Gojra گوجرہ | |
|---|---|
 Municipal Committee logo | |
  Gojra Location within Pakistan Show map of Pakistan | |
| Coordinates:31°9′N72°41′E / 31.150°N 72.683°E /31.150; 72.683 | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Punjab |
| District | Toba Tek Singh District |
| Established | 1896 |
| No of Towns | 21+ |
| Government | |
| • Union Councils | 24 |
| Area | |
• City | 9.7 sq mi (25 km2) |
| • Metro | 0.625 sq mi (1.619 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,526 ft (465 m) |
| Population | |
• City | 214,000 |
| • Rank | 50th, Pakistan[2] |
| • Density | 22,000/sq mi (8,600/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+6 (PDT) |
| Zip Code | 36120 |
| Area code | +9246 |
Gojra (Punjabi:گوجرا;Urdu:گوجرہ), is the administrative capital ofGojra Tehsil and a city in theToba Tek Singh District inPunjab province ofPakistan.
Gojra is 50 kilometres (31 mi) fromFaisalabad, 170 kilometres (110 mi) fromLahore and 20 miles (32 km) north ofToba Tek Singh.[3] Founded in 1896 during theBritish colonial period,[4] Gojra was the commercial centre of lands which had recently come under cultivation, and was known for its "mandi" (market) forcash crops. It is the50th largest city of Pakistan by population, according to the 2017 census.[5]
Gojra city was established in 1896, when the colonisation ofFaisalabad began. The railway line between Faisalabad and Gojra was laid in 1899. The town was given the status ofnotified area committee in 1904 and upgraded to a B-Class Municipality in 1925. In 1906, the population was 2,589. According toThe Imperial Gazetteer of India, "The business done in this rising mart on the railway, which has sprung into existence in the last six years owing to the extension of the Chenab Canal to the surrounding country, bides fair to rival in importance that of Faisalabad itself".[3][4]
In 1919, following theRowlatt Act,hartals (strikes) broke out throughout Punjab. Gojra was affected by the serious protests and a member of theChurch Mission Society had to be escorted out of the town by loyal residents.[6][4]
In August 1947, India and Pakistan achieved independence. Riots and local fighting followed the expeditious withdrawal of theBritish, resulting in an estimated one million civilians deaths, particularly in the western region of Punjab.[7] Gojra, which was in the region of the Punjab Province that becameWest Pakistan, was populated by a number ofHindus andSikhs who migrated to India, whileMuslim refugees from India settled in the district.[8]
After independence from Britain, in view of its increasing size, Gojra was declared a 2nd class Municipal Committee in 1960. Gojra received the status of tehsil town and affiliated with the newly established district Toba Tek Singh on 1 July 1982. After the introduction of Devolution of Power Plan, the Tehsil Municipal Administration Gojra came into being on 12 August 2001.[4]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 20,407 | — |
| 1961 | 29,665 | +3.81% |
| 1972 | 41,975 | +3.21% |
| 1981 | 68,000 | +5.51% |
| 1998 | 117,892 | +3.29% |
| 2017 | 174,860 | +2.10% |
| 2023 | 214,349 | +3.45% |
| Sources:[9] | ||
According to2023 census, Gojra had a population of 214,349.
The city was raised to the status of Tehsil town and affiliated with the newly established district Toba Tek Singh on 1 July 1982. After the introduction of the Devolution of Powers Plan, the Tehsil Municipal Administration Gojra came into being on 12 August 2001.[4] The Canal resthouse is the oldest building constructed during British government in 1898.
The arrival of spring brings the annual "Rang-e-Bahar" festival during the month of March, where the Parks & Horticulture Authority of the Gojra Municipal Committee organise a flower show and exhibition at Civil Club, Gojra.[10]
The city has 344 state-run primary and higher secondary educational institutions.[11]
Gojra is famous for hockey and has produced more than a hundred international players for thePakistan hockey team.[12][13] In 2015, Gojra Hockey Club, a local club, won the Jat Tar Singh memorial Under-19 hockey tournament. This high-profile tournament was held inIndia, where Gojra city team competed again best of Indian U19 hockey teams and won the championship.[14] The Gojra team won this title by defeatingAmritsar Academy 4–2 atLudhiana Hockey Stadium.
Incricket, Gojra'sEhsan Adil has represented theFaisalabad Wolves,Habib Bank Limited cricket team andPakistan Under-19 cricket team. He was selected inPakistan's Test Squad for tour to South Africa in February 2013.[15]
