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114-476: Okara District ( Punjabi and Urdu : ضلع اوكاڑہ ), is a district of Punjab , Pakistan. It became a separate district in 1982, prior to that it was part of Sahiwal District . The Multan Road connects the district capital, Okara with Lahore 110 km away and Faisalabad is 100 km. Okara District is bounded on the south by Bahawalnagar district , on the South-West by Pakpattan district , on

228-587: A Sufi center. Ajodhan was the location of a ferry service across the Sutlej River, which rendered it an important part of the ancient trade routes connecting Multan to Delhi . As an ancient settlement in the Punjab region, Ajodhan was historically significant in Hindu culture and served as a place of trade, pilgrimage, and cultural exchange. Hindu temples and shrines once marked the landscape, catering to

342-423: A center of Islamic spirituality, overshadowing its Hindu roots. Nevertheless, the legacy of Hinduism would remain embedded in local folklore and traditions, blending with the area's Sufi heritage to reflect Pakpattan’s rich, layered history. Given its position on the flat plains of Punjab , Ajodhan (Pakpattan) was vulnerable to waves of foreign invasions from Central Asia that began in the late 10th century. It

456-430: A center where mystics, scholars, and travelers converged. However, Pakpattan’s prominence also drew the attention of brutal rulers who instilled fear among its residents, underscoring the city’s vulnerability amidst its prominence. Despite this, its reputation as a dynamic space where spirituality, politics, and culture intersected endured, leaving a lasting impact on the region’s historical and cultural fabric. Following

570-576: A descendant of Prakrit. Punjabi emerged as an Apabhramsha, a degenerated form of Prakrit, in the 7th century AD and became stable by the 10th century. The earliest writings in Punjabi belong to the Nath Yogi -era from 9th to 14th century. The language of these compositions is morphologically closer to Shauraseni Apbhramsa , though vocabulary and rhythm is surcharged with extreme colloquialism and folklore. Writing in 1317–1318, Amir Khusrau referred to

684-532: A great concourse of people from Dibalpur and Ajodhan, with much property and valuables, was there assembled. Khizr Khan defeated the armies of Firuz Shah Tughlaq of the Delhi Sultanate in battles outside of Ajodhan (Pakpattan) between 1401 and 1405. The town continued to grow as the reputation and influence of the Baba Farid shrine spread, but was also bolstered by its privileged position along

798-520: A key role in converting non-Muslims, including Hindus, by establishing spiritual centers and engaging in discourse. Baba Farid’s dargah (shrine) became a focal point for spreading Islamic beliefs. Reflecting the general trend in Punjab during this period, while numerous Hindus in Pakpattan likely embraced Islam due to these policies—forming the ancestry of much of the city’s present-day Muslim residents—many Hindu communities remained resilient, up through

912-523: A large number of cows, buffalos, bulls (for reproduction), goats and sheep. Okara is a major milk producing city of Pakistan. There is also a large military dairy farm in Okara district originally set up in 1913. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the 'battai system' (sharing-partners in crop yields) continued in all military-owned farms in Pakistan, with the farmers taking their respective shares in

1026-589: A liberal approach. Through Persian, Punjabi also absorbed many Arabic-derived words like dukān , ġazal and more, as well as Turkic words like qēncī , sōġāt , etc. After the fall of the Sikh empire , Urdu was made the official language of Punjab under the British (in Pakistani Punjab , it is still the primary official language) and influenced the language as well. In the second millennium , Punjabi

1140-571: A metaphorical journey of salvation, with the saint’s spirit guiding believers across the river. During the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal eras, including the reigns of Akbar and Aurangzeb, the city continued to be known as Ajodhan. However, as the shrine of Baba Farid grew in significance, the name "Pakpattan" gained popular use. Akbar’s Ain-i-Akbari mentions the region, indicating that both names—Ajodhan and Pakpattan—were likely used interchangeably in local and administrative records. Over time,

1254-487: A number of people work in factories and offices as well. Dairy and fruit products are the identical mark of the area. The tombs of many great Sufis are also present here and Doll village of Pakistan Thatta Ghulamka . Thatta Ghulamka Doll Village of Pakistan in Okara Punjabi language Europe North America Oceania Punjabi , sometimes spelled Panjabi , is an Indo-Aryan language native to

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1368-486: A number of the wise men of religion and the doctors of law of Islam, who always keep the foot of resignation firmly fixed in the road of destiny, had not moved from their places, but remained quietly at home. On my arrival in the neighbourhood of Ajodhan, they all hastened forth to meet me, and were honoured by kissing my footstool, and I dismissed them after treating them with great honour and respect. I appointed my slave, Nasiru-d din, and Shahab Mubammad to see that no injury

1482-669: A prominent Sufi center. These visits highlight Pakpattan's enduring importance as a hub of spirituality and influence, attracting rulers, poets, and spiritual leaders seeking blessings, political legitimacy, or personal guidance. Pakpattan’s old city (the Dhakki area that contains the shrine), became a nexus of spiritual and temporal power. Sufi teachings influenced governance, ethics, and social justice, while rulers often sought to strengthen their authority through association with Sufi saints. The town fostered cultural exchange, intellectual enrichment, and dialogue among diverse communities, becoming

1596-431: A prominent center of Sufism, emphasizing the local population's deep reverence for the teachings of Baba Farid, who had passed away several decades prior to his visit. Ibn Battuta was notably moved by the spiritual ambiance of the town and observed the devotion with which people visited Baba Farid's shrine, which was already established as a major pilgrimage destination at the time. His accounts provide valuable insight into

1710-668: A siege on Ajodhan (Pakpattan). This occurred during a period of political instability following the decline of the Tughlaq dynasty, as Shaikha sought to expand his influence across Punjab. In the late 14th century, the Central Asian conqueror Timur (also known as Tamerlane ) launched a campaign through the Indian subcontinent, capturing and often devastating cities along his path. Historical accounts suggest that in 1398, as Timur’s forces approached Ajodhan (Pakpattan), he learned of

1824-624: A significant role as a waterway for early civilizations, further supporting the likelihood of human habitation in the region during the Sarasvati-Indus Valley period. While no specific remains of this civilization have been discovered in Pakpattan itself, its location and environmental advantages suggest that it was likely connected to the broader cultural and economic networks of the time. This potential link adds depth to Pakpattan's ancient heritage, emphasizing its historical significance beyond its later medieval prominence. During

1938-441: A significant shift in governance, fostering greater equality and inclusivity for non-Muslim residents. In one anecdotal instance, during Maharaja Ranjit Singh's rule in Pakpattan, a local disturbance arose following the news of a cow, sacred to Hindus, being slaughtered by some Muslim residents. To pacify tensions and promote communal harmony, Ranjit Singh instituted a system during the Baba Farid shrine's mela (festival) time where

2052-459: A small town until after his death, although it was prosperous given its position on trade routes. Baba Farid's establishment of a Jama Khana , or convent, in the town where his devotees would gather for religious instruction is seen as a process of the region's shift away from a Hindu orientation to a Muslim one. Large masses of the town's citizenry were noted to gather at the shrine daily in hopes of securing written blessings and amulets from

2166-477: A vast network of canals in region around Pakpattan, and throughout much of central and southern Punjab province, leading to the establishment of dozens of new villages around Pakpattan. In 1910, the Lodhran–Khanewal Branch Line was laid, making Pakpattan an important stop before the railway was dismantled and shipped to Iraq . In the 1940s, Pakpattan became a centre for Muslim League politics, as

2280-706: A word will be pronounced, and vice versa. Tone is often reduced or rarely deleted when words are said with emphasis or on their own as a form of more exact identification. Sequences with the consonant h have some additional gimmicks: The consonant h on its own is now silent or very weakly pronounced except word-initially. However, certain dialects which exert stronger tone, particularly more northern Punjabi varieties and Dogri , pronounce h as very faint (thus tonal) in all cases. E.g. hatth > àtth . The Jhangvi and Shahpuri dialects of Punjabi (as they transition into Saraiki ) show comparatively less realisation of tone than other Punjabi varieties, and do not induce

2394-399: Is a famous shrine of Soofi Baaba Wlee Roshun Shaah situated in the village of Bonga Saaleh. Every year on 27th of Harr (Desi month), Maila(Fair) is celebrated. Another well-known shrine near Depalpur is that of Daud Bundgi Kirmaani, located in the town of Shair Gurh. His ours is held in the middle of March, and is attended by thousands from all over Punjaab and beyond. In the west of Okara city,

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2508-402: Is a relatively new agricultural city. The word "Okara" for this district was actually originated from word "Okan" (a lush green tree with needle like leaves). The Okan Tree gave birth to word Okanwali ( Land of Okan ) which ultimately finalized into Okara. During British rule the area was part of Montgomery District and contained a large saltpeter refinery. At independence in 1947, one of

2622-482: Is a tendency with speakers to insert /ɪ̯/ between adjacent "a"-vowels as a separator. This usually changes to /ʊ̯/ if either vowel is nasalised. Note: for the tonal stops, refer to the next section about Tone. The three retroflex consonants /ɳ, ɽ, ɭ/ do not occur initially, and the nasals [ŋ, ɲ] most commonly occur as allophones of /n/ in clusters with velars and palatals (there are few exceptions). The well-established phoneme /ʃ/ may be realised allophonically as

2736-545: Is also a Social welfare health society which is being operated by the Government of Punjab. Every hospital has more than two ambulances. Located in the village of Rehampur the Rosary Christian Hospital also provides medical services to Okara and surrounding areas. The '1122 Rescue' Government organization is also offering their services in Okara city. There is also a separated Fire station, located in

2850-557: Is also represented in the National Assembly , by 4 elected members who represent the following constituencies: Okara is also known for the wide variety of culture reflecting the traditions and customs of the area. Melas (fairs) in the month of 'Saawan' are notable among these traditions where different types of games are played on the drum-beat and shops of sweets and toys etc. are decorated. The population mostly relies on agriculture as their main source of livelihood, although

2964-436: Is always written as نگ . Like Hindustani , the diphthongs /əɪ/ and /əʊ/ have mostly disappeared, but are still retained in some dialects. Phonotactically , long vowels /aː, iː, uː/ are treated as doubles of their short vowel counterparts /ə, ɪ, ʊ/ rather than separate phonemes. Hence, diphthongs like ai and au get monophthongised into /eː/ and /oː/, and āi and āu into /ɛː/ and /ɔː/ respectively. The phoneme /j/

3078-538: Is believed that the name of the city has changed over time, and anecdotally, it may have been known by various names prior to being called Ajodhan. Pakpattan derives its current name from the combination of two Punjabi words: Pak , meaning "pure," and Pattan , meaning "dock"; this name references a ferry service across the Sutlej River , frequented by pilgrims visiting the Shrine of Baba Farid. The ferry symbolized

3192-696: Is cognate with Sanskrit áp ( अप् ) and with the Av- of Avon . The historical Punjab region , now divided between India and Pakistan, is defined physiographically by the Indus River and these five tributaries . One of the five, the Beas River , is a tributary of another, the Sutlej . Punjabi developed from Prakrit languages and later Apabhraṃśa ( Sanskrit : अपभ्रंश , 'deviated' or 'non-grammatical speech') From 600 BC, Sanskrit developed as

3306-570: Is identical to the Urdu alphabet , however various attempts have been made to create certain, distinct characters from a modification of the Persian Nastaʿlīq characters to represent Punjabi phonology , not already found in the Urdu alphabet . In Pakistan, Punjabi loans technical words from Persian and Arabic , just like Urdu does. Punjabi is the most widely spoken language in Pakistan ,

3420-530: Is included in the Sikh holy text, the Guru Granth Sahib. To honor the shrine, Ranjit Singh provided it with an annual nazrana (allowance) of 9,000 rupees and granted tracts of land to Baba Farid’s descendants. Through this patronage, he not only demonstrated his reverence for the shrine’s spiritual importance but also reinforced his legitimacy as a ruler among diverse religious communities. Supporting

3534-1105: Is spoken among a significant overseas diaspora , particularly in Canada , the United Kingdom , the United States , Australia , and the Gulf states . In Pakistan, Punjabi is written using the Shahmukhi alphabet , based on the Perso-Arabic script ; in India, it is written using the Gurmukhi alphabet , based on the Indic scripts . Punjabi is unusual among the Indo-Aryan languages and the broader Indo-European language family in its usage of lexical tone . The word Punjabi (sometimes spelled Panjabi ) has been derived from

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3648-641: Is the gold mine for history seekers, spiritual and curious travelers. One can find archaeological remains of different dynasties of prehistory, Indus Valley civilisation , Persians , Ghaznavids , Sultanates , the Mugal Empire , the Sikh Confederacy and the British Raj . There is a central ridge, in the centre of Okara District, which marks the old river bed of the Beas , and the boundary b/w

3762-452: Is very fluid in Punjabi. /j/ is only truly pronounced word-initially (even then it often becomes /d͡ʒ/), where it is otherwise /ɪ/ or /i/. Unusually for an Indo-Aryan language, Punjabi distinguishes lexical tones . Three tones are distinguished in Punjabi (some sources have described these as tone contours, given in parentheses): low (high-falling), high (low-rising), and level (neutral or middle). The transcriptions and tone annotations in

3876-587: Is widely recognized for its medieval history, its geographical proximity to Harappa , a major center of the Sarasvati-Indus Valley Civilization, suggests that the area may have been part of this ancient network of settlements. Harappa, situated approximately 40 kilometers from Pakpattan, has yielded extensive archaeological evidence of a highly developed urban society characterized by advanced trade, agriculture, and infrastructure. The Sutlej River, which flows near Pakpattan, played

3990-629: Is widely used in the TV and entertainment industry of Pakistan, which is mainly produced in Lahore . The Standard Punjabi used in India and Pakistan have slight differences. In India, it discludes many of the dialect-specific features of Majhi. In Pakistan, the standard is closer to the Majhi spoken in the urban parts of Lahore. "Eastern Punjabi" refers to the varieties of Punjabi spoken in Pakistani Punjab (specifically Northern Punjabi), most of Indian Punjab ,

4104-465: The Hazara region , most of Azad Kashmir and small parts of Indian Punjab such as Fazilka . These include groups of dialects like Saraiki , Pahari-Pothwari , Hindko and the extinct Inku ; common dialects like Jhangvi , Shahpuri , Dhanni and Thali which are usually grouped under the term Jatki Punjabi; and the mixed variety of Punjabi and Sindhi called Khetrani . Depending on context,

4218-698: The Indus Valley civilization . The old name of Okara city was ( okan-wala اوکا والا ) The Vedic period is characterized by Indo-Aryan culture that invaded from Central Asia and settled in the Punjab region . The Kambojas , Daradas , Kaikayas , Madras, Pauravas , Yaudheyas , Malavas , Saindhavas and Kurus invaded, settled and ruled ancient Punjab region . After overrunning the Achaemenid Empire in 331 BCE, Alexander marched into present-day Punjab region with an army of 50,000. The Okara

4332-468: The Jat population is less compared to other communities. Okara is also known for its cattle breed known as Sahiwal and a Water buffalo breed known as Niliravi . It is very rich in livestock population and production. The Livestock Production Research Institute (LPRI) Bahadar Nagar Farm is a very large Government farm near Okara city (18.5 km on Faisalabad road from DepalPur Chowk Okara). The farm has

4446-705: The Majha region of the Punjab. In India , Punjabi is written in the Gurmukhī script in offices, schools, and media. Gurmukhi is the official standard script for Punjabi, though it is often unofficially written in the Latin scripts due to influence from English , one of India's two primary official languages at the Union -level. In Pakistan, Punjabi is generally written using the Shahmukhī script, which in literary standards,

4560-549: The Mughal Empire ruled this region. The Punjab region became predominantly Muslim due to missionary Sufi saints whose dargahs dot the landscape of the Punjab region . After the decline of the Mughal Empire , the Sikh Empire invaded and occupied Sahiwal. The Muslims faced restrictions during the Sikh rule. During the period of British rule there was a forest of Okaan where the city has been built. The city

4674-639: The Muslim League and the Pakistan Movement . After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in the Okara district. Okara District is famous for its fertile lands, peaceful natural environment and green fields of potato , tomato , sugarcane , wheat , rice and maize crops. Orange and mango orchards are common. The area of district Okara

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4788-414: The Punjab region of Pakistan and India . It is one of the most widely spoken native languages in the world with approximately 150 million native speakers. Punjabi is the most widely-spoken first language in Pakistan, with 88.9 million native speakers according to the 2023 Pakistani census , and the 11th most widely-spoken in India, with 31.1 million native speakers, according to the 2011 census . It

4902-747: The Vedic period (est. >6000-500 BCE), the region now known as Pakpattan was part of the Sapta Sindhu , the "Land of Seven Rivers," prominently mentioned in the Rigveda as the cradle of early Indo-Aryan civilization. The area was traversed by the Sutlej River, known in Vedic times as the Shatudri ("Hundred Streams"), one of the sacred rivers of the Sapta Sindhu region. This era saw the composition of

5016-413: The h consonant itself and any voiced consonants appended with [h] (Gurmukhi: ੍ਹ "perī̃ hāhā" , Shahmukhi: ھ "dō-caśmī hē" ); usually ṛh , mh , nh , rh and lh . The five tonal plosives also become voiceless word-initially. E.g. ghar > kàr "house", ḍhōl > ṭṑl "drum" etc. Tonogenesis in Punjabi forfeits the sound of [h] for tone. Thus, the more [h] is realised, the less "tonal"

5130-503: The voiceless retroflex fricative [ʂ] in learned clusters with retroflexes. Due to its foreign origin, it is often also realised as [s] , in e.g. shalwār /salᵊ.ʋaːɾᵊ/ . The phonemic status of the consonants /f, z, x, ɣ, q/ varies with familiarity with Hindustani norms, more so with the Gurmukhi script, with the pairs /f, pʰ/ , /z, d͡ʒ/ , /x, kʰ/ , /ɣ, g/ , and /q, k/ systematically distinguished in educated speech, /q/ being

5244-500: The 1947 partition, preserving their cultural and religious practices under changing regimes. The founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak , visited the town in the early 1500s to collect compositions of Baba Farid's poetry. The exact date of Guru Nanak's visit to Ajodhan (Pakpattan) is traditionally placed around 1510-1511 CE, during his first major journey across the Indian subcontinent. Though Baba Farid had passed away over two centuries prior, Guru Nanak’s respect for Sufi teachings led him to

5358-726: The 1981 and 2017 censuses respectively, speakers of the Western Punjabi 's Saraiki and Hindko varieties were no longer included in the total numbers for Punjabi, which explains the apparent decrease. Pothwari speakers however are included in the total numbers for Punjabi. Punjabi is the official language of the Indian state of Punjab , and has the status of an additional official language in Haryana and Delhi. Some of its major urban centres in northern India are Amritsar , Ludhiana , Chandigarh , Jalandhar , Ambala , Patiala , Bathinda , Hoshiarpur , Firozpur and Delhi . In

5472-475: The 19th century from the Medieval Punjabi stage. Modern Punjabi has two main varieties, Western Punjabi and Eastern Punjabi , which have many dialects and forms, altogether spoken by over 150 million people. The Majhi dialect , which is transitional between the two main varieties, has been adopted as standard Punjabi in India and Pakistan for education and mass media. The Majhi dialect originated in

5586-684: The 2011 census of India, 31.14 million reported their language as Punjabi. The census publications group this with speakers of related "mother tongues" like Bagri and Bhateali to arrive at the figure of 33.12 million. Punjabi is also spoken as a minority language in several other countries where Punjabi people have emigrated in large numbers, such as the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada. There were 670,000 native Punjabi speakers in Canada in 2021, 300,000 in

5700-706: The 2023 census, 94.16% of the population spoke Punjabi and 4.64% Urdu as their first language. The main Punjabi dialects of the district are Jhangvi (or Rachnavi), and the standard Majhi dialect . There are many tribes and clans settled in the Okara District. The majority of the population of Okara are Punjabi speaking Muslims . The main tribes and clans include: Syed, Malik, Jhujh, Basti Peeran Wali Depalpur Shekikhu Sharif, Channar, Wattus, Mungun, Jhakhar, Klaason, Dhall Jutt, Raajpoots , Shaikhs , Lodhis , Kharals , Kamyanas, Kumbohs , Khanzadas , Noons, Arains , Chaudhary and Baloch are prominent. However,

5814-500: The Hindu communities' resilience, combined with the evolving policies of successive regimes, ensured the preservation of their cultural identity and traditions. Following the disintegration of the Mughal Empire, the shrine's Diwan was able to forge a political independent state centered on Pakpattan. In 1757, the territory of the Pakpattan state was extended across the Sutlej River after the shrine's head raised an army against

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5928-573: The Multan to Delhi trade route. The shrine's importance began to outweigh that of Ajodhan itself, and the town was subsequently renamed "Pakpattan" in honor of a ferry service over the Sutlej River. Overall, during the medieval period, Pakpattan emerged as a significant center of Sufism, particularly due to the influence of the revered Sufi saint Baba Farid (1173–1266 CE). As part of broader efforts by Islamic rulers to consolidate their authority, various measures were employed to promote Islam and regulate

6042-462: The Okara Bypass (30.786887° 73.459238°), the length of 12.7 km, on GT road (N-5). This project was commenced on 5 September 2003, due to the great demand of the people of the area. It was completed at the cost of 62.817 Crore Rupees. This interchange proved very helpful in the smooth flow of national highway traffic, particularly between Lahore and Multan and to reduce the national traffic in

6156-587: The Raja of Bikaner . The shrine's army was able to repel a 1776 attack by the Sikh Nakai Misl state, resulting in the death of the Nakai leader, Heera Singh Sandhu . Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1799–1839) of the Sikh Empire seized Pakpattan in 1810, removing the political autonomy of the Baba Farid shrine’s chief. In his efforts to centralize power across Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh systematically reduced

6270-762: The Ravi river goes winding along the borders of Faisalabad District and Sheikhupura District . The main towns of the district are: And some minor towns of the district are: The following is a table of the Tehsils & Union Councils of Okara District: (km²) (2023) (ppl/km²) (2023) (2023) Chak 7/1-AL(of mahalmis) CHAK 10/1.AL, KOT GUJJARAN o KAMYANA Chak No 8/1R AKHTARABAD, BAZEEDA, CHAK 11/1L, Chak 12/1-L, CHAK 13/1-L, CHAK 14/1-L, CHAK 18/1L, CHAK 22/1AL, CHAK 23/2L, CHAK 33/1AL, CHAK 4/1AL, CHAK 4/GD , CHAK 5/1RA, CHAK NO 4/1RA, CHAK 6/1L, CHAK 4/1.L, CHAK 7/1R, KAMAN, MOPALKEY, RENALA-1, RENALA-2 || 18 The district

6384-464: The Tughlaq court and the shrine. This patronage not only elevated the shrine's status but also reinforced Pakpattan's role as a key center of Sufism during the Tughlaq era. Ibn Battuta's travels to Ajodhan The renowned 14th century Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta visited the town in 1334 during his travels through the Indian subcontinent, and paid obeisance at the Baba Farid shrine. In his travel accounts, Battuta described Ajodhan (Pakpattan) as

6498-463: The United Kingdom in 2011, 280,000 in the United States and smaller numbers in other countries. Standard Punjabi (sometimes referred to as Majhi) is the standard form of Punjabi used commonly in education and news broadcasting , and is based on the Majhi dialect . Such as the variety used on Google Translate , Standard Punjabi is also often used in official online services that employ Punjabi. It

6612-570: The United States found no evidence of a separate falling tone following a medial consonant. It is considered that these tones arose when voiced aspirated consonants ( gh, jh, ḍh, dh, bh ) lost their aspiration. In Punjabi, tone is induced by the loss of [h] in tonal consonants. Tonal consonants are any voiced aspirates /ʱ/ and the voiced glottal fricative /ɦ/ . These include the five voiced aspirated plosives bh , dh , ḍh , jh and gh (which are represented by their own letters in Gurmukhi),

6726-605: The Vedas and the establishment of a society centered on pastoralism and agriculture. The region was inhabited by tribes mentioned in the Rigveda, such as the Purus, Druhyus, Anus, Turvasas, and Yadus, who engaged in intertribal conflicts and alliances that shaped the cultural and political landscape. Vedic society in the area was patriarchal and organized into clans led by tribal chiefs (Rajans). Religious practices focused on rituals and

6840-559: The administration of non-Muslim populations in the region. These measures often included taxation policies, such as the jizya tax , as well as efforts to spread Islam through other administrative and coercive means. Under the Delhi Sultanate (13th–16th century), jizya was rigorously enforced by rulers such as Alauddin Khalji (1296–1316), who implemented it as part of his economic and administrative policies. Later, Firuz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388) and Sikandar Lodi (1489–1517) reinforced

6954-527: The autonomy of regional spiritual and administrative leaders, including the Dewan of the Baba Farid shrine in Pakpattan. Historical accounts suggest that upon Maharaja Ranjit Singh's capture of the town, the Dewan presented the Maharaja with a sword, a horse, cash, and reportedly women, as part of a customary tribute to demonstrate loyalty and seek favor. Such gestures reflected the feudal and patriarchal norms of

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7068-499: The centre of the city, which has several old and also latest fire engines for safety services. Okara also has a Railway station, which contains several platforms, where almost every train going from Islamabad to Karachi makes a stop. There are two railway underpasses and two flyovers which helps in smooth flow of traffic. On 31 May 2005, the Ex-President General Pervez Musharraf inaugurated

7182-400: The city to different communities in a balanced manner—for instance, allocating the Gala Mandi to Hindus, another area to Sikhs, and others to Muslims—ensuring equitable representation and fostering a sense of shared community. Several historical figures are recorded or traditionally believed to have visited Pakpattan (formerly Ajodhan), drawn by the spiritual significance of Baba Farid’s shrine,

7296-663: The city, having fled from regions that were allocated to India. Pakpattan thus increased in importance as a religious centre, and witnessed the development of pir-muridi shrine culture. The influence of the shrine's caretakers grew as Chistis and their devotees congregated in the city to such a degree that the shrine caretakers are regarded as "kingmakers" for local and regional politics. Pakpattan's shrine continued to grow in influence as Pakistani Muslims found it increasingly difficult to visit other Chisti shrines that now lay in India, while Sikhs in India commemorate Baba Farid's urs in absentia at Amritsar . Pakpattan continues to be

7410-401: The city. This bypass connects the Karachi-Lahore-Peshawar national highway which is the economic lifeline of Pakistan. Nearby cities are Haveli Lakha , Sahiwal , Pakpattan , Depalpur , Mundi Ahmad Abaad, Basirpur (بصیر پور) and Renaala Khurd . There is a famous shrine of Sufi Sayed Shubbeer Husain Shaah Gilaani situated in the village "47/2-L (Raajpootaan) near Depalpur road, Okara. There

7524-433: The convent. Upon Baba Farid's death in 1265, a shrine was constructed that eventually contained a mosque, langar , and several other related buildings. The shrine was among the first Islamic holy sites in South Asia . The shrine later served to elevate the town as a centre of pilgrimage within the wider Islamic world. In keeping with Sufi tradition in Punjab, the shrine maintains influence over smaller shrines throughout

7638-481: The crop yields. There are two modern Cricket Stadiums (Okara Gymkhana Cricket Ground and Jinnah Cricket Stadium). Okara Gymkhana Cricket ground is a First Class Cricket venue of Pakistan Cricket Board. Football, Hockey, Basketball Court, Badminton Arena are also constructed in the heart of City. A new international hockey stadium is being constructed in Renala Khurd Tehsil of Okara, which would be completed by 2013. There are also many small and considerable big parks for

7752-584: The devoicing of the main five tonal consonants ( bh , dh , ḍh , jh , gh ). The Gurmukhi script which was developed in the 16th century has separate letters for voiced aspirated sounds, so it is thought that the change in pronunciation of the consonants and development of tones may have taken place since that time. Some other languages in Pakistan have also been found to have tonal distinctions, including Burushaski , Gujari , Hindko , Kalami , Shina , and Torwali , though these (besides Hindko) seem to be independent of Punjabi. Pakpattan Pakpattan

7866-443: The eastern and western half of the district. The ridge descends from Kasur , all the way to Chunian , and then Shergarh in Okara. As you go west of the ridge, into Okara & Renala Khurd , the subsoil water is brackish, therefore the area is dependent on canals for irrigation. However, after you cross the ridge east into Depalpur Tehsil , the subsoil water is sweet and good for agriculture. Other produce grown locally includes

7980-415: The eleventh-most widely spoken in India , and also present in the Punjabi diaspora in various countries. Approximate distribution of native Punjabi speakers (inc. Lahndic dialects ) (assuming a rounded total of 157 million) worldwide. Punjabi is the most widely spoken language in Pakistan , being the native language of 88.9 million people, or approximately 37% of the country's population. Beginning with

8094-410: The establishment of British rule in Punjab after defeating the Sikh Empire, Pakpattan in 1849 was made district headquarters, before it was shifted in 1852, and finally to Montgomery (now Sahiwal) in 1856. The Pakpattan Municipal Council was established in 1868, and the population in 1901 was 6,192. Income in the era chiefly derived from transit fees . Between the 1890s and 1920s, the British laid

8208-488: The examples below are based on those provided in Punjabi University, Patiala 's Punjabi-English Dictionary . Level tone is found in about 75% of words and is described by some as absence of tone. There are also some words which are said to have rising tone in the first syllable and falling in the second. (Some writers describe this as a fourth tone.) However, a recent acoustic study of six Punjabi speakers in

8322-418: The far-north of Rajasthan and on the northwestern border of Haryana . It includes the dialects of Majhi , Malwai , Doabi , Puadhi and the extinct Lubanki . Sometimes, Dogri and Kangri are grouped into this category. "Western Punjabi" or "Lahnda" ( لہندا , lit.   ' western ' ) is the name given to the diverse group of Punjabi varieties spoken in the majority of Pakistani Punjab ,

8436-420: The fortified town of Bhatner (present-day Hanumangarh ), believing that Bhatner's strong defenses and remote location would offer protection from invaders. In his memoir, Timur recorded: I appointed Amir Shah Malik and Daulut Timur Tawachi to march forward with a large army, by way of Dibalpur, towards Dehli, and ordered them to wait for me at Samana, which is a place in the neighbourhood of Dehli. I. mysell, in

8550-509: The general public. The three main recreational parks are Ladies Park, Bagh-e-Jinnah and District Park. Educational institutes include Education University, Cadet College, Government College for Boy, two Government Colleges for Women. There are various numerous public & private hospitals and clinics providing the health services. Hospitals include the District Government hospital, surgical hospital and C.M.H Okara Cantt. There

8664-411: The holy shrine. I left Ajodhan on Wednesday, the 26th of the month, on my march to Bhatnir...The people of the country informed me that Bhatnir was about fifty kos off, and that it was an extremely strong and well-fortified place, so much so as to be renowned throughout the whole of Hindustan....The people who had fled from Ajodhan had come to Bhatnir, because no hostile army had ever penetrated thither. So

8778-406: The imposition of Islamic laws, including jizya, throughout their territories, including Pakpattan. Non-Muslims who converted to Islam were often exempt from jizya, an incentive that likely influenced conversions. In addition to taxation, Sufi missionaries, particularly Baba Farid and his successors, were instrumental in promoting Islam in the region. Encouraged by Islamic rulers, Sufi saints played

8892-484: The key to the shrine would remain with a Hindu throughout the night. The shrine would open at 5 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. daily. The Hindu would hand the key to a Sikh in the morning, who would pass it to the Dewan (a Muslim) to open the shrine, after which the Dewan would return the key to the Sikh, who would then give it back to the Hindu. This symbolic chain of custody emphasized communal cooperation and mutual respect. Additionally, Ranjit Singh assigned different parts of

9006-540: The language spoken by locals around the area of Lahore as Lahauri . The precursor stage of Punjabi between the 10th and 16th centuries is termed 'Old Punjabi', whilst the stage between the 16th and 19th centuries is termed as 'Medieval Punjabi'. The Arabic and Modern Persian influence in the historical Punjab region began with the late first millennium Muslim conquests in the Indian subcontinent . Since then, many Persian words have been incorporated into Punjabi (such as zamīn , śahir etc.) and are used with

9120-629: The latter three arise natively. Later, the letters ਜ਼ / ز , ਸ਼ / ش and ਫ਼ / ف began being used in English borrowings, with ਸ਼ / ش also used in Sanskrit borrowings . Punjabi has also had minor influence from and on neighbouring languages such as Sindhi , Haryanvi , Pashto and Hindustani . Note: In more formal contexts, hypercorrect Sanskritized versions of these words (ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ pradhān for ਪਰਧਾਨ pardhān and ਪਰਿਵਾਰ parivār for ਪਰਵਾਰ parvār ) may be used. Modern Punjabi emerged in

9234-462: The meanwhile, pushed forward upon Bhatnir with a body of 10,000 picked cavalry. On arriving at Ajodhan, I found that among the shaikhs of this place (who, except the name of Shaikh, have nothing of piety or devotion about them) there was a shaikh named Manua, who, seducing some of the inhabitants of this city, had induced them to desert their country and accompany him towards Dehli, while some, tempted by Shaikh Sa'd; his companion, had gone to Bhatnir, and

9348-582: The medieval importance of Pakpattan as a spiritual and cultural center in the region. Battuta also mentioned witnessing the practice of sati in Ajodhan (Pakpattan), describing the ritual where a widow immolated herself on her deceased husband's funeral pyre as a custom of honor among some locals. Further conquests and Timur's entry In 1394, Shaikha Khokhar , a chieftain of the Khokhar tribe and former governor of Lahore under Sultan Mahmud Tughlaq, led

9462-602: The most rarely pronounced. The retroflex lateral is most commonly analysed as an approximant as opposed to a flap . Some speakers soften the voiceless aspirates /t͡ʃʰ, pʰ, kʰ/ into fricatives /ɕ, f, x/ respectively. In rare cases, the /ɲ/ and /ŋ/ phonemes in Shahmukhi may be represented with letters from Sindhi . The /ɲ/ phoneme, which is more common than /ŋ/, is written as نی or نج depending on its phonetic preservation, e.g. نیاݨا /ɲaːɳaː/ (preserved ñ ) as opposed to کنج /kiɲd͡ʒ/ (assimilated into nj ). /ŋ/

9576-486: The next day. Overall, although there were some deaths, the numbers were relatively low compared to other cities in Punjab. However, during that summer, a train departing from Pakpattan Railway Station carrying Hindus and Sikhs was attacked shortly after leaving, resulting in all the passengers being slaughtered by a Muslim mob. Among those on the train was Sardar Kartar Singh, the brother of Sir Datar Singh (maternal grandfather of Indian politician Maneka Gandhi). Kartar Singh

9690-486: The outputs of lemon , guava and grapefruit orchards, belonging to the food processing company, Mitchell's Fruit Farms Limited . The orchard runs for about 6 miles, along with the LBDC, from Renala Khurd all the way up to the Okara bypass. Okara is famous for world-class potato production. Okara ranks on the top in potatoes cultivation along Pakpattan , Sahiwal, Khanewal , Vehari and Multan contribute more than 60% of

9804-408: The potatoes produced in Pakistan. At the time of the 2017 census, Okara had a sex ratio of 943 females per 1000 males and a literacy rate of 58.28% - 66.72% for males and 49.32% for females. 842,564 (27.71%) lived in urban areas. 830,621 (27.32%) were under 10 years of age. In 2023, the district had 550,057 households and a population of 3,515,490. Languages of Okara district (2023) At the time of

9918-546: The region around Pakpattan that are dedicated to specific events in Baba Farid's life. These secondary shrines form a wilayat , or a "spiritual territory" of the Pakpattan shrine. During the Tughlaq dynasty's reign (1320–1413), Ajodhan (Pakpattan), gained prominence due to its association with the revered Sufi saint Baba Farid. Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq , the dynasty's founder, frequently visited Baba Farid's shrine, reflecting

10032-407: The region. His reign also saw restrictions on Hindu rituals and festivals in Punjab which likely affected the residents of Pakpattan, further influencing the region's religious landscape. Pakpattan’s history reflects the interplay of taxation policies and religious efforts by rulers to consolidate their authority while shaping the cultural and spiritual fabric of the region. Despite these pressures,

10146-407: The religious practices and rituals of local communities. The town was part of a broader network of settlements along these trade routes in northern India, which allowed Hindu traditions to flourish alongside the development of diverse communities. With the advent of Islamic rule and the influence of Sufi saints, particularly Baba Farid in the 12th century, Ajodhan (Pakpattan) would eventually become

10260-535: The revered shrine of the Sufi saint Baba Farid and the deep veneration held for him by the local community. Acknowledging Baba Farid’s spiritual significance, Timur visited the shrine to pray for strength and, out of respect for the saint’s legacy, spared the town’s remaining inhabitants who had not fled his advance. During Timur's 1398 invasion, numerous inhabitants of Ajodhan (Pakpattan) and Dipalpur, fearing his advancing forces, fled their cities and sought refuge in

10374-406: The reverence for Baba Farid's legacy led to "Pakpattan" gradually eclipsing the older name, Ajodhan. Pakpattan is located about 205 km from Multan. Pakpattan is located roughly 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the border with India, and 184 kilometres (114 mi) by road southwest of Lahore . The district is bounded to the northwest by Sahiwal District , to the north by Okara District , to

10488-475: The saint's shrine, where he engaged in spiritual discourse with Sheikh Ibrahim, a descendant of Baba Farid and the head of the shrine at the time. During the Mughal era in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Shrine of Baba Farid in Pakpattan received significant royal patronage, enhancing its prominence as a center of Sufism. Emperor Akbar (1556–1605), during his visit to the shrine in the late 16th century, renamed

10602-566: The shrine enabled him to extend his influence throughout the Pakpattan shrine's spiritual wilayat (territory) and its network of smaller shrines, strengthening his rule as a non-Muslim leader in a region with profound religious significance. Under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, state policies generally shifted toward greater religious tolerance. Discriminatory taxes such as jizya were abolished, and both Hindu and Sikh communities in Pakpattan were allowed to freely practice their faiths without external pressures to convert. The abolition of jizya symbolized

10716-466: The shrine granted the League privileges to address crows at the urs fair in 1945 - a favour not granted to pro-Unionist parties. The shrine's sajjada nasheen caretakers further refused to sign an anti-Partition manifesto brought to them by pro-Unionists. Just prior to the partition of 1947 , the city's population included a substantial number of Hindus and Sikhs. Some well-known local residents at

10830-530: The shrine's stature but also reinforced Pakpattan's role as a key center of Sufism during the Mughal era. Notably, under the Mughal Empire, the imposition of jizya upon the Hindu residents of Pakpattan varied depending on the ruler's policies. Akbar abolished the tax in 1564 as part of his religiously tolerant policies, providing relief to non-Muslim residents of Pakpattan. However, Aurangzeb (1658–1707) reintroduced jizya in 1679 as part of his conservative Islamic reforms, significantly affecting Hindu communities in

10944-411: The shrine's status but also elevated the city's importance as a center of Sufism during the Tughlaq era. In addition to constructing the mausoleum, the Tughlaq rulers, including Muhammad bin Tughluq and his successor Firuz Shah Tughlaq, undertook repairs and enhancements at the Shrine of Baba Farid. They granted ceremonial robes to honor Baba Farid's descendants and fostered a strong association between

11058-493: The site's spiritual significance. His son, Muhammad bin Tughluq , also maintained a close relationship with the shrine, commissioning the construction of a grand mausoleum for Baba Farid's successor, Sheikh Alauddin Mauj Darya, which became a notable example of Tughlaq architecture. Following Sheikh Alauddin's passing in 1335, this tomb solidified the site's historical and spiritual importance. This patronage not only enhanced

11172-547: The southeast by the Sutlej River and Bahawalnagar District , and to the southwest by Vehari District . Pakpattan, located in the fertile plains of Punjab, Pakistan, is believed to have roots that trace back to the Sarasvati-Indus Valley Civilization (est. >7000–1900 BCE), one of the world's oldest urban cultures, located in the Northern area of the Indian subcontinent. Although Pakpattan

11286-465: The standard literary and administrative language and Prakrit languages evolved into many regional languages in different parts of India. All these languages are called Prakrit languages (Sanskrit: प्राकृत , prākṛta ) collectively. Paishachi Prakrit was one of these Prakrit languages, which was spoken in north and north-western India and Punjabi developed from this Prakrit. Later in northern India Paishachi Prakrit gave rise to Paishachi Apabhraṃśa ,

11400-539: The terms Eastern and Western Punjabi can simply refer to all the Punjabi varieties spoken in India and Pakistan respectively, whether or not they are linguistically Eastern/Western. While a vowel length distinction between short and long vowels exists, reflected in modern Gurmukhi orthographical conventions, it is secondary to the vowel quality contrast between centralised vowels /ɪ ə ʊ/ and peripheral vowels /iː eː ɛː aː ɔː oː uː/ in terms of phonetic significance. The peripheral vowels have nasal analogues . There

11514-550: The time included Bhasheshar Nath (a major landowner), Dr. Ram Nath (MBBS doctor), and Lala Ganpat Rai Dhawan (local businessman and patwari). The Hindus of the city controlled much of the commerce and banking. On August 15, 1947, a major communal clash was supposed to take place but the Hindus left Pakpattan a few days later through the Sulemanki route. On August 23 and 24, looting had begun, and more of city's Hindus and Sikhs left

11628-460: The time, with symbolic and practical items like swords and horses representing martial allegiance. Ranjit Singh diminished the shrine’s independence by integrating its resources and influence into his administration, reflecting his broader strategy of consolidating control over both religious and secular institutions in his empire. Ranjit Singh maintained a deep respect for the shrine’s significance, particularly because Baba Farid’s spiritual poetry

11742-588: The town from Ajodhan to Pakpattan, meaning "Pure Ferry," reflecting the town's spiritual significance. His son, Jahangir , continued this tradition as Emperor by offering support to the shrine and its custodians. In 1692, Emperor Shah Jahan further solidified the shrine's status by bestowing royal support upon its Dewan chief and the descendants of Baba Farid, who became known as the Chishtis . The shrine and Chistis were defended by an army of devotees drawn from local Jat clans. The patronage not only elevated

11856-478: The two textile mills that Pakistan got was in Okara. The mill was known as Sutlej textile mill and it was Asia's biggest textile mill at that time but at present, it is closed down. In 1982 the city became the headquarters of the newly created Okara District. Okara has had a railway line since 1892. Okara District was previously part of Montgomery District which included: Pakpattan , Sahiwal , Okara districts of Punjab . The predominantly Muslim population supported

11970-616: The west by Sahiwal , on the north by the districts of Faisalabad and Nankana Sahib , on the Near-East & Far-North by Kasur , on the South-East by Fazilka district in Indian Punjab. Okara District lies on Radcliffe line / Indo-Pakistani border , therefore its geographic importance for defence is high. Okara Cantonment has a significant position in Pakistan. Okara region was an agricultural region with forests during

12084-581: The word Panj-āb , Persian for 'Five Waters', referring to the five major eastern tributaries of the Indus River . The name of the region was introduced by the Turko-Persian conquerors of South Asia and was a translation of the Sanskrit name, Panchanada , which means 'Land of the Five Rivers'. Panj is cognate with Sanskrit pañca ( पञ्च ), Greek pénte ( πέντε ), and Lithuanian Penki , all of which meaning 'five'; āb

12198-404: The worship of natural forces and deities such as Indra, Agni, and Varuna. The Sutlej River played a vital role in sustaining the inhabitants and influencing the region's spiritual and cultural significance in early Vedic civilization. Pakpattan, originally known by its Hindu name Ajodhan (Hindi: अजोधन), was founded as a village and has a deep-rooted Hindu history that predates its prominence as

12312-514: Was lexically influenced by Portuguese (words like almārī ), Greek (words like dām ), Japanese (words like rikśā ), Chinese (words like cāh , līcī , lukāṭh ) and English (words like jajj , apīl , māsṭar ), though these influences have been minor in comparison to Persian and Arabic. In fact, the sounds / z / (ਜ਼ / ز ژ ذ ض ظ ), / ɣ / (ਗ਼ / غ ), / q / (ਕ਼ / ق ), / ʃ / (ਸ਼ / ش ), / x / (ਖ਼ / خ ) and / f / (ਫ਼ / ف ) are all borrowed from Persian, but in some instances

12426-417: Was captured by Sebüktegin in 977–78 CE and by Ibrahim Ghaznavi in 1079–80. Turkish settlers also arrived in the region as a result of pressures from the expanding Mongol Empire , and so Ajodhan already had a mosque and Muslim community by the time of the arrival of Baba Farid , who migrated to the town from his native village of Kothewal near Multan around 1195. Despite his presence, Ajodhan remained

12540-459: Was inflicted by my troops on the people of this city. I was informed that the blessed tomb of Hazrat Shaikh Farid Ganj-shakar (whom may God bless) was in this city, upon which I immediately set out on pilgrimage to it. I repeated the Fatiha, and the other prayers, for assistance, etc., and prayed for victory from his blessed spirit, and distributed large sums in alms and charity among the attendants on

12654-446: Was originally known as Ajodhan (Hindi: अजोधन) until the 16th century. Ajodhan may be a Sanskrit term that can be interpreted as "eternal wealth" or "eternal prosperity," with Aja meaning "unborn" or "eternal" and Dhana meaning "wealth" or "prosperity." This concept reflects the area's historical and cultural significance, particularly during the medieval period when it served as a prominent center of trade and spiritual learning. It

12768-572: Was replaced by Muslim migrants from India (notably from towns such as Hoshiarpur and Fazilka). The stories of partition as told by the city's elderly residents who lived through the partition, have been extensively documented by Ahmad Naeem Chishti, in the social media page Partition Diary. Pakpattan's demography was radically altered by the Partition of British Raj, with the vast majority of its Sikh and Hindu residents migrating to India. Several Chisti scholars and notable families also settled in

12882-642: Was ruled by Maurya Empire , Indo-Greek kingdom , Kushan Empire , Gupta Empire , White Huns , Kushano-Hephthalites and the Turk and Hindu Shahi kingdoms. In 997 CE, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi , took over the Ghaznavid dynasty empire established by his father, Sultan Sebuktegin . In 1005, he conquered the Shahis in Kabul , and followed it by the conquests of northern Punjab region . The Delhi Sultanate and later

12996-510: Was traveling with his young wife and daughter when the train was ambushed approximately 5 kilometers from Pakpattan. Both Kartar Singh and his wife were killed in the attack, but their daughter survived. She was later adopted by a Muslim family in Pakistan, who cared for her for over a year. Eventually, a family member from India traveled to Pakistan and brought her back, reuniting her with her extended family. The city's Hindu and Sikh population fled to various areas in India (notably Fazilka ) and

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