History:

Sargodha District was agricultural region with forests during the Indus Valley Civilization. The Vedic period is characterized by Indo-Aryan culture that invaded from Central Asia and settled in Punjab region. The JATT, Daradas, Kaikayas, Madras, Pauravas, Yaudheyas, Malvavas and Kurus invaded, settled and ruled ancient Punjab region. After overrunning the Achaemenid Empire in 331 BCE,Alexander marched into present-day Punjab region with an army of 50,000. The Sargodha was ruled by Maurya Empire, Indo-Greek kingdom, Kushan Empire, Gupta Empire, White Huns, Kushano-Hephthalites and Shahi 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 in 1005, and followed it by the conquests of Punjab region. The Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal Empire ruled the region. The Punjab region became predominantly Muslim due to missionary Sufi saints whose dargahs dot the landscape of Punjab region.

After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikh invaded and occupied Sargodha District. The Muslims faced severe restrictions during the Sikh rule. During the period of British rule, Sargodha district increased in population and importance. The predominantly Muslim population supported Muslim League and Pakistan Movement. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in the Sargodha District.

Sargodha was a small town at the beginning of the British Empire but, due to its geographical location, the British Royal Air Force built an airport there. It took on greater importance after the independence of Pakistan for the Pakistan Air Force. Shahpur, which is now a tehsil of Sargodha District, was the district at that time. Most parts of the tehsil Sillanwali and Kirana Hills region were part of Jhang district and were included later during the British Raj in the Sargodha district.

The 1965 war with India on 6 September 1965 meant the city was a prime target for India, due to the city’s close proximity to the neighboring rival. The citizens of Sargodha supported the Pakistan Armyagainst the advancing of the Indian Army into Pakistan. In 1966, recognizing this bravery, the Government of Pakistan awarded the city of Sargodha as well as Sialkot and Lahore with the award of Hilal-E-Istaqlal.

There are many more reasons for Sargodha to be known as “City of Eagles”.

Etymology:

There are several theories as to the origins of the name. It may be derived from the Sanskrit “svargadhaama,” meaning “heavenly abode.” Others suggest that the name Sargodha is derived from that of a Hindu local, Godha.

Also it is believed that there was an old pond in the middle of the town where an old Hindu monk or sadhu (godha) used to live. The Hindi word for pond is “ser”.Since the town had a modest population, people would refer the place as sergodha, the place where that famous Sadhu resided next to the pond.

Languages:

As per the 1998 census of Pakistan, the following are the demographics of the Sargodha district, by spoken language:

• Punjabi language: 94%
• Other: 6%

Inhabitants of Sargodha District speak a great variety of Punjabi dialects: which are

• Majhi or Standard (in Sargodha city)
• Shapuri (Main dialect of the district)
• Pothohari (Northern borders)
• Jhangvi (southern borders)
• Raangri (scattered populations)

Other Languages include:

• Urdu is the mother tongue of few people but being national language is spoken and understood by most of the population.
• English is official language and sole medium of instruction from higher secondary level education. English is understood and spoken by the educated population.

Geography and Climate:

It is located 172 kilometres northwest of Lahore, in Sargodha District. It lies about 30 miles from the M-2 motorway, which connects Lahore and Islamabad. It is connected to the M-2 by several interchanges at different locations. Sargodha is roughly 94 km from Faisalabad, due southeast. Directly east connected by the M-2 motorway are Lahore and the route to Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Due east is the city of Jhang; toward the west are the city of Mianwali and the Chashma Barrage.Dera Ismail Khan is located 232 km southwest from the city.

Sargodha mainly comprises flat, fertile plains, although here are a few small hills on the Sargodha-Faisalabad Road. The River Jhelum flows on the western and northern sides, and the River Chenablies on the eastern side of the city. The city has a climate of extreme heat and cold. The maximum temperature reaches 50 °C (122 °F) in the summer while the minimum temperature recorded is as low as freezing point in the winter.

Demography

Population	30,86,000
No. of Polling Station in 2013 Election	1540
Sunni Pop: %age	80
Shia Pop: %age	18
Area in Sq. Km	5,864
Sub-Divisions	7
Police Stations	25
MNA Seats	5
MPA Seats	11
No. of Union Councils	161
No. of Constituencies – National Assembly	5
No. of Constituencies – Provincial Assembly	11
Registered Voters – Male	1,052,463
Registered Voters - Female	817,954

Economy:

Sargodha is largely an agricultural and industrial city. The vast fields on the city have allowed the farmers to develop a range of crops and animal breeding programs. Some of the main crops include citrus, wheat, rice, and sugar cane which are exported to the other cities as well as internationally. Citrus fruits such as oranges (locally known as kinnows), Guavas and Mangoes are main fruits grown in the district. As well as Jamun, Pears, Dates, Pomegranate, Phalsa and Almond are also grown in minor quantities. Turnip, Onion, Cauliflower, Potatoes and Tomatoes are main vegetables grown in the district. The main livestock for the city include goats, sheep, buffaloes and cattle. Sargodha adhesively captured the world market and major economy of the Pakistan due to excellent production and export of different type of oranges in the world. These oranges are famous for their taste and quality which are also being used in manufacturing of other products in different shapes i.e. Medicines, Cosmetics, Juices, James, Jellies etc.

Even with agricultural goods being the major income generator for the city as well as the district, the economy and industry has been diversifying itself to generate more demand for other goods which can be manufactured and produced in the city. Other industrial markets include: Bakelite, Beverage, manufacture of diesel engines, crankshafts and other foundry products, glass products, leather footwear, oil mills, pesticides, insecticides, poultry feed, plastics, readymade garments, tannery as well as textiles.

 

Sargodha MPAs/MNAs List

Sr.	Name of MNAs / MPAs With Constituency	Party		Cell No.
No.		Affiliation
MNAs
1	Peer Ameen-Ul-Hasnat	PML (N)		0300-9809596
	NA-64			0300-6004543 PS
2	Mr. Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha	PML (N)		0302-8475982
	NA-65			0345-8610801 PA
				0300-6005282 PA
3
	NA-66
4	Dr. Zulifiqar ALI Bhatti	PML (N)		0300-8603103
	NA-67			0345-7004760
				0345-7348282 PA
5	Sardar Muhammad Shafqat Hayat Khan Baloch,	PML (N)		0347-7999611
	NA-68
6	Mrs. Shahzadi Umarzadi Tiwana	PML (N)		0301-4409483
	Special Seat			042-36622011-12
7	Ch. Tariq C Qaiser	PML (N)		0300-8602601
	Special Seat			048-3212909
MPAs
1	Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Bharth		PML (N)		0300-8450392
	PP-28
2	Mahr Ghulam Dastageer Lak		PML (N)		0300-8602377
	Pp-29				0345-4991777
3	Mr. Tahir Ahmad Sindhu		PML (N)		0301-4227120
	PP-30				0300-4046193 PA
					042-37239452
4	Mian Manazir Ali Ranjha		PML (N)		0300-8603536
	PP-31				0300-6001602PA
5	Mr. Amir Sultan Cheema		PML (Q)		0300-8415850
	PP-32
6	Mr. Abdur Razzaq Dhillon		PML (N)		0300-9600711
	PP-33				0321-9600711
					0343-4111133
7	Dr. Nadia Aziz		PML (N)		0300-8600557
	PP-34				0300-8602525 (F)
8	Mr. Faisal Farooq Cheema		PML (N)		House:3221547
	PP-35				0300-8600111
9	Rana Munawar Ghaous		PML (N)		0300-8700120
	PP-36				0323-6119797
					0345-3600120
10	Sahibzada Ghulam Nizam-ud-Din Sialvi		PML (N)		0344-4440433
	PP-37				0333-9999787
					0344-7532255 PA
11	Sardar Bahadur Abbas Maiken		PML (N)		0300-9604756
	PP-38
12	Mrs. Farhana Afzal,		PML (N)		0300-8428760
	(SPL SEAT), W-315
13	Ms. Saira Iftikhar,		PML (N)		0300-8007690
	(SPL. SEAT) W-331				048-3783096
14	Mrs. Tahia Noon,		PML (N)		0300-8415199
	(SPL SEAT),W-336				0300-6069855 PA