Punjab-Toba Tek Singh

Brief History – Governmental Structure – Administrative Divisions – Heritage Sites, Tourist Attractions, Picnic Areas

Brief History of Toba Tek Singh District

The areas belonging to Toba Tek Singh district were part of the Jhang district, but in 1904 they were made a part of the then Lyallpur district (now Faisalabad district), which was constituted of three tehsils: Lyallpur, Samundari, and Toba Tek Singh. Hence, the earlier history of this district is the same as that of Jhang and Lyallpur districts, the details of which have been recounted in the relevant chapters.

Since this area was inhabited during the Indus Valley Civilization and the Vedic period,[1] it shares the historical vicissitudes of its neighboring regions. The Kamboja (iron-age tribe), Darada (people belonging to north and northwest areas of the Kashmir valley), Madra (tribe from the late Vedic period), Pandava (tribe from the Mahabharata period), and the Yaudheya (a tribe whose kingdom was close to the Pandava) all invaded, settled and ruled the ancient Punjab region including the Toba Tek Singh area.

After capturing the Achaemenid Empire in 327 BCE, Alexander the Great marched into present-day Punjab region with an army of 50,000. After the Greek reign ended, the Toba Tek Singh areas were ruled by the Maurya Empire (322-185 BC), Indo-Greek Kingdom (200 BC-10 AD), Kushan Empire (2nd century-3rd century AD), Gupta Empire (320-550 AD), White Huns (408-670 AD), and Shahi Kingdoms (700-1010 AD).

In 997 AD, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi took over the Ghaznavid Empire established by his father, Sultan Sebuktigin. In 1005 he conquered the Shahis in Kabul, and followed this conquest by conquests of the northern Punjab region. The Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526) and later Mughal Empire (1526-1540 and 1555-1857) also ruled the region. During the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikhs invaded and occupied the area (1801-1849).

Toba Tek Singh was developed by the British towards the end of the 19th century when a canal system was built. People from all over the Punjab (currently Indian and Pakistani Punjab) moved to the region, as farmlands were allotted to them. Most of the people who migrated to Toba Tek Singh belonged to Lahore, Jalandhar, and Hoshiarpur districts.

The Imperial Gazetteer of India describes the tehsil of Toba Tek Singh as follows:

Tehsil of the new Lyallpur District, Punjab, lies between 30° 50′ and 31° 23′ N. and 72° 20′ and 72° 54′ E., with an area of 865 square miles [2,240 km²]. The population in 1906 was 148,984. It contains 342 villages, including Toba Tek Singh (population, 1,874), the headquarters, and Gojra (2,589), an important grain market on the Wazirabad-Khanewal branch of the North-Western Railway. The land revenue and cesses in 1905-6 amounted to 4.7 lacs. The tehsil consists of a level plain, wholly irrigated by the Chenab Canal. The soil, which is very fertile in the east of the tehsil, becomes sandy towards the west. The boundaries of the tehsil were somewhat modified at the time of the formation of the new District of Lyallpur. (v. 23, p. 406)

The town and district is named after a Sikh religious figure, Tek Singh. Legend has it that Tek Singh was a kindhearted man and lived beside a water pond¾Toba (in the Punjabi language). He used to serve water to, and provide shelter to, the worn out and thirsty travelers passing by his area. People eventually started calling it Toba Tek Singh, and the surrounding settlement acquired the same name. There is also a park in the region named after Sardar Tek Singh.

The predominantly Muslim population supported the Muslim League and the Pakistan Movement. Thus, the district was made a part of Pakistan at Partition.

The district remained a part of Faisalabad district till 1982, when it was upgraded to a district level.

Governmental Structure; Toba Tek Singh

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

• Number of seats in the National Assembly 3
• Number of seats in the Provincial Assembly 7

Under the Local Government and Community Development Toba Tek Singh district has 1 District Council and 4 Municipal Committees as follows:

• Toba Tek Singh
• Gojra
• Kamalia
• Pir Mahal

Administrative Divisions; Toba Tek Singh

Toba Tek Singh district has an area of 3,252 km² and is divided into 4 tehsils as follows:

Toba Tek Singh Tehsil	30 Union Councils
Gojra Tehsil	24 Union Councils
Kamalia Tehsil	13 Union Councils
Pir Mahal Tehsil[2]	15 Union Councils

Table 1.2 Toba Tek Singh Administrative Divisions

Figure 1.3 Tehsil Municipal Administration, Toba Tek Singh Office

Heritage Sites, Tourist Attractions, Picnic Areas; Toba Tek Singh

There are no heritage sites/ buildings protected under the Government of Pakistan Laws in Toba Tek Singh district.

Some of the important/ historical buildings and picnic spots of Toba Tek Singh district include:

• Wangar Wala Tibba (Graveyard); Toba Tek Singh district
• Manzoor Elahi Forest Park; Toba Tek Singh district
• Teko Park; Toba Tek Singh district
• Jinnah Park; Toba Tek Singh district
• Ladies Park, Kamalia; Toba Tek Singh district
• Riaz Wildlife Park, Kamalia; Toba Tek Singh district
• Bhagat Irrigated Plantation and Wildlife Park; Toba Tek Singh district
• Kamalia Irrigated Plantation; Toba Tek Singh district

 

Figure 1.7 A Road Side Mosque, Pir Mahal

Figure 1.8 Wangar Wala Tibba

Figure 1.9 Darbar Pir Syed Ahmad Ali near Toba Tek Singh

 

[1]The Vedic Period is the period in which the Vedas (the oldest scriptures of Hinduism) were composed. Evidence states that the time period is between 1700 to 1100 BC. The end of this period is estimated to be about 500 to 150 BC.

[2] Newly created in 2013 from Kamalia Tehsil

Topography of Toba Tek Singh District

The district is situated about 46-61 m above mean sea level in the Rechna Doab[1] area of Punjab, and consists of a level plain sloping from east to west. This plain is not broken by any hills or mountains.

Rivers, Streams, and Lakes; Toba Tek Singh district

River Ravi flows along its southern and southeastern border and is the only river in the district. There are no nullahs or streams in the district. Other sources of surface water are the irrigation canals.

Forests; Toba Tek Singh district

According to Punjab Development Statistics 2018-19, there are a total of 5,790 HA of land under forests. The two most important forests of the district are the Kamalia Plantation and the Bhagat Plantation. Other reserved forests of the district include forests in Chaks No. 150/GB, 160/GB, 46/GB, 300/GB, and 324/JB. Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo), mulberry (Morus alba), babul (Acacia nilotica), and species of eucalyptus and populus are the common tree species grown in the irrigated plantations.

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

Total Forest Area	14,307 A	Under Provincial Govt.	13,336 A
District Govt.	– A	Reserved Forests	– A
Un-classed Forests	971 A	Resumed Land	– A
Linear Plantation	– km

Table 1.3 Toba Tek Singh Forest Statistics

Soils; Toba Tek Singh district

The soils in the east of the district are very fertile but become sandy in the west.

Climate; Toba Tek Singh district

The climate of the district is classified as arid with hot winds blowing in the summer, and dust storms common during all seasons. The summers are very hot and dry. May and June are the hottest months, when the mean maximum and minimum temperatures range between 40.5 °C and 22.7 °C. January is the coldest month, when the mean maximum and minimum temperature stays between 19 °C and 4 °C. July and August are the Monsoon months, when the district receives most of its annual rain. The mean average rainfall in the district is 380 mm.

Seismic Activity/Seismicity; Toba Tek Singh district

The district belongs to Zone 2A of the Seismic Zone Map of Pakistan which means minor to no damage due to earthquakes.

[1] Rechna Doab is the area of land between River Ravi and River Chenab

Population of Toba Tek Singh district

The following table shows the population of the district and its tehsils as per 2017 Census:

District/Tehsil	Area km2		Population	Male	Female	Urban %	Growth Rate %
Toba Tek Singh District	3,252		2,190,015	50.2	49.8	20.2	1.59
Gojra Tehsil	916		656,007
Kamalia Tehsil	1,336		371,851
Toba Tek Singh Tehsil	1,000		739,826
Pir Mahal Tehsil	Created out of Kamalia Tehsil	422,331

Table 1.4 Toba Tek Singh Population Statistics

Religions; Toba Tek Singh district[1]

Muslims	96.0%
Christians	3.7%
Hindus	Negligible %
Ahmadis	0.21%
Schedule Castes	Negligible %
Others	Negligible %

Table 1.5 Toba Tek Singh Religions

Languages; Toba Tek Singh district[2]

Urdu	0.8%
Punjabi	98.6%
Sindhi	Negligible %
Pushto	0.3%
Balochi	Negligible %
Seraiki	0.22%
Others	0.1%

Table 1.6 Toba Tek Singh Languages

[1] 1998 Census; 2017 Census results have not been made public yet.

[2] 1998 Census; 2017 Census results have not been made public yet.

Economic Activity – Economic Infrastructure

Economic Activity; Toba Tek Singh District

The major industrial occupations[1] of the district are:

• Agriculture with its Allied Livestock Breeding, Fishing (36.2%)
• Manufacture (6.6%)
• Construction (31.1%)
• Wholesale/ Retail, Hotel/ Restaurant (8.5%)
• Transport, Storage & Communication (2.8%)
• Community, Social & Personal Services (10.7%)
• Others (4.7%)

Land Use; Toba Tek Singh district

The following table shows the main land use statistics of the Toba Tek Singh district as per Punjab Development Statistics 2018-19:

Total Area	325,200 HA	Reported Area	327,000 HA
Total Cultivated Area	269,000 HA	Net Sown	239,000 HA
Current Fallow	30,000 HA	Total Uncultivated Area	58,000 HA
Culturable Waste	23,000 HA	Forest Area	6,000 HA

Table 1.7 Toba Tek Singh Land Use Statistics

Irrigation Network; Toba Tek Singh district

The irrigation system of Toba Tek Singh district includes a vast canal network, distributaries, and minors. It mainly consists of the Lower Chenab Canal, with its major branches like the Gugera Branch, Jhang Branch, and Burela Branch and their various distributaries and other water courses irrigating the district. The Lower Chenab Canal originates from the Khanki Headworks on River Chenab in Gujranwala district.

The following table shows the mode of irrigation and the area irrigated by each mode as per Punjab Development Statistics 2018-19:

Total Area Sown	388,000 HA	Irrigated Area	388,000 HA
Un-Irrigated Area	– HA	Canal Irrigated	224,000 HA
Dug Wells	– HA	Tube Well Irrigated	29,000 HA
Canal Well Irrigated	1,000 HA	Canal Tube Wells	134,000 HA
Others	– HA

Table 1.11 Toba Tek Singh Irrigation Statistics

Agriculture; Toba Tek Singh district

Toba Tek Singh district belongs to the Northern Irrigated Plains Agro-Ecological Zone of Pakistan.

The agriculture is mostly canal irrigated. Important crops of the district include sugarcane, maize, wheat, cotton, jowar, bajra, moong, maash, gram, masoor, rapeseed & mustard, sunflower, arhar, sesanum, groundnut, sugarbeet, guarseed, and linseed.

Fruits grown in the area include citrus, guavas, mangoes, pomegranate, musk melon, dates, mulberry, ber, and watermelon.

Vegetable produce of the area includes potatoes, onion, cauliflower, okra, turnip, carrots, peas, chilies, tomatoes, garlic, brinjal, bitter gourd, okra, spinach, arvi (yam), and coriander.

Livestock Breeding; Toba Tek Singh district

Livestock breeding is a very important allied activity of the agriculture sector of Pakistan.

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

Cattle	234,000 Heads	Buffaloes	365,000 Heads	Sheep	50,000 Heads
Goats	336,000 Heads	Camels	28 Heads	Horses	1,695 Heads
Mules	1,730 Heads	Asses	22,787 Heads

Table 1.8 Toba Tek Singh Livestock Statistics

Sahiwal cow, nili ravi buffaloes, lohi sheep, beetal goat, and beetal-spotted goats are the indigenous breeds of livestock in Toba Tek Singh district.

Poultry Farms; Toba Tek Singh district

According to Table 17 (Number of Commercial Poultry Farms and Number of Birds by Size of Flock), there are 1,138 poultry farms in the district. As per Punjab Development Statistics 2018-19 number of privately owned poultry farms in the District number 289 broiler, 571 layer and 05 poultry breeding farms.

Fishing; Toba Tek Singh district

Fishing activity is carried out in water ponds and canals of the district, and this fish is mostly consumed locally.[2] Fishing is carried out in River Ravi, Haveli Main Line Canal, and Old Condom Canal, among others.

Bee Keeping/ Apiculture; Toba Tek Singh district

Commercial apiculture is practiced in various forests and farms in the district.

Minerals and Mining; Toba Tek Singh district

There is no mining activity in the district.

Oil and gas is being explored at present in the Rechna Doab area.

Industry and Manufacturing; Toba Tek Singh district

At present there is no industrial estate in the district. There are a total of 173 small,[3] medium, and large enterprises working in the district as follows:

Type of Industry	No.	Type of Industry	No.
Agricultural Implements	22	Bicycle Parts	02
Cement Products	07	Chip/Straw Board	01
Cold Storage	19	Cotton Ginning & Pressing	31
Drugs & Pharmaceuticals	02	Flour Mills	13
Marble Industry	09	Leather Footwear	13
Poultry Feed	13	Power Generation	01
Textile Spinning	05	Rice Mills	17
Soaps & Detergents	01	Sizing of Yarn	11
Sugar	02	Sweet/ Confectionary	01
Vermicelli	03

Table 1.9 Toba Tek Singh Industries

Figure 1.4 Textile Looms

Figure 1.5 Soap Noodles for Detergents

Trade (Iport/Export); Toba Tek Singh district

The district trades in agricultural produce, especially maize and kinoo, which are its main produce.

Handicrafts; Toba Tek Singh district

Handwoven khaddar cloth is the most famous handicraft/ cottage industry of the district.

 

Economic Infrastructure; Toba Tek Singh District

The district is linked with Jhang, Faisalabad, and Khanewal districts through black topped roads. All tehsil headquarters are also linked with each other and district headquarters with black topped roads. The district is linked with Faisalabad and Khanewal through the railway network.

Road Statistics; Toba Tek Singh district

The following table shows the road statistics of the district as per Punjab Development Statistics 2018-19:

Total Road Length	2,107.3 km
National Highways	– km
Motorways	– km
Provincial Highways	1,884.1 km
Sugar Cess Roads	223.3 km

Table 1.10 Toba Tek Singh Road Statistics

Following are some of the important road links of the district:

• Gojra-Toba Tek Singh Road
• Jhang–Toba Tek Singh Road
• Toba-Shorkot Road
• Toba Tek Singh-Waryamwala Road
• Chichawatni-Rajana Road
• Jhangar-Kamalia Road

Rail and Airways; Toba Tek Singh district

The district is linked with Faisalabad and Khanewal districts through Pakistan Railways. In all, there are 12 railway stations[1] in the district. Some of the notable ones include Toba Tek Singh, Gojra, Chak No. 298/GB, Thikranwala, and Akanwali.

There is no commercial airport in Toba Tek Singh nor is there any airbase. The nearest airport is the Faisalabad International Airport.

Radio and Television; Toba Tek Singh district

At present there are 2 privately-owned FM stations in the district. TV stations can be viewed through cable network and through boosters.

Telecommunications; Toba Tek Singh district

There are 35 telephone exchanges[2] operating in the district, each ranging in capacity from 50 lines to 4,500 lines. Nearly all of the major cellular companies also operate in the district.

Post Offices/ Courier Services; Toba Tek Singh district

Pakistan Post has its headquarters in Toba Tek Singh city. There are 259 post offices[3] in the district, with 112 in Toba Tek Singh, 75 in Gojra tehsil, and 72 in Kamalia tehsil. Nearly all the courier services of Pakistan provide their services in the district.

Banking/ Financial Institutions; Toba Tek Singh district

In all, a total of 36 branches[4] of various banks are operating in the district, with 17 in Toba Tek Singh tehsil, 10 in Gojra tehsil, and 9 in Kamalia tehsil.

According to the List of Reporting Bank Branches 2019, by State Bank of Pakistan, the following banks all have their branches in the district:

• Allied Bank Ltd.
• Askari Bank Ltd.
• Bank Alfalah Ltd.
• Bank Al Habib Ltd.
• Faysal Bank Ltd.
• Habib Bank Ltd.
• Muslim Commercial Bank
• Meezan Bank Ltd.
• National Bank of Pakistan
• Soneri Bank Ltd.
• Bank of Punjab
• The Punjab Provincial Cooperative Bank
• United Bank Ltd.
• Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd.

In all there are 120 branches of various conventional banks and 18 branches of different Islamic banks in the District.

Electricity and Gas; Toba Tek Singh district

The Faisalabad Electric Supply Corporation (FESCO) looks after the supply of electricity in the district. There are 12 grid stations[5] ranging in capacity from 66 KV to 132 KV in the district. Natural gas is also available in the district for domestic use.

Educational Institutions; Toba Tek Singh district

The following table shows the details of educational facilities of the district as per Punjab Development Statistics 2018-19:

Institution	Boys/Girls	Institution	Boys/Girls
Primary Schools	364/337	Middle Schools	101/185
Secondary Schools	84/108	Higher Secondary	13/19
Degree Colleges	14/13	Other Higher Secondary[6]	04/03
Other Degree Colleges[7]	05/05	Technical Training Institutes[8]	05/-
Vocational Institutes	-/03	Commercial Training Institutes[9]	03/-
Universities[10]	01	Govt. Mosque Schools	14/-
Medical Schools[11]	03	Engineering Schools	–

Table 1.12 Toba Tek Singh Educational Institutions: Government

In addition, there is 1 cadet college in the district called Pasban Cadet College. In addition there are a large number of privately owned schools and colleges imparting education at all levels.

Figure 1.10 Berkeley Public High School (Private), Toba Tek Singh

Figure 1.11 Government High School, Kamalia

Figure 1.12 University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Sub-Campus, Toba Tek Singh

Healthcare Facilities; Toba Tek Singh district

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

Institution	No./Beds	Institution	No./Beds
Government Hospitals	04/403	Dispensaries	23/-
Rural Health Centers	10/180	Basic Health Units	70/140
T B Clinics	01/-	Mother Child Health Centers	02/-
Sub-Health Centers	13/-	Private Hospitals	-/-
Private Healthcare Providers[12]	44

Table 1.14 Toba Tek Singh Health Institutions

Figure 1.13 Foundation Hospital (Private), Toba Tek Singh

Figure 1.14 D H Q Hospital, Toba Tek Singh

Policing; Toba Tek Singh district

The Regional Police officer (RPO) Faisalabad Region, which includes Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, and Chiniot districts, reports to the Inspector General Police (IGP) and is responsible for policing Toba Tek Singh district. The District Police Officer (DPO) Toba Tek Singh District is in charge of the district. The DPO Sargodha is in charge of 03 Subdivisions, each headed by a Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP). These DSPs control 11 police stations[13] in Toba Tek Singh district.

 

[1] Directorate of Industries, Punjab. Pre-Investment Study for Toba Tek Singh District 2012; Latest available.

[2] Directorate of Industries, Punjab. Pre-Investment Study for Toba Tek Singh district 2012; Latest available.

[3] Directorate of Industries, Punjab. Pre-Investment Study for Toba Tek Singh district 2012; Latest available.

[4] Directorate of Industries, Punjab. Pre-Investment Study for Toba Tek Singh district 2012; Latest available.

[5] Directorate of Industries, Punjab. Pre-Investment Study for Toba Tek Singh District 2012; Latest available.

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

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

[8] Directorate of Industries, Punjab. Pre-Investment Study for Toba Tek Singh District 2012; Latest available.

[9] Directorate of Industries, Punjab. Pre-Investment Study for Toba Tek Singh District 2012; Latest available.

[10] Campus of Agriculture University, Faisalabad

[11] Homeopathic Medicine

[12] Three Years Rolling Plan Toba Tek Singh District; Latest available.

[13] Punjab Development Statistics 2018-19

[1] 1998 Census; 2017 Census results have not been made public yet.

[2]Fishing Manual, Fisheries Department, Punjab.

[3]Directorate of Industries, Punjab. Pre-Investment Study for Toba Tek Singh District 2012; Latest available.

Environment and Biodiversity; Toba Tek Singh District

Toba Tek Singh is mostly a rural district, with a small industrial base. Hence, the atmosphere is mostly clean.

Flora and Fauna; Toba Tek Singh district

Flora; Toba Tek Singh district

The species of flora in Toba Tek Singh district are vann (Salvadora oleoides), karir (Capparis aphylla), jhand (Prosopis spicigera), ber (Zizyphus jujuba), shisham (Dilbergio sissoo), silk cotton tree (Bombax cieba), bakin/dharek (Melia azerdarac), jaamun (Syzigium cumini), sukh chain (pongamia glabra), mulberry or toot (Morus alba), ber (Ziziphus mauritiana), aak (Calotropis procera), kana (Saccharum bengalensis), and khajoor (Phoenix dactilifera).

Grasses like chimber (Eleusine egyyptiaca), lambh (Aristida depressa), gorkha (Lasiurus sindicus) pelwahn and khavi, morning glory (Pomoea spp), and khabbal grass (Cynodon dactylon) are common.

Trees grown along roads in linear plantation are kahu (Olea ferruginea Royle), phulai (Acacia modesta), kikar (Acacia albida), bohr or banyan (Ficus bengalensis), neem (Azadirachta indica), farash (Tamarlx aphylia), eucalyptus, and shisham (Dilbergio sissoo).

Fauna; Toba Tek Singh district

Mammals of the two major irrigated plantations include jungle cats, jackals, mongoose, wild hare, wild boar, bats, urial, rhesus monkeys, hedgehog, palm squirrel, Indian mole rat, field mouse, Indian gerbil, house shrew, and porcupine.

Reptiles and amphibians include uromastic snake, du mohi snake, striped keel-back, lizards, Indian soft shell turtle, common frog, and common toads.

Bird species observed in these plantations include Indian tree-pie, white-backed vulture, common myna, little green bee-eater, ring dove, red turtle dove, pied bush chat, rose-ringed parakeet, fantail flycatcher, red-wattled lapwing, reed warbler, Indian robin, black drongo, spotted owlet, purple sunbird, common babbler, bay back shrike, Indian roller, black partridge, grey partridge, red-vented bulbul, pied myna, rosy starling, cuckoo, koel, crow pheasant, golden backed woodpecker, rhy-neck, white-breasted kingfisher, common kingfisher, pied kingfisher, paradise flycatcher, golden oriole, jungle babbler, house crow, house sparrow, magpie robin, pied flycatcher, bank myna, great reed warbler, red start, pond heron, white-breasted water hen, common pariah kite, black winged kite, honey buzzard, hoopoe, crested lark, little egret, white-winged lark, grey hornbill, warblers of different species, swifts, rufous back shrike, and streaked weaver bird.

Protected Wildlife Areas/Endangered Animals; Toba Tek Singh district

At present, the Bhagat Irrigated Plantation and Kamalia Irrigated Plantation are the Protected Wildlife areas of Toba Tek Singh district. These provide protection to the above mentioned fauna of the district.