Sialkot City Profile by Directory Pakistan.

Introduction and Historical Information.

The ‘City of Opportunities’ Sialkot, situated in the Northeast of Punjab bordering Indian held Jammu and Kashmir, is the third largest export center after Karachi and Lahore and 12th largest most populous city of Pakistan. Sialkot is said to have been founded 5000 years ago by Raja Sul, the emperor of Madradesa and uncle of Pandhavas whose epic battles are recorded in the Mahabharata. The freshwater stream that still flows through the city, “Aik Nala” and “Sakaladvipa”, the doaba or island between Chandrabhaga (Chenab River) and Iravati (Ravi River), also find mention in the Hindu scriptures but these are not considered authentic and accurate historical accounts. More reliable and validated historical references to Sialkot date back to 327 BCE.

It has the highest per capita income more than US $1200. It is an important industrial hub of the country. It has four Tehsils Sialkot, Daska, Pasrur and Sambrial. According to the census report of 2017 its total population is 3, 893, 672. Before the partition the political and economic fields were mainly occupied by the Hindus and the Sikhs but after independence the religion-ethnic proportion transformed into quite opposite direction and both the powerful communities had to flee to India leaving everything behind.

The Muslims comprise more than 95% of the total population of the district. The main religion-ethnic groups are the Muslims, the Sikhs, the Hindus, the Christians, and the Ahmadis. All the groups are lending their vital role in the development of the city as well as the country. They are living in harmony and peace and intra faith tolerance exists ideally in the district. There are numerous holy shrines which are revered by all the communities.

Sialkot is believed to be founded by Raja Sul or Sala, the uncle of the Pandhavas, whose heroic deeds have been enumerated in the Mahabharta. After a long period of floods and devastation it was re-founded in the reign of Vikramaditya of Ujjain by Raja Salivan or Salban who belonged to Sia caste. The word Sialkot means ‘the fort of Salban or Sia. Salban had two sons Puran, a future Baghat and Rasalu, the great mythical hero of Punjab folk tales. However, it has recently been suggested that Sialkot is the sight of the ancient town of Sakala or Sagal. Sialkot is one of the oldest cities in the region and has a rich history going back to legends from the pre-historic period.

Today’s Sialkot:

Present day Sialkot brings the best of old and new, from narrow alleys and crowded bazaars in the ancient walled city and the areas around it, to swanky modern malls in the Cantonment area. There are historical sites like Puran’s Well and the Sialkot Fort that date back to ancient times when legends blended into history. The impressive Hindu temple called Shavala by the locals and Gurdwara Baba Beri Sahib where Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, is said to have rested, evoke images of the time before partition when Sialkot was home to people of diverse faiths. In the old city, the mausoleum complex around the shrine of the revered mystic Hazrat Imam Ali-ul-Haq known as Imam Sahib includes several shrines of saints, including the legendary Pir Muradia Shaheed. This is testimony to the city’s strong mystic tradition. The British have also left their mark on the city. They established the Sialkot Cantt which is today one of the best-preserved cantonments in the country with old trees towering above its well-kept roads. It is home to not only the traditional military establishments but also posh shopping areas, trendy cafés and restaurants, prestigious schools, and residences of some of the top industrialists of the city. The Holy Trinity Cathedral and the now-renovated Clock Tower in the bustling Saddar Bazaar, the Company Garden and the Convent of Jesus & Mary are all reminders of the British era. Outside the Cantt area, the Memorial Christian Hospital and the famous Government Murray College are important colonial landmarks. The Do Darwaza Masjid and Iqbal Manzil, the birthplace of Pakistan’s national poet-philosopher, Allama Iqbal, are in the old city.

Administrative Framework:

Tehsil-wise Area in Square Acres and Union Councils Tehsils	Urban UCs	Rural UCs	Total	Area
Sialkot	18	32	50	2,13,255 Sq.Acr
Daska	06	23	29	1,67,288 Sq.Acr
Pasur	04	24	28	2,41,531 Sq.Acr
Sambrial	03	14	17	1,20,791 Sq.Acre

 Famous Places

Chawinda:

It is a town called ‘The Graveyard of Indian Tanks’ in 17ehsil Pasrur. It is famous due to the great tank battle fought between Pakistan and India from 6th of September 22nd of September 1965 in the vicinity of Chawinda, Philaurah, Charwa, Gudgor and Chobara. It was the largest tank battle since the ‘War of Kursk’ which was fought between German and Russian forces during the WW II in 1943.

Sialkot Cantonment:

The last battle between the Sikhs and the British army was fought at Gujrat in March 1849 where Sardar Sher Singh Attariwala and Sir Hugh Gough fought once again after an indecisive fatal war at Chailianwala, Mandi Bahauddin in which the British had to suffer the greatest losses at the Indian soil since they had been endeavoring to dominate India. After the battle British army temporarily.

Tehsil Sialkot:

The Tehsil is the District Head Quarter. Its total population according to the census of 2017 is 1.795 million. Most of its area is adjacent to the working boundary separating Indian held Jammu region from Pakistan. The hen-necked border specific to Sialkot is in Bajwat region n which is encircled by river Jammu Tavi, Monawar Tavi and the Chenab. Since ancient times it has been the gateway to Kashmir and thus the focus of traders and invaders. It is the pivot of sports, surgical and leather industry; the three peculiarities of the district. Several tribes like Jats, Araein, Gujjars, Awan, Shaikhs, Rajpoot, and Kashmiri reside in it. This tehsil accommodated most of the immigrants of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947. The urban area is dominated by Kashmiris Araei

Geo-Strategic Importance:

If we look at the map of Pakistan and try to locate Sialkot, we find a lump of land three-fourth encircled by Indian Territory. Radcliff pushed India into Sialkot to accommodate Indian access to Kashmir in 1947. Sialkot, the gateway to Kashmir was thus deprived of its privilege ae years its expected unbounded development was curtailed making it a border city. The two wars of 1965 and 1971 damaged the life and property of the district a lot.

Location and Climate:

between 32°30′ North latitude and 74°31′ East longitude at an altitude of 256 m above sea level, Sialkot is bounded on the north by the working boundary of Jammu, part of the UN ceasefire line that separates the state border of Indian-held Kashmir from Pakistan proper, fenced by the Indian Kashmir barrier, which is not recognized by Pakistan as legitimate. To the north-west it is bounded by Gujrat, to the west by Gujranwala and to the south by Narowal. The Chenab River flows to the north of Sialkot.

Sialkot features a humid subtropical climate under the Köppen climate classification. Sialkot is chilly in winter and humid in summer. The temperature during winter may drop to 0 °C. May and June are the hottest months. The land is generally fertile plain. Most rain during the monsoon season.

Rivers & Nullahs in the District

The Chenab originates from the Himalayas. It receives its supply of water from the Snow covered central range of Himalayas. It receives water also from

Numerous smaller streams from the lower hills. It breaks-out from the rocky gorge in the hills 6 miles to the north of Bajwat, flows down-ward from Marala Headworks and then enters into Gujranwala District. The force of the river throughout its course is considerable. In its left bank upper Marginal Bound and lower marginal bound have been constructed near Head Marala saving vast area of Sialkot Tehsil from flood devastation.

The two Tawis, namely Jammu Tawi and MunaawarTawi are small rivers, which originate from Jammu & Kashmir State Territory and enter District Sialkot at its northern tip.

Population:

SIALKOT DISTRICT Type	No of Household	Female	Male	Transgender	Total
Rural	400,653	1,345,275	1,404,872	163	2,750,310
Urban	173,490	576,368	566,874	120	1,143,362
Total	574,143	1,921,643	1,971,746	283	3,893,672

Sialkot has diverse population of 3,893,672. Punjabi is the main language of the people. The population mainly consists of Punjabis, Kashmiris, and Pashtuns. The population of the Sialkot city (proper) is about 502,721. Population Density is 1160/km2 .Growth Rate is very low as compared to other urban areas of Pakistan. In 1947, Sialkot was the 6th largest city in Pakistan (150,000) and in 2009, it is the 12th largest. Literacy rate is among the highest in Pakistan. In urban areas, it is 73% and in rural areas, it is 54%. Employment in agriculture is only 19.5% and 32% in elementary occupations. 95% of the population .

Role of Famous Personalities:

One of the hallmarks of the city of Iqbal and Faiz is the peaceful atmosphere since independence as regards the interfaith cordiality. Sialkot is sacred for two minorities: the Sikhs and the Ahmadis. It is comparatively a peaceful area as compared to other districts in connection with inter-faith harmony and religious tolerance and the spirit of co-existence. There are more than 35 villages where the Hindu community resides without any fear of religious persecution. The Sikhs are living at least 06 points in the district and the Christians are scattered all over the district. The Christians are the 2nd largest community in Sialkot after the Muslims. There are more than 35 villages where the Hindu community resides without any fear of religious persecution. The Sikhs are living at least 06 points in the district and the Christians are scattered all over the district. The Christians are the 2nd largest community in Sialkot after the Muslims. There are more than 80. The villages having Ahamadi community. There is not even a single incident to any of these communities that could fall in the domain of purely based on religious intolerance after independence. The shrines of Chambalial, Rachhara (Hindus) in tehsil Pasrur, PirGugga (Hindu) in tehsil Sialkot at AhmalPur and Baba Phatta (a Christian) are visited by the Muslims for realization of their desires.

Languages, Tribes And Castes:

Many tribes like Jat, Arayin, Kashmiri, Mughal, Gujjar, Awan, Shaikh and others are living in the district. Punjabi is spoken in Sialkot as regional language.

Urdu, the national language, and English is understood and spoken by educated people.

Pashto is also spoken by laborers and other entrepreneurs who hail from Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), notably from Bajaur and Mohmand agencies.

Culture:

Sialkot is rich in culture which is a fine mixture of traditional Punjabi and Islamic culture. Historically, the Punjab region has been part of SinduSapta the term meaning (7 Rivers) but in the course of time southern Sindh was shrieked to a small province and Punjab became a larger and more prosperous region of the area. The word Punjab was introduced by the by the Mughals in the 17th Century AD. It is a combination of the Persian words panj (five) and (water), thus the (land of) five rivers. The five rivers which flow thru Punjab are the tributaries of the Indus River namely Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, Sutlej.and Sindhu River itself. In the Rigveda, the sacred text of Vedism, the Punjab region is associated with the ancient Sapta Sindhu, the Land of Seven Rivers, whilst the later Greeks referred to Punjab as Pentapotamia, an inland delta of five converging rivers. The British used to call Punjab “Our Prussia”.Recent past has left impacts of European culture which is rapidly assimilating in the Sialkot.

Sialkoti Cuisine:

The cuisine of Punjab at large can be vegetarian and non-vegetarian. One commonality between all Punjabi dishes is the liberal usage of ghee or clarified butter spices and Punjabis are fond of sweet meats also. Most Punjabi food is eaten with either Rice or Roti. There are some dishes that are exclusive to Punjab such as Mah Di Dal, Paratha, Makai ki Rotti, Saron Da Saag, and in cities Choley, Haleem, Biryani and other spicy dishes are popular. In beverages, tea is consumed in all seasons and as a custom most of Punjabis serve tea to their guests. Punjabis are also fond of Zarda, Gulab-Jamuns, Kheer, Jalaibi, Pakorey etc. During summers people drink lassi, doodh-soda, Aloo Bokharey ka Sharbat, lemonade etc. These cuisines have become world-wide delicacies with large scale representation.

Rituals:

Birth

Festivals

Sports

Agriculture:

Sialkot is famous for its agricultural production. It mostly produces world-known Basmati rice varieties, wheat, and sugarcane. Comprising 3,015 sq km, at least 642,624 acres of it is under cultivation, while 99,241 acres are uncultivated. Around 71 acres are under forest and 19 acres are cultivatable waste.Wheat claims a major share of cultivable land with rice and fodder standing at second and third.Wheat was sown on 452,00 acres in 1995 and the land under it gradually increased to 533,000 acres by 2010-11 only to see it rapidly declining to 319,00 acres in 2019-20. Likewise, the paddy crop covered an area of 402,000 acres . total land under it went up to 471,000 acres in 2007-08 and then started its downfall as it was sown on 331,000 acres last year.Potato and sunflower were prominent among the minor crops in the district.Most of the lands allocated for oilseeds and vegetables have unfortunately fallen prey to the mushroom growth of housing societies emerging around urban centers because of the influx of rural population towards towns to seek employment.

Agriculture And Production:

Sialkot’s share in the agriculture sector is not less than any other district. It mostly produces world-known Basmati rice varieties, wheat, and sugarcane. Comprising 3,015 sq km, at least 642,624 acres of it is under cultivation, while 99,241 acres are uncultivated. Around 71 acres are under forest and 19 acres are cultivatable waste.

Wheat claims a major share of cultivable land with rice and fodder standing at second and third. These major crops are, however, losing their acreage as farmers disappointed with volatile wheat and rice markets and a stagnant per acre yield are turning towards alternative crops.

Wheat was sown on 452,00 acres in 1995 and the land under it gradually increased to 533,000 acres by 2010-11 only to see it rapidly declining to 319,00 acres in 2019-20. Likewise, the paddy crop covered an area of 402,000 acres in 1995. With a steady increase, the total land under it went up to 471,000 acres in 2007-08 and then started its downfall as it was sown on 331,000 acres last year.

Attempts were made to popularize sugarcane in the area after a businessman from Chiniot took over the Pasrur Sugar Mills some years ago but so far, the acreage of the water-guzzling crop is stagnant at 3,000 acres and has not increased even though the area under it once hovered around 115,000 acres back in the 1990s.

Potato and sunflower were prominent among the minor crops in the district. Potatoes were planted on 158,100 acres in 1995 and the next 10 years saw around a 60pc increase in its acreage before the beginning of its decline. It stood at 115,000 acres last year. The story of the oilseed crop sunflower is no different. The crop was once sown on 70,000 acres but is now planted hardly on 7,000 acres in the district.

Historical Places:

Sialkot Fort

Sialkot Fort was originally built by Raja Salban in 2nd century CE. Puran Bhagat and Raja Rasalu were his sons. The ‘Folk Lores’ of Puran Baghat and Raja Rasalu are related this era. Puran was Salban’s son from Rani Ichran. Rani Loona was his stepmother.

Iqbal Manzil (Residence of Allama Iqbal)

The poet of the East, Allama Sir Muhammad Iqbal was born in Sialkot Kashmiri Mohallah. It is two-storey building elegantly. the middle of the old city. At present the government has declared it as national archive.

Prominent Places:

Head Marala Barrage

Marala Hydropower Project (MHP)

 Sublime Chowk Flyover

Clock Tower Cantt

Tank at Pakistan Chowk Cantt

Suchetgarh Iqbal Manzil (Residence of Allama Iqbal)

Suchetgarh Border

Allama Iqbal Library

Holy Places:

Tomb of Imam Ali-ul-Haq

Tomb of Syed Faiz-ul- Hassan Shah, Allo Mahar

Masjid Mulla Kamal

Holy  Places of Minorities:

Holy Trinity Church Sialkot Cantt

St. James Church Sialkot Cantt

Babe Di Beri (Sikhs)

Shawala Teja Singh

Jaggan Nath Temple Paris Road Sialkot

Puran Da Khoo

Historical Crossroads:

Sialkot enjoyed a very important place on the crossroads of trade routes of the region linking Central Asia, Afghanistan and Kashmir in the North and West to the ancient cities of the sub-continent in the South and East. The Do Darwaza Chowk, or the Two-Gate Square, located in the city’s Main Bazar, indicates it better than anything else. Roads from Jammu in the North, Peshawar in the West, Lahore in the South, and Delhi in the East converged here. Located on the most reliable route from Jammu and Kashmir, the city became an important trading center for timber the forests . livestock from the meadows of the princely state. This subsequently resulted in the development of associated trades of woodwork and leather.

Industries:

The industrial revolution here began during the rule of Akbar the Great when papermaker migrants from Kashmir started producing Mughal Hariri paper known for its extra whiteness and strength. Local metalworkers also provided most of the weaponry to the Mughal crown then and became a hub of metalwork in the 1890s.

“The imposition of US sanctions on Iran, one of the major importers of the local Basmati variety, has reduced rice exports to the neighboring country and subsequently its price in the local market has plummeted, nudging farmers to shift to alternative crops”

By the 1920s, surgical instruments were being manufactured in Sialkot for use throughout British India. The availability of nearby timber reserves in the valleys of Kashmir also converted it into a center for sports goods for the British troops stationed along with the North-West Frontier (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). The increased industrial activities and creation of jobs attracted many migrants from Kashmir, who constitute one of the major 55 castes of the local population. Other prominent castes included Rajput, Arain, Awan, Jat and Sayyed.Before the 1947 Sialkot was considered as the second most industrialized city after Amritsar in Punjab and was one of the few areas in British India to have its own electric utility company. . The industry, however, was soon rehabilitated under various provincial initiatives, while the entry of local entrepreneurs filled the vacuum created by the departure of Hindu and Sikh traders.As of 2019, Sialkot exported goods worth $2.5 billion or over 10pc of total national exports ($23bn) and local industries employed about 250,000 people.

Export Sector:

The growth of Sialkot’s industies has been phenomenal. It is even more remarkable considering the tremendous change. Since 1982, the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce &Industry has complimented the resilience and dynamism of the city’s entrepreneurs and played a pivotal role in overcoming these challenges. The high level of industrial activity is reflected in the impressive statistics and indicators for the city. Proportionate to the population size, the number of individuals involved in manufacturing is more than four times, the number of manufacturing establishments is six times, and the exports are eighteen times higher than the rest of the country. Since most of the industries in the city are export oriented, businessmen have a very high level of exposure to the international market. They travel frequently to trade fairs and exhibitions around the world and host foreign clients who visit their factories in Sialkot regularly. As production in the industrial units of Sialkot feeds international companies subscribing to the highest production, quality and ethical standards, businessmen have kept abreast with development on these fronts. Most of the industries in Sialkot are families owned. One also finds managers and even workers who have built successful businesses starting from humble resources.

Sports Goods:

It is said that the sports goods industry in the city started when British officers stationed here approached traditional

Surgical Instruments:

The birth of the modern surgical industry emerged from a similar collaboration between the traditional ironsmiths of Sialkot and British doctors stationed in the city who used their services to repair some instruments. With the establishment of the Memorial Christian Hospital in the city.

 Leather Products:

Similarly, the ancient skills of tanning and crafting leather products that the city had inherited over centuries developed into its famous leather-based industry. The industry not only p=depends on local resources and tanneries but imports raw and finished leather depending upon its requirements, turning out a wide variety of leather.

Musical Instruments & Badges:

Other important industries in the city are music instruments and badages.

Private Sector Contribution:

The private sector’s contribution to Sialkot’s development is impressive. Together, the business leaders have undertaken and managed several important projects in partnership with the government. The success of these projects has broadened the scope of public-private partnership in Pakistan as well as internationally. The SCCI can be credited with providing an enabling environment for collective initiatives and a platform for supporting them through various stages. The impressive infrastructure and social development projects signify an extension of a greater sense of responsibility on part of Sialkots businessmen. Historically, they have contributed generously to local as well as national charitable causes. With the formation of the Chamber, this philanthropic streak was institutionalized and enhanced.

Sialkot International Airport:

The Sialkot’s business community had long felt the need of an airport for their city. The demand was put forward from the Sialkot Chamber in the first year of its inception, and successive Chamber presidents’ lobbies persistently for it.

The Sialkot International Airport is undoubtedly the foremost achievement of the city’s businessmen. It is the first international airport in the private sector in South and West Asia. By mid-2010, the airport had made its mark on the domestic and international aviation network, with a growing number of passenger and cargo flights operating to Karachi, Islamabad, the Middle East and Europe. On completion of the Passenger Terminal building, the number of destinations linked to the airport, are expected to increase exponentially. This is a landmark achievement of Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL), the company that owns and operates the airport. 

Sialkot Dry Port:

Dry port was established in Lahore in 1973 but its benifits for Sialkot’s Business community was very countable.          Local exporters had to face many problems and had been demanding the setting up of a dry port in Sialkot. However, government support was not forthcoming despite the project’s need and feasibility. The leading businessmen of the city who had voiced the need for a dry port in Sialkot were not discouraged by the government’s apathy. In fact, it motivated them to embark on a historical initiative. They pooled their energies and resources to establish the first private sector dry port in Asia. Though businessmen from the city were already known for their collective initiatives, the Sialkot Dry Port gave a new direction and vision to the scope of private sector’s involvement in infrastructure development. Seth Muhammad Iqbal was the visionary behind the idea of establishing a cargo with a port.

Sialkot City Package:

The program of Sialkot City Package was initiated in 1999 by the Sialkot Chamber Commerce & Industry with the support of trade bodies of the city and in collaboration with the Punjab government. Later, the federal government also contributed to the Package. Sialkot City Package is the first program of its kind in the country, a pioneering public-private partnership venture for development of roads and infrastructure. Through this initiative of the Chamber, the city of Sialkot has been literally transformed and traveling in the city has become convenient and comfortable. It has also improved the system of sewerage, streetlights, and pavements in the city. The Chamber and the Punjab government reached an agreement in 1999 whereby the exporters of Sialkot agreed to contribute 0.25 percent of the value of their exports to the City Package fund. 

The ECHO Project:

CSDO has maintained a very close liaison with the District Government and other agencies working in a similar direction. In the year 2002-2003, it worked as a lead agency with UNICEF and other NGOs for the implementation of the ECHO (Elimination of Child Labor from Hazardous Occupations) Project, which benefited about three thousand children in terms of providing them an opportunity to acquire literacy. The project created awareness among thousands of individuals on the hazards of child labor and importance of education. It piloted the RAB Project in 36 union council of the Sialkot district to promote birth registration trends with the financial support of UNICEF.

Independent Monitoring Association for Child Labor:

In 1997, a unique partnership developed among the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), International Labor Organization (ILO) and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) to comprehensively address the issue of child labor in the soccer ball industry in Sialkot.

Sialkot Business and Commerce Center:

The construction of Sialkot Business and Commerce Center finally restarted in 2009 and is progressing swiftly. The Center had been in the pipeline since 1998 when land for the project, right next to the Chamber building, was allotted. A joint project of the Sialkot Chamber and SMEDA, the SBCC is estimated to the cost Rs 341.67 million. The Chamber has contributed Rs 170 million that includes the land worth Rs 150 million and an additional Rs 20 million for the civil works already carried out by the Chamber on the site. The balance amount of Rs 171.67 million is being contributed by the federal government.

Sialkot Export Processing Zone

The Sialkot Export Processing Zone (SEPZ) is the biggest export processing zone in the country and the first one that is being developed on roll-over scheme with the active participation of the private sector. The Zone is ideally located in the vicinity of the Sialkot Dry Port and Sialkot Airport, 22 Kilometers from Sialkot city, and is poised to give a boost to exports from the region.

Education  Sector And  Sialkot:

The department of education is newly emerging department in city. Its vision is to achieve best of education and comprehensive environment through education.Thee literacy rate in Sialkot is estimated 59%. There are so many educational departments in Sialkot.Sialkot Public School is a project of Sialkot Development Trust, another joint initiative of Sialkot’s business community and the Sialkot District Government. Spread over 50 acres contributed by the Punjab Government, the school is subsidized by the trust to provide quality education to the less-privileged children of Sialkot and adjoining districts.

SPS provides an ideal environment for a wholesome education from play group to O-Levels and Matric. The English medium school is affiliated with Cambridge University for O-Levels and to the Gujranwala Board for Matriculation examination. Educational standards at SPS are monitored and controlled by an external panel of educationists. Furthermore, the educational facilities at 103 the school are scrutinized by an external audit for quality. Only the best and properly qualified teachers are selected to teach at the school.

Sports Industries Development Center

SMEDA during its consultation with the stakeholders of the sports goods sector came up with the projects of sports Industries development Center (SIDC) which would help the sector to overcome the threat posed by the mechanized ball technology.

Sialkot Tanneries Zone

To overcome the threat of environmental pollution caused by and around Sialkot, the camber initiated the project of Sialkot Tanneries Zone. The project is another example of public private partnership and has made significant progress since it was conceived. For representation of the private sector, a nonprofit company by the name of Sialkot Tanneries Association (Guarantee) limited was incorporated. STAGL invited applications from prospective investors and submitted one fourth for the cost of acquisition of the land for the said project to the government.

The Chamber

Efforts for the establishment of a Chamber of industry and trade in Sialkot started in the 1950s when Mr. Ghulam Ali Shabbir, who had the experience of representing British India in international business forums, floated the idea. The leading businessmen of the city understood the importance of a Chamber for the development of their industry and supported the idea. As the city’s business community grew and the scope of its industry expanded, the awareness that a Chamber was needed became more acute and efforts in that direction became more vigorous.

 Land Revenue:

Whatever its real origin there can be no doubt about the fact that the levy of a produce-share became general at a remote period. It is mentioned, as a thing long known and established, in the ‘Laws of Manu’. The share was one-sixth of the gross produce, i.e., of the grain heap made up at the threshing-floor; and Manu notices that the sixth might be raised to one-fourth in time of war or another emergency

State Share Soon Raised To a Higher Proportion:

Though the sixth became a traditional share, the growing requirements of State in a perpetual condition of warfare, and the frequent demands of conquerors, often caused it to be raised. At first various devices would be resorted to e. g. of demanding husked rice instead of unhusked —without apparently increasing the share. But later, we find one-half was a common rate of sharing. The Mughal Emperors fixed one-third as fair rate.

Advantages of the Plan:

This plan offered many advantages, in an early stage of society. Being a share of the gross produce, there was no question of any complicated calculations of the cultivator’s profit, or the costs of production, nor about the relative value of land, or the productiveness of the season. 121 the land produced, little or much, was heaped on the threshing-floor and the king’s officer superintended its division in kind. In a famine year there might be nothing to divide and so revenue relief followed automatically.

Its Disadvantages:

But there are also many disadvantages attending the system, which gradually cause it to be modified, and ultimately given up, in favor of a cash equivalent.

 GDP Per Capita Yearly:

Sialkot is a wealthy city with the gdp $13 billion and per capita income in 2021 estimated as $18500 . this city is considered to be most industrialist. the Sialkot is noted by Britain’s as a world class manufacturing hub having strong export industries.

Land Rates:

As Sialkot is famous for its manufacturing purpose so land rates in the area are also  very high. The land price vary plot to plot. The agricultural land is different from residential land in its rates. The land closed to motorway is quiet high in its price.

Police System:

The first Superintendent of Police, Mr W. Gaventry, was posted in Sialkot in 1911. The Police was assisted in its functions of preventing and detecting crimes by lambardars, tappedars and chowkidars. The local system of watch and ward, Thikri Pehra, was also in vogue. In those days, horses were mostly used for the purposes of patrolling (gasht) and transportation. Owing to riverain area, murder, kidnapping, and cattle theft were the major crimes in the district. Head Constables and Assistant Sub- Inspectors were generally appointed as in charge of police stations.

 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Sialkot:

Introduction

EPA- Sialkot is functional with exclusive mandate to prevent & control pollution. We have been taking strict & concrete steps to administer pollution under relevant provisions of Punjab Environmental Protection (PEP) Act 1997 (Amended 2012) and rules made there-under. As, Punjab Environmental Protection Act is meant to provide protection, conservation, rehabilitation and improvement of sustainable development and pollution control, our sphere of work.

The Guardian of Exports:

There are very Few cities in Pakistan can claim to contribute as extensively to a country’s export revenues, industrial growth and global reputation as the city which is now popularly known as “The City of Opportunities”. Sialkot is an important economic center and the only totally export oriented city in Pakistan. Development of local cottage industries in Sialkot has assumed the model status for the developing world. Thousands of small and medium enterprises, situated in and around the city, are engaged in honoring their global commitments for export of value-added goods. The city is earning over 2.2 billion US Dollars annually through its exports in various sectors ranging from Sports Goods, Surgical Instruments, Leather Products, Gloves of all sorts, Textile items, Sports Wear, Martial Art Uniforms & Accessories, Musical instruments, Military & Police Uniforms Accessories, Highland Outfitters, Badges, Kitchen Ware, Hollow Ware to Knives and Cutlery items.

Besides exceptional achievements in business, the corporate sector of the city has exclusively emerged beyond Corporate Social.

Key Functions of Sialkot Chamber:

 Provision of latest information on business and economy to its members for facilitation in business.

 Performing Advocacy & Lobbying role in the best interest of the Export Sector of Sialkot.

 Federal Budget Proposals to the Federal Government.

 Trade Policy Proposals to the Federal Government.

 New Markets Exploration by arranging Trade Delegations to International Avenues and Participation in International Exhibitions and Trade Fairs.

 Dissemination of Information & Training for capacity building of upcoming entrepreneurs.

 Interacting with Government/international agencies on micro/macro business issues and other policy matters.

 Arranging Seminars, Workshops, Conferences etc.

 Corporate training programs for Members.

 Arranging meetings to solve issues between stakeholders & Government.

 Solving the business disputes through the Mediation Committee.

 Establishing linkages with Academia.

 Facilitation to members in terms of Visa Applications.

Achievements of Sialkot Chamber:

The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry has not only made its contribution towards promotion of exports for Pakistan but has also contributed extensively in social sector due to which Sialkot has become a role model for other cities of developing countries. The Social Projects taken up by the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry include but not limited.

Sialkot City Developement Program:

Similar initiative was taken by the exporters of Sialkot in 1999 to construct city roads by contributing 0.25% of their export proceeds under Sialkot City Development Package. The collective efforts of the exporters prompted the Government to share with financial contribution. All the main arteries in Sialkot have been developed into international standard roads.

Agriculture:

The Agriculture Department existed in Sialkot at the time of independence. It was headed by an Extra-Assistant Director at district level; an Agriculture Officer at tehsil level and a Muqaddamat markaz level. The set-up was not changed during or after the Basic Democracy system of Ayub Khan.

However, it was upgraded in 1988 and a Deputy Director was appointed at district level; Extra-Assistant Director at Tehsil level; Agriculture Officer at markaz level; and ‘Field Assistant at union council level. The set-up primarily looked after the Extension wing, which worked directly with the farmers to increase the reproduce by equipping them with modern technology and information. There were other agriculture related institutions too. However, with the promulgation of the Devolution Plan in 2001, all agriculture related institutions/wings were combined under an Executive District Officer (Agriculture). In2017. The Department returned from district to provincial level. The present hierarchy consists of one Deputy Director(Extension) as district head assisted by 4 Assistant Directors posted in the sub-divisions /tehsils The core functions of the department are to disseminate production technology through various extension activities, coordination between various wings of agriculture and farmer community.

Irrigation:

There is an extensive irrigation Network in District Sialkot Rover Chenab enters in Pakistan territory about 15 Km upstream from Marala Barrage from Marala Barrage Nullah Aik Palkhu and Deg also flow through District Sialkot, and these originate from Indian held Kashmir Marala head works is a headworks situated on Chenab River

near the city of Sialkot.

 Land Use:

The land use distribution in Sialkot is as under: –

Agricultural Divisions:

The district may be divided into four major zones for

agricultural purpose.

Land Use Acres

Geographical Area 753256

Cultivated Area 622138

Un-Cultivated Area 100320

Irrigated Area 509628

Non-Irrigated/Barani Area 68484

Soil and Water:

Soil texture in Sialkot varies from sandy loam, loam, and heavy soils. Average rainfall during last five years was 440 mm. Minimum and maximum temperature ranges from -3⁰C to 46⁰C during winter and summer, respectively.

Cropping Pattern History:

The cropping pattern followed in Sialkot district is mixcropping pattern that is followed in most parts of the Punjab.

Major Crops:

The land of Sialkot is very fertile and suitable for growing different types of crops. The major crops in Sialkot include Rice, Wheat and Potato while there are also many other crops and vegetables which are cultivated in Sialkot District. Rice is the major crop of Kharif, which is grown on 85% of total cultivated area. Sugarcane is grown on 3% of

the total cultivated area. While wheat is the chief crop of Rabi season and grown on 93% of the area. The Potato is grown on 2% of the total cultivated area. The main oilseed crop cultivated in Sialkot District is Sunflower.

 Irrigation System:

There is an extensive irrigation Network in District Sialkot Rover Chenab enters in Pakistan territory about 15 Km upstream from Marala Barrage from Marala Barrage Nullah.

Three main canals originate and flow through district Sialkot namely.

1) Marala Ravi Link Canal

2) Upper Chenab Canal UCC

3) Bambanwala Ravi BedianDepalpur Canal (BRBD).

Livestock:

The agriculture sector contributes 19.2% of GDP of Pakistan, which consumes 38.5% of direct workforce, coming from 65- 70% of the population. Over the years livestock has emerged as the largest subsector in agriculture. The sector contributed 60.1 percent to the agriculture value addition and 11.5 percent to the GDP during FY2021. More than 8 million rural families are engaged in livestock production and deriving more than 35-40 percent of their income from this source.

Excise and Taxation Office Sialkot:

The office of the Excise, Taxation and Narcotics control Sialkot was established before creation of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and was assigned the task of collection of revenue receipts under various heads. The Excise & Taxation officer is also entrusted with the powers of Assessing Authority, Motor Registering Authority, Prohibition Officer and Revenue Collector under section 30 of the Land Revenue Act 1967.

Sialkot Waste Management Company (SWMC):

The population of Tehsil Sialkot as per the 2017 population census of MC limit is 733422. The daily intake of mixed waste from city to dumping site is 440 tons / day approx. The average composition of municipal solid waste in Sialkot with organic waste as 58.57%, Diaper as 11.85%, nylon as 9.78%, textile as 6.26%, Noncombustible as 4.48%, paper cardboard waste as 3.32%, combustibles as 2.84%, Glass as 0.71%, plastics as 0.67%, tetra pack waste as 0.68%, hazardous as 0.61%, electric waste as 0.07%, pet as 0.08% and metals as 0.09% as per the Waste.

 Sialkot Waste Management Company:

Sialkot Waste Management Company (SWMC) is incorporated under Section 42 of the Companies Ordinance 1984 with the vision to improve Solid Waste Management Services in Sialkot City 2014.

After the incorporation of SWMC, a Services and AssetManagement Agreement (SAAMA) has signed between SWMC and TMA Sialkot in which machinery and manpower related to Solid WasteManagement has been transferred to SWMC along with theresponsibility of 16 Urban Union Councils.The company was established after the success story of Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) Outsourcing Model

 District Judiciary Sialkot:

The District and Sessions Judge was appointed to hear the appeals from first class courts in the district and could pass sentence of death in criminal case. He was also Additional Sessions Judge for Wazirabad Tehsil of Gujranwala district. He had one Senior and two junior Sub-Judges and four Munsifs. All did their civil work only except that the Sub-Judges (who were Extra Assistant Commissioners) could be called upon to do criminal and executive work when necessary and there were three Honorary Civil Judges.

 Conclusion:

Sialkot is one of the important industrial cities of Pakistan. It has very ancient history. Sialkot was founded by Raja Sul and later it was reconstructed by Raja Salivahian, he also built a fort in the city, thus the city was given the name ‘Sialkot” which means the “Fort of Sia”. After independence Muslim population of Sialkot supported Muslim league and Muhammad Ali Jinnah and many Muslims settled here after migrating from India. The city has been affected by the wars of 1965 and 1971 because of its location; it is located near the border of India. Sialkot is known for manufacturing and export of many items such as surgical instruments, musical instruments, sports goods, leather goods, textile goods etc. Sialkot is the second largest source of foreign exchange earnings for Pakistan because of its exports’ and remittances from overseas manpower.Sialkot is located in Punjab province near Chanab River. The north part of Sialkot is very fertile whereas south art is less fertile. These both arts are watered by Chanab River. The main crops of Sialkot are wheat, barley, rice, corn, millet and sugarcane.Sialkot is a city rich in culture. People of Sialkot belong to different backgrounds. People of different castes live in Sialkot. They belong to different castes like Jat, Aryan, Kashmir, Mughal, Gujjars and others. Culture of Sialkot represents Punjabi culture and its impact can be seen in different areas of life in Sialkot. Following are the different elements of Sialkot’s culture.