Punjab-Mandi Bahauddin

Brief History – Governmental Structure – Administrative Divisions – Heritage/ Historical Sites and Tourist Attractions

Brief History of Mandi Bahauddin District

Mandi Bahauddin was part of the Gujrat district till 1993. In 1960 Mandi Bahauddin town was given the status of a subdivision/ tehsil, prior to which it was part of the Phalia tehsil in Gujrat. In 1993, due to the socio-economic growth of the area after the completion of both the Rasul Barrage and the Rasul-Qadirabad Link Canal project, it was given the status of a district, with Phalia, Malakwal, and Mandi Bahauddin as its tehsils.

Most of the early history the district, thus, is the same as that of Gujrat district, and has been recounted in the chapter on Gujrat. According to most accounts in the earliest recorded history of the areas that are now part of the district, the famous Battle of the Hydaspes River[1] that occurred in 326 BC between Alexander the Great and Raja Porus, took place approximately 8 km northwest of modern-day Mandi Bahauddin town, on the southern bank of River Jhelum.

According to local lore, Raja Porus lost the war, and his kingdom, to Alexander’s forces and was badly wounded. When the wounded Raja Porus was brought before Alexander, he was asked how he expected to be treated, whereupon Porus is said to have replied: “As a king ought to be!” Alexander is reputed to have forgiven Porus, and to have also returned his kingdom to him, declaring him his chief ally.[2] This battle proved to be the last major war fought by Alexander, as the Macedonians/ Greeks refused to march further on hearing of the impending arrival of an army composed of 2,000 cavalry, 200 war elephants, and 300 chariots to aid Porus. Alexander is known to have founded two cities in the region: Nicaea (“Victory”) at the site of modern-day Mong town, and Bucephala[3] at the site (possibly) of Phalia.

In 997 AD, Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi took over the Ghaznavid Dynasty, and in 1005 conquered the Kabul Shahis,[4] following it with the conquests of Punjab region. The Ghaznavid Dynasty was followed by the Delhi Sultanate[5] (1206-1526) and the Mughals, whose reign ended with the British conquest.

In 1506, a Gondal Chief, Bahauddin, with his followers, migrated to this area from Pindi Shah Jahanian (now in Khanewal district) and established a settlement named Pindi Bahauddin,[6] in the northeastern corner of the region commonly known as Gondal Bar.[7] When a big market place or Mandi was established in the region, it became known as Mandi Bahauddin.

During the declining years of the Mughal Empire, the Sikhs invaded and occupied Gujranwala and its neighboring districts, including Mandi Bahauddin. The Sikhs shaped the entire area into talukas in the early 19th century. The taluka headquarters controlling the area presently forming district Mandi Bahauddin were at Phalia, Qadirabad, and Dinga. Under the Sikh reign, Muslims faced severe restrictions and hardships, and thus asked the help of Syed Ahmad Barelvi (1786-1831) in 1821. He was an Islamist leader who is considered to be the first leader in the subcontinent to successfully lead a populist/ Islamist movement that appealed to both common people and rulers for Jihad against “non-believers.” He spent 2 years recruiting and organizing his forces and getting material support for his Punjab campaign against the Sikh rulers. He carefully developed a network throughout the length and breadth of India, collecting funds and recruiting volunteers. In December 1826, Sayyid Ahmad, along with Shah Ismail (a Muslim scholar and warrior) and their followers clashed with Sikh troops at Okara but with no decisive result. In a major battle near the town of Balakot (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) in 1831, both Sayyid Ahmad and Shah Ismail, as well as their forces, were defeated and the two leaders were martyred by the Sikh army. Tombs of both Syed Ahmed and Shah Ismail have been built in Balakot.

The Second Anglo Sikh War of 1849 between the British and Sikhs took place in Chillianwala (Mandi Bahauddin) where the Sikhs lost and the area was annexed to the British Empire.

During British Rule, in 1916, the Pindi Bahauddin Railway Station was built to connect the town with other major cities via the Lala Musa Railway Junction. A town, Chak Bandi[8] was founded by Sir Malcolm Heley, and approximately 51 different Chaks were included. In these 51 Chaks, land was awarded to people who were loyal to the British Empire and had worked for British interests. Chak#51, thus, became the center of Chak Bandi. A famous grain market was set up in the center of the Chak, and soon afterwards, Chak#51 was called Mandi Bahauddin, since it was close to the Pindi Bahauddin settlement. In 1920, this name was made official. In 1924 the name of Pindi Bahauddin Railway Station was also officially changed to Mandi Bahauddin. In 1937, Mandi Bahauddin town was given the status of a Town Committee. In 1941, the town was given the status of a Municipal Committee. In 1946, 9 gates and a fortification wall surrounding the town were completed; the wall and at least one gate (Saddar Gate) are still intact.

After the 1947 Partition, when Sikhs and Hindus migrated to India, many Muslims from Indian Punjab and other provinces migrated to Mandi Bahauddin and settled in the town. In 1960, Phalia was given the status of subdivision/ tehsil in District Gujrat with Mandi Bahauddin as its capital.

In 1963, the Rasul Barrage and Rasul-Qadirabad Link Canal projects were both started under the Indus Basin Irrigation Project, and, in order to accommodate all engineers and workers involved in the project, a large colony for government employees and foreign contractors was constructed 2 km north of Mandi Bahauddin city. This project was completed in 1968 and helped the city grow exponentially.

In 1993, Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, then Chief Minister of Punjab, announced and notified Mandi Bahauddin city as the District Headquarter of a new district Mandi Bahauddin with 3 tehsils: Mandi Bahauddin, Phalia, and Malakwal.

Figure 1.4 Saddar Gate to Mandi Bahauddin

Governmental Structure; Mandi Bahauddin; District

At the Federal level, Mandi Bahauddin district is allocated a set number of representatives in both the National Assembly and the Provincial Assembly:

• Number of seats in the National Assembly 2
• Number of seats in the Provincial Assembly 5

Under the Local Government and Community Development Mandi Bahauddin district has 1 District Council and 3 Municipal Committees as follows:

• Mandi Bahauddin
• Phalia
• Malakwal

Administrative Divisions; Mandi Bahaudin district

Mandi Bahauddin district covers an area of 7,623 km² and is subdivided into 3 tehsils and 65 Union Councils as follows:

Mandi Bahauddin Tehsil	27 Union Councils
Phalia Tehsil	21 Union Councils
Malakwal Tehsil	17 Union Councils

Table 1.2 Mandi Bahauddin Administrative Divisions

[1] River Jhelum was known as River Hydaspes by the Greeks, and the battle was referenced as Battle of Hydaspes by the Greeks and Battle of River Jhelum by the Indians.

[2] Kaushik Roy. India’s Historic Battles from Alexander the Great to Kargil. Published by Permanent Black, Delhi. p. 26

[3] Bucephala was the name of Alexander’s horse that died on the first day of the battle with Raja Porus.

[4] Kabul Shahis or Shahiyas ruled Kabul Valley and the old provinces of Gandhara, areas that are now in northern Pakistan

[5] The Delhi Sultanate was a Muslim Empire that ruled from Delhi. It consisted of 5 dynasties: the Mamluks (1206-90), Khiljis (1290-1320), Tughlaq (1320-1414), Sayyids (1414-51) and Lodhis (1451-1526).

[6] Pindi Bahauddin is now known as Chak#51. Pind means village in the Punjabi language and so does chak.

[7]The area between River Jhelum and River Chenab is known as Chaj Doab; it is also called Gondal Bar because of the high concentration of members of the Gondal clan. This area is distributed between districts Sargodha and Mandi Bahauddin.

[8] Chak means “village”

Heritage/Historical Sites/Tourist Attractions; Mandi Bahauddin District

There are no protected historical monuments in Mandi Bahauddin district, but some unprotected (but important) historical monuments and buildings include

• A 12 m high mound in Phalia, where old coins and parts of earthen kitchen utensils were found; Mandi Bahuddin district
• A 700 year old Mosque and a Sikh Gurdwara in Mangat; Mandi Bahuddin district
• Chillianwala monument built to commemorate the Chillianwala encounter in which a large number of innocent people were killed by the British and Sikh soldiers, also known as Qatalgarh or house of slaughter; Mandi Bahuddin district
• Tomb of Nosha Ganj near village Ranmal; Mandi Bahuddin district
• Shrines of Mian Saeed and Khwaja Shams-ud-din at Kadhar Tehsil Mandi Bahauddin; Mandi Bahuddin district
• Shrine of Pir Yaqoob Shah at Rasul; Mandi Bahuddin district
• Old ruins at Helan (a city believed to have been founded by Alexander the Great). Some coins bearing the date of 8th century Hijri[1] have been found at these ruins; Mandi Bahuddin district
• Ruins of a tomb believed to be of Mirza Sheikh Ali Beg, who was an Amir of Emperor Akbar, killed fighting the Gakhars in 996 Hijri. He founded a village close to Helan; this village is still called Sheikh Alipur; Mandi Bahuddin district
• Old mosque in Rasul; Mandi Bahuddin district. This contained an inscription which was taken away by the British and placed in the Crystal Palace, London, by Edward Clive Bayley
• Mong and Rasul; Mandi Bahuddin district have been identified as towns built by Alexander the Great. Old wells abound in Mong and coins have also been discovered

Other tourist attractions of the district include

• Rasul Barrage on River Jhelum; Mandi Bahuddin district
• Banks of River Chenab and canal banks; Mandi Bahuddin district
• Various parks and gardens in various parts of the district; Mandi Bahuddin district
• Chalianwala Lake/ Dhand; Mandi Bahuddin district

Figure 1.9 Pink flamingoes Rasul Barrage

Figure 1.10 Rasul Barrage Flora

At present, there are 3 parks in Mandi Bahauddin Tehsil which provide good recreation spots for the entire family. Other important picnic spots are the Rasul Barrage Headworks area and the Qadirabad Barrage area, as well as the Daphar Plantation. Other places worth visiting include Railway Workshop Malakwal, the Engineering College at Rasul, and the Sikh Gurdwara at Khair Bawa. There are rest houses on canal banks in Rasul, Ahla, Chak Raib, Head Faqiran, and Chillianwala.

Figure 1.11 A Gurdwara in Phalia Tehsil

Figure 1.12 Mian Waheeduddin Park, Mandi Bahauddin district

Figure 1.13 Bab-Husain to Mandi Bahauddin

Figure 1.14 Riverside complex, Mandi Bahauddin

Figure 1.15 Chillian Wala Monument

[1] The date references the Muslim Calendar that begins with the Prophet Muhammad’s migration (hijrat) from Mecca to Medina, and so would be interpreted as 800 years after the migration.

Topography of Mandi Bahauddin District

District Mandi Bahauddin is located 204 m above mean sea level and forms a part of Chaj Doab. Topographically, the district can be divided into 4 parts as follows:

• The sub-mountainous ravines in the northwest
• The central plateau or bar
• The old riverbeds on either sides
• The fringes of the district liable to river action

The northern tip of the Gondal Bar (part of Chaj Doab, Mandi Bahauddin Tehsil) is near the Pabbi hills. This submontane tract is full of ravines and is unproductive. The Chambal hills are located in Mandi Bahauddin Tehsil.

The central plateau or the Gondal Bar area has fertile soil and is mostly flat. It extends from the eastern district boundary to its western border. The district edge towards the Chenab River is marked by the bank overhanging the old bed of the river, which, at some places, is as high as 6 m and at others forms a very gradual slope. The local name of the old bank is Nakka.

The old riverbed of Chenab can be seen in a well-marked high bank. At the border between Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin, the original high bank can be seen plainly. There is a depression under the Nakka along its full course made by the final current of water as the river recedes. This effect can still be seen in the present river bed when it annually leaves the high bank.

Fringes of the district area which are still liable to river action form a sizable area. This area is inundated by floods from the rivers Jhelum and Chenab.

Rivers, Streams, and Lakes; Mandi Bahauddin district

The district has 2 rivers: the Jhelum flows along the district’s northern boundary and the Chenab along its southern boundary. Both the rivers shrink to the size of a small stream during winter, but during summers, they swell, and may even cause flooding.

There are numerous streams which bring water from the Pabbi Range, the most important of these being the Budhi Nullah; others include Halkiwani, Saim Nullah, Rohi Nullah, Kas Jamarghal, Kas Saraggar, Khairiwala Kas, Kahan Kas, Bhabra Sem Nullah/ Rarka Sem Nullah, Qadirabad Sem Nullah, Miani Gondal Sem Nullah, Herya Sem Nullah, and the Sukhnain Nullah. One of the natural drainage canals of the district is Kot Baloch Drain.

Some lakes/ dhands of the district are Qadirabad Dhand (Tehsil Phalia), Government Fish Pond, and Rasul Barrage Reservoir.

Figure 1.6 A View of River Jhelum near Rasul Barrage, Mandi Bahauddin

Forests; Mandi Bahauddin district

Forests of the district are of two types: the Rakhs or rangelands which are government wastelands, and Belas/ Riverine Forests which are on the alluvial lands of River Chenab and River Jhelum. Flora of the forests and linear plantations in the district include shisham (Dalbergio sissoo), kikar (Acacia arabica), ber (Zizyphus jujube), poplar (Populus alba), simbal (Ceiba), willow (Salix alba), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus cinerea), mulberry (Morus maraceae), banyan (Ficus benghalensis), pipal (Ficus religosa), and dharaik (Melia azerdarah). There are a large number of plants that are grown for their medicinal properties, like akasbale, dodhak, itsit, bhang, and aak.

The following table shows the total forest area under various departments in Mandi Bahauddin district as per Punjab Development Statistics 2018-19:

Total Forest Area	13,111 A	Under Provincial Govt.	– A
District Govt.	– A	Reserved Forests	13,111 A
Linear Plantation	– km	Resumed Lands	– A

Table 1.3 Mandi Bahauddin Forests

The Daphar Irrigated Plantation and a plantation at Mona are being preserved by the Provincial Government.

Some of the forests of the district are Randiali Reserved Forest, Murid Reserved Forest, Bahri Reserved Forest, Kartarpur Reserved Forest, Barubgarh Reserved Forest, and Kala Shadian Reserved Forest are some of the forests[1] of the district.

Soils; Mandi Bahauddin district

The soils have been developed from the depositions of the alluvium of the Indus River System (i.e. Indus River and its 5 tributaries in Punjab) and are thus, fertile.

Climate; Mandi Bahauddin district

The district is situated at 244 m above mean sea level. The climate of Mandi Bahauddin district is extreme, but it also enjoys all four seasons. The district weather begins getting warmer from April, with the hotter months being May, June, and July, when the daytime temperature may go up to 45 °C. June is the hottest month, when the mean maximum and minimum temperatures are 42 °C and 27 °C respectively. By October, hot weather starts switching to first autumn and then winter weather. The cold months are December, January, and February, with January being the coldest. In January and February, hoar frost is common, and temperatures may fall below freezing. The days are pleasant, and mean maximum and minimum temperatures during this period are 21.5 °C and 5.1 °C respectively. January is the coldest month when the mean maximum and minimum temperatures are 20 °C and 4 °C.

July and August are the Monsoon months; the district receives its maximum amount of rainfall during this period. The average annual rainfall in the district is 435 mm.

Seismic Activity/Seismicity; Mandi Bahauddin district

The district belongs to Zone 2A of the Seismic Zone Map of Pakistan, which means there will be little to no damage in case of earthquakes.

[1] Travelingluck.com

Population; Mandi Bahauddin District

The following table shows the population of Mandi Bahauddin district as per the 2017 Census:

District/Tehsil	Area km2	Population	Male%	Female%	Urban%	Growth Rate %
Mandi Bahauddin District	2,673	1,593,292	48.7	51.3	20.5	1.68
Mandi Bahauddin Tehsil	759	668,007
Phalia Tehsil	1,155	553,416
Malakwal Tehsil	759	371,869

Table 1.4 Mandi Bahauddin Population Statistics

 

Religions; Mandi Bahauddin district[1]

Muslims	99.1%
Christians	0.6%
Hindus	Negligible %
Ahmadis	0.2%
Scheduled Castes	Negligible %
Others	Negligible %

Table 1.5 Mandi Bahauddin Religious Distribution

Languages; Mandi Bahauddin district[2]

Urdu	2.5%
Punjabi	97%
Sindhi	Negligible %
Pushto	0.5%
Balochi	Negligible %
Seraiki	0.5%
Others	Negligible %

Table 1.6 Mandi Bahauddin Languages

[1] 1998 Census; ; 2017 Census data has not been made public yet.

[2] 1998 Census; 2017 Census data has not been made public yet.

Economic Activity – Economic Infrastructure

Economic Activity; Mandi Bahauddin District

The majority of the population of the district is engaged in agriculture. The major employers of the district are:

• Agriculture with its Allied Livestock Breeding & Fishing (40.3%)
• Construction (36.5%)
• Service Workers, Shop/ Market Sales (6.2%)
• Transport, Storage & Communication (2.2%)
• Community, Social & Personal Services (8.3%)
• Manufacturing (3.6%)
• Others (2.9%)

Land Use; Mandi Bahauddin district

The following table shows the major land use statistics of Mandi Bahauddin district as per Punjab Development Statistics 2018-19:

Reported Area	268,000 HA	Cultivated Area	221,000 HA
Net Sown	199,000 HA	Current Fallow	22,000 HA
Un-Cultivated Area	47,000 HA	Culturable Waste	11,000 HA
Forest Area	5,000 HA

Table 1.7 Mandi Bahauddin Land Use Statistics

Irrigation Network; Mandi Bahauddin district

The Upper Jhelum Canal emanating from Mangla Dam and Lower Jhelum Canal from the Rasul Barrage are the main canals irrigating the district. Upper Jhelum Canal irrigates the eastern, central, and a major portion of the western part of the district, through Gujrat branch and a network of distributaries and minors. The Lower Jhelum Canal irrigates a part of Malakwal Tehsil before flowing into Sargodha district. Some smaller distributaries irrigating the district are Sultanpur Minor, Wara Alam Shah Minor, Harla Minor, Chillianwala, and Nihalsinghwala Minor.

The following table shows the irrigation statistics as per Punjab Development Statistics 2018-19:

Total Irrigated Area	310,000 HA	Un-irrigated Area	3,000 HA
Canal Irrigated	11,000 HA	Canal Wells Irrigated	12,000 HA
Tube Well Irrigated Area	53,000 HA	Canal Tube Wells	225,000 HA
Dug Wells	9,000 HA	Others	– HA

Table 1.11 Mandi Bahauddin Irrigation Statistics

Agriculture; Mandi Bahauddin district

The district belongs to the Northern Irrigated Agro-Ecological Zone of Pakistan. Almost 40.3% of the total population of the district is engaged in agriculture and its allied livestock breeding.

Main crops of the district include sugarcane, wheat, rice, jowar, bajra, tobacco, maash, masoor, moong, gram, maize, rapeseed & mustard, canola, cotton, sesanum, sugarbeet, guar seed, linseed, sunflower, sunn hemp, and chickpeas.

Fruits of the district include citrus, mango, banana, guavas, ber, mulberry, loquat, melon, watermelon, musk melon, jaamun, phalsa, pomegranate, and purslane.

Main vegetables are chilies, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, coriander, garlic, peas, carrots, turnips, radishes, cauliflower, cabbage, and bathu (a type of spinach).

Livestock Breeding; Mandi Bahauddin district

Livestock breeding is the second most important economic activity of the district.

The following table shows the livestock population as of the 2010 Census of Livestock (quoted in Punjab Development Statistics 2018-19):

Cattle	120,000 Heads	Buffaloes	591,000 Heads	Sheep	41,000 Heads
Goats	125,000 Heads	Camels	272 Heads	Horses	5,362 Heads
Mules	3,066 Heads	Asses	36,974 Heads

Table 1.8 Mandi Bahauddin Livestock Statistics

Kajli sheep, beetal goat, and beetal-spotted goats are the indigenous breeds of livestock in Mandi Bahauddin district.

Poultry Farms; Mandi Bahauddin district

According to Table 17 (Number of Commercial Poultry Farms and Number of Birds by Size of Flock) there are 388 poultry farms in the district. According to Punjab Development Statistics 2018-19 there are no privately owned poultry farms in the District.

Fishing; Mandi Bahauddin district

Fishing is carried out in the Pond Area of Rasul Barrage[1] except the Reserved Areas. It is also carried out in Qadirabad Dhand (Tehsil Phalia), River Chenab (Tehsil Phalia), Rasul-Qadirabad Link Canal, Lower Jhelum Canal, Budhi Nallah, Saim Nullah, Jodhpur-Bangla Canal (Tehsil Malakwal), Bhabra/Rarka Saim Nullah (Tehsil Phalia), Halki Sem Nullah, Qadirabad Saim Nullah (Tehsil Malakwal), Power Supply Channel (Tehsil Mandi Bahauddin), Sugar Mill Saim Nullah (Tehsil Mandi Bahauddin), Chota Drain with Mona Drain (Tehsil Phalia), Miana Gondal Saim Nullah (Tehsil Malakwal), Herya Saim Nullah (Tehsil Malakwal), River Jhelum (Mandi Bahauddin), and Government Fish Farm, Headworks Rasul. Most of this fish is consumed locally, but some is exported to other parts of Pakistan as well.

Bee Keeping/ Apiculture; Mandi Bahauddin district

In Pakistan, honey bee colonies were introduced in the 1980s, and since then, more than 300,000 honey bee colonies have been successfully established in Pakistan, including the Mandi Bahauddin district.

[1] Department of Fisheries Punjab Manual

 

Figure 1.18 Irrigation Lines for crops through a Farm, Mandi Bahauddin

Minerals and Mining; Mandi Bahauddin district

There are no minerals currently being mined in the district.

Industry and Manufacturing; Mandi Bahauddin district

There is no industrial estate in the district, but there are 113 small, medium, and large industrial units[1] in the district. Industry-wise number of units in the district is as follows:

Type of Industry	Number of Units	Type of Industry	Number of Units
Chip/ Straw board	02	Cold Storage	16
Flour Mills	15	Rice Mills	75
Sugar	02	Textile Spinning	01
Textile Weaving	01	Lubricants	01

Table 1.9 Mandi Bahauddin Industries

Figure 1.7 A Brick Kiln in Mandi Bahauddin

Figure 1.8 A Rice Mill

Trade (Import/Export); Mandi Bahauddin district

The major national and international exports of the district are rice, tobacco, sugarcane, and other agricultural produce.

Handicrafts; Mandi Bahauddin district

Handicrafts of the district include handmade gift items such as embroidered clothes, leather goods, and handbags.

[1] Directorate of Industry, Punjab. Pre-Investment Study, Mandi Bahauddin District 2012; Latest available.

Economic Infrastructure; Mandi Bahauddin District

The district is linked with Gujranwala, Sargodha, Hafizabad, Gujrat, and Jhelum districts through black topped roads. Even though Mandi Bahauddin city is not directly in the path of National Highway N 5 and Motorway M 2, it is connected to them through black topped roads and is, thus, connected to Karachi and other parts of Pakistan through black topped roads. The district is also connected to other areas of Pakistan via railway.

Road Statistics; Mandi Bahauddin district

Total length of black topped roads in the district is 2,133.6 km. The following table shows the type of road and its length in the district as per Punjab Development Statistics 2018-19:

National Highways	– km
Motorways	– km
Provincial Highways	1,881.3 km
Sugar Cess Roads	252.3 km

Table 1.10 Mandi Bahauddin Road Statistics

Some of the important road links of the district include:

• Kharian Road (which links the city to the main Grand Trunk Road now N 5)
• Mandi-Gujrat Road (linking the city to Motorway M 2)
• Mohabbatpur Road
• Mandi Bahauddin Bypass
• Sargodha Road
• Marala-Mandi-Bahauddin Road
• Phalia Mandi Bahauddin Road

Figure 1.16 Victoria Bridge, Malakwal

Rail and Airways; Mandi Bahauddin district

The district is linked with Gujrat and Faisalabad district through the Pakistan Railway network. A major railway station was built during the British period in Mandi Bahauddin. There are 4 major railway stations, one each at Chak Sher Muhammad, Chillianwala, Mandi Bahauddin, and Ahla. Other smaller railway stations connecting various cities/ villages of the district to other parts of Pakistan also exist.[1]

There is no commercial or military airport in the district. The closest commercial airports are the Mangla Airport and Gujrat Airport.

Figure 1.17 Mandi Babahuddin Railway Station

Radio and Television; Mandi Bahauddin district

There is one privately owned Radio station in Mandi Bahauddin. There is no TV station in the district but TV channels can be viewed via cable.

Telecommunications; Mandi Bahauddin district

Pakistan Telecommunications Ltd. has established a network of telephone lines. In all, there are 49 telephone exchanges[2] operating in the district ranging in capacity from 50 lines to 54,786 lines. In addition, a number of cellular companies also provide their services in the district.

Post Offices/ Courier Services; Mandi Bahauddin district

There are nearly 176 offices of Pakistan Post in the district with 55 branches[3] in Mandi Bahauddin Tehsil, 45 in Malakwal Tehsil, and 76 in Phalia Tehsil.

Banking/ Financial Institutions; Mandi Bahauddin district

There are a total of 51 branches[4] of various banks in the district, with 23 in Mandi Bahauddin Tehsil, 12 in Malakwal Tehsil, and 16 in Phalia Tehsil.

According to the List of Reporting Bank Branches 2019 by State Bank of Pakistan, the following banks have bank branches in Mandi Bahauddin:

• Allied Bank Ltd.
• Bank Alfalah Ltd.
• Bank Al-Habib
• Faysal Bank Ltd.
• Habib Bank Ltd.
• KASB Bank Ltd.
• Muslim Commercial Bank Ltd.
• Meezan Bank Ltd.
• National Bank of Pakistan Ltd.
• National Investment Bank Ltd.
• Silk Bank Ltd.
• Soneri Bank Ltd.
• Summit Bank Ltd.
• The Bank of Punjab
• The Punjab Provincial Cooperative Bank Ltd.
• United Bank Ltd.
• Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd.

In all there are 81 branches of various conventional banks and 14 branches of different Islamic banks in the District.

Electricity and Gas; Mandi Bahauddin district

There are 5 grid stations[5] in the district ranging in capacity from 66 KV to 132 KV. Natural gas is available in all tehsil headquarters of the district.

[1] Directorate of Industries, Punjab. Pre-Investment study Mandi Bahauddin District, 2012; Latest available.

[2] Directorate of Industries, Lahore. Pre-Investment study Mandi Bahauddin District 2012; Latest available.

[3] Directorate of Industries, Lahore. Pre-Investment study Mandi Bahauddin District 2012; Latest available.

[4] Directorate of Industries, Lahore. Pre-Investment study Mandi Bahauddin District 2012; Latest available.

[5] Directorate of Industries, Lahore. Pre-Investment study Mandi Bahauddin District 2012; Latest available.

Educational Institutions; Mandi Bahauddin district

The following table shows the educational facilities in the district (Punjab Development Statistics 2018-19):

Institution	Boys/Girls	Institution	Boys/Girls
Primary Schools	323/225	Middle Schools	52/81
Secondary Schools	71/80	Higher Secondary	08/04
Degree Colleges	06/06	Other Higher Secondary[1]	-/-
Other Degree Colleges[2]	05/05	Technical Training Institutes[3]	03/01
Vocational Institutes[4]	-/02	Commercial Training Institutes[5]	02/-
Universities	–	Govt. Mosque Schools	-/-
Medical Schools	–	Engineering Schools[6]	01

Table 1.12 Mandi Bahauddin Educational Institutions

There are a large number of private schools and colleges in the district.

Figure 1.19 A Degree College in Phalia; M B Din District

Figure 1.20 Government College of Technology, Rasul

Healthcare Facilities; Mandi Bahauddin district

The District Health Officer (DHO) is overall in charge of health services provided in the district. The DHO is supported by doctors, paramedics, technicians, and other support staff. The following table shows the number of health care institutions in the district as per Punjab Development Statistics 2018-19:

Institution	No./Beds	Institution	No./Beds
Government Hospitals	06/241	Dispensaries	02/-
Rural Health Centers	09/160	Basic Health Units	49/98
T B Clinics	-/-	Mother Child Health Centers	05/-
Private Hospitals	01/10	Private Health Care Providers[7]	22/NA
Sub-Health Centers	21/-

Table 1.13 Mandi Bahauddin Health Statistics

Policing; Mandi Bahauddin district

The Deputy Inspector General Police looks after Gujranwala region which comprises of Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Narowal, Mandi Bahauddin, and Hafizabad districts. Mandi Bahauddin district is further subdivided into 3 subdivisions and 11 police stations.[8] The police force in each region is headed by the District Police Officer who is assisted by a varying number of Superintendents and Deputy Superintendents of Police.

[1] Includes Private, Federal and Schools owned by PAF and other organizations

[2] Includes Private, Federal and Schools owned by PAF and other organizations

[3] Directorate of Industries, Punjab. Pre-Investment Study 2012 Mandi Bahauddin District; Latest available.

[4] Directorate of Industries, Punjab. Pre-Investment Study 2012 Mandi Bahauddin District; Latest available.

[5] Directorate of Industries, Punjab. Pre-Investment Study 2012 Mandi Bahauddin District; Latest available.

[6] University of Engineering &Technology Mandi Bahauddin

[7] Three Years Rolling Plan District Mandi Bahauddin. 2011-13; Latest available.

 

[8] Punjab Development Statistics 2018-19

Environment and Biodiversity; Mandi Bahauddin District

The district lies in the Upper Indus Plain area of Punjab. Topography of Mandi Bahauddin city has an undulated surface with a level difference of 6.7 m (22 ft). The water table is 7.6 m below ground level. At present, since the district is not very industrialized, the only source of air pollution is dust particles and emissions from vehicular traffic.

Flora and Fauna; Mandi Bahauddin district

Flora; Mandi Bahauddin district

Mandi Bahauddin district is host to a number of rakhs and belas (Riverine Forests) on alluvial lands on the banks of River Chenab and River Jhelum. The principal tree species found in these forests are shisham (Dalbergio Sissoo), kikar (Acacia Arabica), ber (Zizyphus jujube), poplar (Populus alba), simbal (Ceiba), willow (Salix alba), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus cinerea), mulberry (Morus maraceae), banyan (Ficus benghalensis), pipal (Ficus religosa), dharaik (Melia azerdarah), siris (Albizzia lebbeck), dodak (Melia azardech), white mulberry (Morus alba), and bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris).

There are a large number of plants that are grown for their medicinal properties, like akasbale (Cuscuta reflexa), dhodak (Sonchus asper), itsit (Boerhavia procumbens), peeli buti (Abutilon indicum L.), chota aak (Withania coagulens L.), sanatha (Dodonaea viscose), and rose (Rosa indica).

The flora of the wetland areas (Rasul Barrage Pond Area and part of Qadirabad Pond Area) includes Carex fedia (a type of sedge), water thyme (Hydrilla verticillata), Indian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), water lily (Nymphaea lotus), common reeds like Phragmites karka, Potamogeton crispus, P. pectinatus, cattail weed (Typha angustata), eel grass (Vallisneria spiralis), and horned pond weed (Zannichellia palustris).

Fauna; Mandi Bahauddin district

According to the article “Wildlife Diversity in the Punjab (Pakistan)” by M. Anwar Maan and A. Aleem Chaudhry,[1] there are 11 species of mammals, 35 species of birds, 6 species of reptiles, 2 species of amphibians, and 28 species of insects found in the Daphar Plantation and other forests of the district. The mammalian species include nilgai, hog deer, jackals, fruit bat, palm squirrel, mongoose, wild hare, Indian mole rat, Indian gerbil, field mouse, porcupine, and otter.

Reptiles include viper snake, veranus snake, lizards, cobra, and krait snake.

Amphibians include common toads and common frogs.

Insects include various types of butterflies, moths, hoppers, and beetles.

Birds include Indian tree pie, common myna, little green bee-eater, doves of various types, parakeets, fan tail flycatcher, Indian robin, black drongo, reed warbler, shrike, spotted owlet, black and grey partridges, white-breasted king fisher, coot, mallard, common pochard, red-crested pochard, shoveler, gadwal, pintail, tufted duck, white-eyed pochard, common teal, flamingos, spoon bill, storks, cranes, ruddy shelduck, common shelduck, pheasant tailed jacana, gargany, lesser whistling teal, marbled teal, cormorants, egrets, herons, terns, gulls, grebes, lapwings, sand pipers, stints, shanks, plovers, curlews, kites, doves, parakeets, cuckoos, partridges, quails, and song birds.

Protected Areas and Endangered Wildlife; Mandi Bahauddin district

In Mandi Bahauddin district. Daphar Irrigated Plantation has been declared a wildlife sanctuary, along with part of Qadirabad Barrage Pond Area and Rasul Barrage Pond area. Both the Qadirabad Pond Area and Rasul Barrage Pond area are on the Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance. Endangered wildlife includes jungle cats, hog deer, nilgai or blue bull, mongoose, Indian mole rat, and otter.

[1] M. Anwar Maan and A. Aleem Chaudhry. “Wildlife Diversity in the Punjab (Pakistan)” Journal of Biological Sciences May 2001