Faisalabad is the third largest city in Pakistan. It has an estimated population of almost 2 million citizens. It is an important center for transport and production and is located in the Punjab province. Faisalabad is west of Lahore.
The city was founded by the British in 1892 by Sir Charles James Lyall for whom it was originally named Lyallpur. Prior to the British making the area into an urban center, it largely consisted of various villages. The city-center of Lyallpur (Faisalabad) was designed to model the British Flag, with a large clock tower in the center and eight bazaars around the clock tower. The construction of various canals allowed the area to be irrigated. After the founding of the city, people were invited to the city with promises of land if they were to work it. This allowed the city to grow rapidly.
In 1977 the name of the city was changed to Faisalabad in honor of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia who had been assassinated.
The district lies from 30 - 35 to 31 - 47'C North latitude and 72 - 01 to 73 - 40°C East longitude. It is bounded in the North by Gujranwala and Sheikhupura Districts, in the East by Sheikhupura and Sahiwal districts, in the south by Sahiwal and Toba Tek Singh districts and in the West by Jhang district.
The climate of the district touches two extremes. The maximum temperature in summer reaches upto 50 °C (122°F). In winter, it may, at times. fall below freezing point. The mean maximum and minimum temperature in summer are 39 and 27 °C respectively and in winter, 21 and 6 °C respectively. The summer season starts from April and continues till October. May, June and July are the hottest months. The winter season, on the other hand, starts from November and continues till March. December, January and February are the coldest months.
Faisalabad district has made rapid strides in the field of industry after independence. It is now called the "Manchester of Asia" for its extensive development of textile industry. This development has been made possible by the continued efforts of pioneering entrepreneurs as well as workers over a period of four decades. Before independence, there were only five industrial units in Faisalabad City (then Layallpur).
Now, there are dozens of textile mills with other subsidiary units. Roughly, there are 512 large industrial units out of which 328 are Textile units, 92 engineering units and 92 of chemicals and food processing units. Other industries include hosiery, carpet and rugs, nawar and lace, printing and publishing and pharmaceutical products etc. There are also some 12000 house-hold industries, which include some 60000 power loom factories.
Faisalabad district has been endowed by nature with a rich soil. Aided by an efficient irrigation system, it has earned a name for agricultural productivity.
Chapi