terms '' gut flora'' or '' skin flora''. ...

of the district has been greatly modified by human agency of the old open forests of small trees and shrubs; there remains only a few Rakhs or portions of forest which are kept as gazing ground for cattle etc. Amongst trees the most important are Kikar (Acacia arabica), Shisham or Tahli (Dalbergia sissoo), Beri (Zizyphus jajaba), Toot (Morus marlaccae), Sharin (Albizzia lebbek), Dharek (Malia azerdaracb), Phulahi (Acacia modesta), and Nim (Melia indica), Piple (Ficus indica) are planted for shade. The growth in Rakhs is composed mainly of three kinds of trees Jand (Prosopis spicigera), Karril (Capparis aphylla), and van or Jal (Salvadora obeoides). Occasionally pelu (acacia Loucophhloea) and Farash (Tamarix articulate) are also found. Pilchi (Tamarix gallio) is found on moist sandy soil along the rivers and is used for wicker-work, basket making etc.

Fauna

Wolf and jackal are the only wild animals of any importance. The former being met with occasionally in the low land wastes of

Chunian Chunian ( ur, ), is a historic city and the capital of Chunian Tehsil of Punjab, Pakistan. It is located at 30° 58' N 73° 51' E and at an elevation of 177 metres (583 feet), and lies about 70 km south of Lahore the Punjab capital. ...

Tehsil but jackal are found every where.

Changa Manga The Changa Manga (Urdu, Punjabi: ) is a planted forest which includes a wildlife preserve, in the Kasur and Lahore districts of Punjab, Pakistan. It is located approximately 80 kilometers south-west of Lahore. It was once the largest man-made f ...

reserve a thick forest is the only area in which a few Nelgai, pig, peafowl and here are found.

Places of interest

Kasur famous for Kasuri methi, Kasuri fish, and Kasuri andarsay. The city is also the resting place of Sufi poet Bulleh Shah. Other places of interest include: * Baba Ram Thaman Shrine, Hindu temple famous for annual Vaisaki fair *Baloki is famous for the

. Many of the people visit this village. Balloki Power Plant is also situated in Baloki. *

Phool Nagar Phool Nagar (Punjabi and ur, ), previously Bhai Pheru ( ur, بھائی پھیرو), is a city of the Kasur District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city is named after the former Minister of the area Rana Phool Muhammad Khan. Location ...

industrial area *

Pattoki Pattoki ( ur, ) is a city in the Kasur District of the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is the headquarters of Pattoki Tehsil, an administrative subdivision of Kasur District. Pattoki is known as the 'City of Flowers', due to the abundan ...

is the 7th dense industrial area of Pakistan *

is famous for its sugar mills. Abdullah Sugar Mill is the largest sugar mill of Pakistan *

Kot Radha Kishan Kot Radha Kishan is a city and Tehsil headquarters of Kot Radha Kishan Tehsil in Kasur District in the Punjab (Pakistan), Punjab province of Pakistan. The city is administratively subdivided into four Union Councils of Pakistan, Union councils. It ...

is famous for being related to lord

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is on ...

and his beloved Radha (of Hinduism) *

, the largest forest of Pakistan * Shrine of Baba Bulleh Shah, Kasur City * Ganda Singh Wala Border, Pakistan-India Border *

Balloki Headworks Head Balloki or Balloki Headworks is a barrage on the Ravi River in the Punjab, Pakistan.it is 70 KM distance from Lahore. It was first built around in 1915 in British India as part of the 'Triple Canals Project' to feed the Lower Bari Doab Canal. ...

& many resorts * Changa Manga Forest, near

Town * Shrine of Atta Ullah Vato Khuveshgi Alias Peer Bolna Sarkar * Shrine of Baba Sadar Dwan * Kasur Museum * Tomb of Baba Kamal Cishti * Shrine of Abdullah Shah Bukhari (Baba Sha Jhanda), near

city in the village also named after him * Gurdwara Hardo Sahari and Samadh Pir Sahari Chhina Jatt. Village Hardo Sahari Qadiwind is a historically significant to the Sikh religion. After the

in 1947, the Sikhs there emigrated to East Punjab in India. Punjabi writer Baba Sohan Singh Sital was a resident of this village. His house and garden area was allotted to Muslim refugees from Mewat who came as part of independence. The majority population consists of Meo or Mewatis who migrated to 1947.

Notable people

Tahir Aslam Gora Tahir Aslam gora (born September 26,1963) is a Canadian broadcaster, editor, publisher, (English to Urdu) translator, and writer of fiction and non-fiction. He is a campaigner against the dangers of the Political Islam and the Muslim Brotherho ...

, Pakistan-Canadian writer, broadcaster and translator.Important Personalities
Kasur District, Punjab Portal website. Retrieved 1 September 2021 *

Noor Jehan Noor Jehan (Punjabi: ) (born () Allah Rakhi Wasai ; 23 September 1926 – 23 December 2000; sometimes spelled Noorjehan),Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen, ''Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema,'' British Film Institute, Oxford University Press ...

, playback singer and actress *

Ahmad Raza Khan Kasuri Ahmed Raza Khan Kasuri Kheshgi (born 1940) is a Pakistani politician and lawyer. He is the son of Muhammad Ahmed Khan Kasuri (1903-1974) who was assassinated in a car ambush in 1974. Early life and career Ahmed Raza Khan Kasuri was born int ...

, former MNA. * Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, former

Foreign Minister A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between co ...

and now member of PTI * Malik Meraj Khalid, Speaker of the National Assembly twice, and

Prime Minister of Pakistan The prime minister of Pakistan ( ur, , romanized: Wazīr ē Aʿẓam , ) is the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and his chosen cabinet, despite the president of Pak ...

in 1997. * Bade Ghulam Ali Khan,

n classical vocalist. *

Barkat Ali Khan Ustad Barkat Ali Khan (1908 – 19 June 1963) was a Pakistani classical singer, younger brother of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and elder brother of Mubarak Ali Khan, and belonged to the Patiala gharana of music. Early life and career Barkat Ali Khan ...

, classical vocalist. *

Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan is a Pakistani politician who had been the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab from 2008 to May 2018. He had been a Member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, from 1993 to 1999 and again from 2008 t ...

, Pakistani politician who was the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab from 2008 to May 2018. Now MPA. * Sardar Muhammad Arif Nakai, ex-Chief Minister of Punjab, Pakistan. * Bebe Nanaki, sister of Guru Nanak * Moeenuddin Ahmad Qureshi, ex-vice-President of World Bank and Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1993.

References

{{Authority control Districts of Punjab, Pakistan