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Okara اوکاڑہ | |
|---|---|
  The shrine of Khoo Pak, Company Bagh | |
  Okara  Okara | |
| Coordinates:30°48′33″N73°27′13″E / 30.80917°N 73.45361°E /30.80917; 73.45361 | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province |  Punjab |
| Division | Sahiwal |
| District | Okara |
| Government | |
| • Deputy Commissioner | Doctor Zeeshan Hanif[1] |
| Area | |
| • Metro | 4,377 km2 (1,690 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 105 m (344 ft) |
| Population | |
• City | 533,693 |
| • Rank | 25th, Pakistan |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| Postal code | 56300 |
| Area code | 044 |
| Highways |  N-5 |
| Number ofUnion councils | 140[4] |
| Website | okara |
Okara (Punjabi,Urdu:اوکاڑہ) is the capital city ofOkara District in thePunjab province ofPakistan.[5] The name Okara is derived fromOkaan, a type of tree.[2][6] In ancient times there were a large number of Okaan trees, which is why the area was named Okara. It is the23rd most populous city of Pakistan.[7] The city is located southwest of the city ofLahore andFaisalabad is 100 km bypassing theRavi River. It is known for its agriculture-based economy and cotton mills. The nearest major city to Okara isSahiwal, which was formerly known as Montgomery.Kasur is also located in the east of the city. Pakistan military dairy farms, known for their cheese, are situated in Okara. Pul Dhool, located near Abdulla Sugar Mill, is a town in the Okara district. Pul Dhool is on Hujra Chunian road. It is 9 km from Shah Muqeem and 17 km from Chunian.These farms were established before thecreation ofPakistan in 1947.
The climate of Okara is usually warm and dry, except during the summer monsoon season between June and September. The coldest months are December to February, when temperatures may drop to 3 °C (37 °F), with moderate rainfall. The hottest months are May to July, when temperatures may reach 45 °C (113 °F). The annual average rainfall in the city is approximately 615 millimetres (24.2 in).[2]
Okara is a relatively new agricultural city. During the period ofBritish rule there was a forest of Okaan where the city has been rebuilt, and from this, the name of the city was derived.[2] During British rule, the area was part ofMontgomery District and contained a largesaltpeter refinery.[8] There are many textile mills in Okara. The predominantly Muslim population supported theMuslim League and thePakistan Movement. After the independence ofPakistan in 1947 theMuslim refugees settled in theOkara District. In 1982, the city became the headquarters of the newly created Okara District. Okara has had a railway line since 1892.
Okara is known for its cattle breed known asSahiwal and awater buffalo breed known asNiliravi. It is very rich in livestock population and production. Livestock Production Research Institute Bahadar Nagar Farm is a very large government farm near Okara. The farm has many cows, buffalo, bulls (for reproduction), goats, and sheep.
The city of Okara serves asdistrict andtehsil capital and is itself administratively subdivided into tenUnion councils.[5]
Political leaders
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1941 | ... | — |
| 1951 | ... | — |
| 1961 | ... | — |
| 1972 | ... | — |
| 1981 | 127,455 | — |
| 1998 | 201,815 | +58.3% |
| 2017 | 357,935 | +77.4% |
| 2023 | 533,693 | +49.1% |
| Sources:[13] | ||
Punjabi is the most widely spoken language in Okara, with almost 95 percent of the population identifying it as their first language. The main Punjabi dialects in the area areMajhi andJhangvi.
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Safdar Shaheed Park and Jinnah Park are the two main parks in Okara city. Apart from these two, there are few others parks including Gulshan e Fatima Park, Mehboob Alam Park, Lalazar colony park etc.[14][15]
