Multan:-

is a city in Punjab, Pakistan. It is Pakistan's fifth largest city by population and has an area of 133 square kilometers (51 sq mi). The city is located on the banks of the Chenab River in the geographic center of the country.

Multan is known as the City of Sufis or City of Saints and Madinat-ul-Auliya because of the large number of shrines and Sufi saints from the city. The city is blanketed with bazaars, mosques, shrines, and ornate tombs. It is the birthplace of Fariduddin Ganjshakar (popularly known as "Baba Farid"), recognized as the first major poet of the Punjabi language. Multan is located in a bend created by five rivers of central Pakistan. The Sutlej River separates it from Bahawalpur and the Chenab River from Muzaffar Garh. The city has grown to become an influential political and economical center for the country, with a dry port and excellent transport links. Multan is famous for its crops: wheat, cotton, sugar cane,mangoes, citrus, guavas, and pomegranates.

History:-

Multan is one of the oldest cities not only in the Asian subcontinent but also in the world.^[4]^[5] According to Hindu legends, it was the capital of the Trigarta Kingdom at the time of the Mahabharata war, ruled by theKatoch Dynasty. Multan has had various names over the years. According to Hindu mythology, it was originally called Kashtpur (Kashyapapura) after a Hindu sage named Kashyapa, which is also the Gotraused by the Katoch dynasty.^[6] Other names were Hanspur (Hamsapura), Bagpur (Vegapura), Sanb orSanahpur (Sambapura).^[7]^[8] It has been postulated that the current name is derived from the Sanskrit name Mulasthana named after a Sun Temple.^[9]^[10] Multan has frequently been a site of conflict due to its location on a major invasion route between South Asia and Central Asia. It was conquered by Alexander the Great in 326 BC. In the mid-5th century BC, the city was attacked by a group of Huna Hephthalite nomads led byToramana.

Multan was conquered along with Sindh by Muhammad bin Qasim, from the local ruler Chach of Alor circa 712 AD.Following bin Qasim's conquest, the city was securely under Muslim rule, although it was in effect an independent state and most of the subjects were non-Muslim.

In 965 CE, Multan was conquered by Halam b. Shayban, an Ismaili da'i. Soon after, Multan was attacked by Mahmud of Ghazni, destabilizing the Ismaili state. Mahmud of Ghazni invaded Multan in 1005 CE, conducting a series of campaigns during which the Ismailis of Multan were massacred.^[11] In an effort to gain his allegiance, the Fatimid Ismaili Imam-caliph al-Hakim dispatched an envoy to Mahmud two years later. This attempt appeared to be unsuccessful and the Ghaznawids continued to attack other Ismaili strongholds in Sindh to suppress any resurgence of the community in the region. In 1032CE Mahmud's very own vizier, Hasanak was executed for having accepted a cloak from the Imam-caliph on suspicions that he had become an adherent of the Ismaili faith.^[11] Mahmud's purges of the region led several scholars including Stern to believe that the Ghaznawid purges of the region drove out Ismailism from the area; however, recently discovered letters dating to 1083 and 1088 demonstrate continued Ismaili activity in the region, as the Imam-caliph Mustansir dispatched new da'is to replace those who were killed in the attacks.^[11]

Multan's location at the entrance to the sub-continent resulted in it being invaded by a long series of conquerors on their way to Delhi. Timur, Baburand many others passed through the city, leaving much destruction in their wake. This violence continued as when Muhammad of Ghor attacked the city and drove out the remaining Ismailis^[12] whom he deemed to be heretics, in stark contrast to his predecessor, the Ghurid Sultan 'Ala' al-Din who welcomed numerous envoys from the Ismaili state of Alamut and according to the historian Juzjani, gave them "great reverence"^[11] Following annexation to Mughal empire in 1557 CE, at the beginning of emperor Akbar's rule;^[13] Multan enjoyed 200 years of peace, and became known as Dar al-Aman (Abode of Peace). Akbar was known as a wise ruler, setting reasonable taxes, creating effective government and being tolerant of religious differences.

Multan witnessed difficult times as Mughal rule declined in early 1700s, starting after death of emperor Aurangzeb in 1707. The last Naib Subahdarsappointed by Farrukhsiyar at Multan were Khan Zaman Khan Ali Asghar ibn Kartalab Khan Bahadur Shahi Qazi Ghulam Mustafa and then Aqidat Khan ibn Ameer Khan.^[14] Persia was united under Nader Shah, ruling from 1736 as Shah of Iran. After his assassination in 1747, Ahmad Shah Durrani—who was born in Multan—rose to power. This counts as beginning of Durrani Empire.

In 1758, the Marathas under Raghunathrao captured Multan along with Lahore, Attock, Peshawar and Kashmir.^[15]^[16]

The city was re-captured by Durrani in 1760. However, after death of Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1772, the influence of Durrani empire declined sharply in mere fifty years. Starting at late in 1700s, Multan was ruled locally by the Pashtun Sadozai and Khogyani aka Khakwani chieftains.

In 1817, Maharaja Ranjit Singh sent a body of troops to Multan under the command of Diwan Bhiwani Das to receive from Nawab Muzaffar Khan the tribute he owed to the Sikh Darbar. In 1818, Kharak Singh and Hindu Commander Diwan Misr Chand armies lay around Multan without making much initial headway. Maharaja Ranjit Singh sent a large cannon named Zamzama . Though in name Armies was commanded by Prince Kharak Singh however it was the military genius of Diwan Misr Chand which captured Multan Fort.

Muzzafar Khan urged the Majority Muslim population of Multan to fight a holy war against Sikhs and Hindus, however the tactics of Muzzafar Khan failed miserably as Sikh armies were able to suppress the religious revolt of Multan population. In the battle Diwan Misr Chand led Sikh armies to a decisive victory over Durrani General of Multan Nawab Muzaffar Khan. Muzzafar Khan and seven of his sons were killed before the Multan fort finally fell on March 2, 1818.^[17]^[18] The death of Durrani General Nawab Muzzafar Khan brought the death of Muslim rule in Multan. After the defeat of Muslims in 1818, Multan came under Muslims only when British Empire divided India into two Portion and gave Muslim majority areas to Muslims in 1947.^[19] Kharak Singh left Jodh Singh Ramgarhia with 600 men to guard the fort of Multan.^[20]The Sikhs thereafter ruled Punjab until 1849, when it was lost in the Second Anglo-Sikh War.. Sardar Karan Narain's son was awarded the title 'Rai Bahadur' and knighted by the British Raj for switching to their side. After the Anglo-Sikh Wars, Multan was made part of the British Raj. The British built some rail routes to the city, but its industrial capacity was never developed. Muhammad Basher Ahmed Amretsri was revolted many time against British Government and died there.Choudy Ayzed Habib Arain and choudry Israr are the grandson of him. The predominantly Muslim population supported Muslim League and 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 Multan. It initially lacked industry, hospitals and universities. Since then, there has been some industrial growth, and the city's population is continually growing. But the old city continues to be in a dilapidated state, and many monuments wear the effects of the warfare that has visited the city.

Multani mitti:-

Fuller’s earth, commonly known as multani mitti has been in use as a skincare product since centuries. Before cosmetic products became a rage, women in India used home remedies to treat beauty problems like acne, blackheads, scars etc. Though many have now moved on to branded products, these home remedies still work wonders for one’s skin and come relatively cheap, without any side-effects.

Here are a few of its benefits.

Multani mitti has a rich content of magnesium chloride which helps in the reduction of acne and blemishes.
It is very good for oily skin as it absorbs the excess oil thereby reducing the chances of new pimples.
Applying a multani mitti face pack cleanses the skin and frees it from dirt, oil and dead skin cells.
Its healing properties reduce redness. Using it regularly will further relieve the skin from acne scars and inflammation.
Multani mitti is also good for getting rid of tanning and pigmentation as it has a soothing effect on the skin.
You can get rid of whiteheads and blackheads naturally with multani mitti.
Multani mitti is very safe to use as it does not have any side-effects
Multani mitti face packs:-
If you have oily skin, make a paste of multani mitti and rose water with a pinch of turmeric in it – the paste should be thin in consistency. Apply it on your face and neck area, avoiding the area around the eyes. Leave it to dry and then rinse it off with water. Remember, do not talk or make too many facial movements after you apply any face pack.
If your skin is normal to dry, mix ground almond paste and replace the rose water with milk in the face pack.
If you want to get rid of acne on your face, make a paste consisting multani mitti, neem, camphor (kapur) and rose water. Apply it once a week to get good results.
To remove blemish and pimple marks, mix multani mitti with some freshly squeezed tomato juice. Add a hint of sandalwood powder and turmeric to it and apply the pack on your face.
If you have dark spots, add yoghurt and mint (pudina) leaves in multani mitti, make a paste and apply it on the spots for half an hour before rinsing it off with lukewarm water.
Even if you do not suffer skin problems like acne, scars etc, apply multani mitti mixed with some essential oil. This will make your skin smoother and supple and add a glow to it.

Multani mitti has many benefits and one must not ignore its power to heal the skin. Try these homemade face packs and see your skin become radiant than before. The trick to identify real multani mitti is by its colour and smell. It is usually of cream to tan colour and has a fresh, muddy odour. You can even buy ready-made multani mitti packs offered by various cosmetic brands.

Geography

The city of Multan is located in Punjab. The nearest major cities are Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur. The area around the city is a flat, alluvial plain and is ideal for agriculture, with many citrus and mango farms. There are many canals that cut across the Multan District, providing water from nearby farms. This makes the land very fertile. However land close to the Chenab River is usually flooded in the monsoon season.

Multan features an arid climate (Köppen climate classification BWh) with very hot summers and mild winters. The city witnesses some of the most extreme weather in the country. The highest recorded temperature is approximately 54 °C (129 °F), and the lowest recorded temperature is approximately−1 °C (30 °F).^[21]^[22] The average rainfall is roughly 186 millimetres (7.3 in). Dust storms are a common occurrence within the cit

[hide]Climate data for Multan
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	28.3 (82.9)	32.0 (89.6)	39.0 (102.2)	45.0 (113)	48.9 (120)	49.0 (120.2)	47.2 (117)	45.0 (113)	42.5 (108.5)	40.6 (105.1)	36.0 (96.8)	29.0 (84.2)	49 (120.2)
Average high °C (°F)	21.0 (69.8)	23.2 (73.8)	28.5 (83.3)	35.5 (95.9)	40.4 (104.7)	42.3 (108.1)	39.2 (102.6)	38.0 (100.4)	37.2 (99)	34.6 (94.3)	28.5 (83.3)	22.7 (72.9)	32.59 (90.68)
Daily mean °C (°F)	12.7 (54.9)	15.4 (59.7)	21.0 (69.8)	27.5 (81.5)	32.4 (90.3)	35.5 (95.9)	33.9 (93)	33.0 (91.4)	31.0 (87.8)	26.4 (79.5)	19.7 (67.5)	14.1 (57.4)	25.22 (77.39)
Average low °C (°F)	4.5 (40.1)	7.6 (45.7)	13.5 (56.3)	19.5 (67.1)	24.4 (75.9)	28.6 (83.5)	28.7 (83.7)	28.0 (82.4)	24.9 (76.8)	18.2 (64.8)	10.9 (51.6)	5.5 (41.9)	17.86 (64.15)
Record low °C (°F)	−3.9 (25)	−2.0 (28.4)	3.3 (37.9)	9.4 (48.9)	13.5 (56.3)	20.0 (68)	21.1 (70)	21.1 (70)	16.7 (62.1)	8.9 (48)	0.6 (33.1)	−1.1 (30)	−3.9 (25)
Precipitation mm (inches)	7.2 (0.283)	9.5 (0.374)	19.5 (0.768)	12.9 (0.508)	9.8 (0.386)	12.3 (0.484)	61.3 (2.413)	32.6 (1.283)	10.8 (0.425)	1.7 (0.067)	2.3 (0.091)	6.9 (0.272)	186.8 (7.354)
Mean monthly sunshine hours	222.3	211.6	250.8	273.3	293.5	266.8	265.0	277.6	277.6	274.9	255.0	229.2	3,097.6
Source: NOAA (1961-1990)^[23]

Economy:-

Multan is a commercial and industrial centre, as it is connected with the rest of the country through rail and air including the other industrial hubs such as Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Quetta and Faisalabad. Industries include fertilizer, cosmetics, glass manufacturing, cotton production and processing, large textile units, flour mills, sugar and oil mills and large-scale power generation projects. It is famous for its handicrafts (carpets & ceramics) and cottage industries. Roughly 1,900 acres (7.7 km²) of the city is still forested in the district. Trees grown in the area are Kikar, Shisham and Mulberry.

Large, irregular suburbs have grown outside the old walled town, and two satellite towns have been set up. The mangoes of Multan district are well-known. Multani khussa (traditional shoes), embroidery on dresses for women and men, furniture and other wooden products, earthenware pottery, painted pottery, camel-skin ware, surgical instruments and carpets are a few of the city's major exports, with a great demand within the country as well.

Multan is an important agricultural centre. Wheat, cotton and sugarcane are the main crops grown in the district. Moreover, rice, maize, tobacco, bajra, moong (lentils), mash (lentils), masoor (lentils), oil seed such as rape, mustard and sunflower are also grown in minor quantities in the district. Mangoes, citrus, guavas and pomegranate are the main fruits grown in the Multan district. Additionally, dates, jaman, pears, phalsa and bananas are grown in minor quantities in the district The city is also rich in minerals. These include argillaceous clay, coal, dolomite, fire clay, gypsum, limestone, silica and rock salt. Most of these are excavated for commercial activities and transported to other cities within the country. Many industrial factories are being inaugurated to handle the separation and quality control of these minerals. The minerals in the city are used in dolomite processing, fire bricks/refractories, hollow glassware, insulators/capacitors and ceramics.

Since Multan is agriculture-based, there is also plenty of livestock still growing at a positive rate, which has led to milk processing/dairy products units, ice cream manufacturing, animal and poultry feed, dairy farms, cattle/sheep/goat fattening plants, meat/poultry processing units, leather garments manufacturing, leather footwear, cosmetics, tinned goods and pharmaceuticals.

There is a saying in Persian that Multan is the 'City of Saints, Sufis and Beggars' (Gard, Garma, Gada o Goristan). It is one of the main cities in the Southern Punjab province of Pakistan. The city has been a focal point for many religions, in particular becoming a central abode for Sufism, the mystical side of Islam. The city has attracted Sufi saints from far places of the globe. Today, Multan is known as the 'City of Sufis'.Multan is one of the oldest cities in South Asia, with many tombs, shrines, temples, cathedrals and mausoleums, as well as a historical fort. Today Multan is a combination of old and the new Pakistan culture. There is a big hustle bustle in the old city and comfort of a five star hotel and fine dining in the new. The old city has a various bazaars selling mystical artifacts, perfumes to arts and crafts. There are also elaborately decorated shrines of the Sufi saints, tombs of various travellers and important people within the old city of Multan.

The prime attractions of Multan are its mausoleums of Sufi saints. The Mausoleum of Sheikh Baha-ud-Din Zakariya, as well as the Mausoleum of Shah Rukn-e-Alam are the prime attractions of the city. Their lofty domes of are visible, from miles and dominate the skyline of Multan. Another popular shrine is the Mausoleum of Shams-ud-Din, commonly known as Shah Shamsuddin Sabzwari is located about half a mile to the east of the Multan Fort, on the high bank of the old bed of the Ravi River.

Another famous and beautiful mausoleum of a warrior Sufi saint and poet Hazrat Hafiz Muhammad Jamal Multani (1747–1811 AD) is situated near Aam Khas garden outside Daulat Gate, Multan.

There are also a number of other mausoleums located within the city which gather a great deal of attention. The Nuagaza tombs are shrines to martyrs and warriors who fought in wars centuries ago, some dating back 1,300 years ago. The Multan Museum located within the city has a vast collection of coins, medals, postage stamps of the former State of Bahawalpur, manuscripts, documented inscriptions, wood carvings, camel-skin paintings, historical models and stone carvings of the Islamic and Pre-Islamic periods.

Multan also has a number of old mosques which were once considered as the jewels of the city. Some have been dated back to over a thousand years ago and have been recognized as some of the oldest mosques within South East Asia. The legend goes that the first mosque ever built in Multan was the Jamia Mosquewhich was constructed on the orders of General Mohammed Qasim, who conquered Multan in 712AD. Ruins of this mosque were visible till 1954 at Qasim Bella; however, due to repeated floods, the structure was lost. Sawi Mosque is supposed to be the oldest mosque which still exists today, though in deteriorating state; there are glazed blue tiles from the era in which it was built which dates the mosque to several centuries ago. The second oldest mosque within Multan is Mohammad Khan Wali Mosque. It is an excellent condition, situated in the busiest Chowck Bazar of the city. It was built by Nawab Ali Mohammad Khan Khakwani, in 1757 when he was the governor of Multan in the time of Alamgir II. The mosque is provided with a reservoir for the ablutions, baths, and a large hall for prayers.

Multan has traditionally been a melting pot of several distinct ethnic groups due to its location at the intersection of all four of Pakistan's main provinces and due to its historical significance as a centre of learning and culture. As a result, Multan today consists of Punjabi, Baloch, Pashtun, Sindhi, Haryanvi and Urdu speaking people.

Education[edit source | editbeta]

Main article: List of educational institutions in Multan

Nishtar Medical College

In 1950, then-Governor Abdur Rub Nishtar founded Nishtar Medical College. Doctor graduates of this institution have spread across the world, and many have become established names in the field of medicine. The new Nishtar Institute of Dentistry provides dental and surgical services to Multan and the adjoining cities.Multan Public School & College is an old and only one public institution in Multan City for spreading quality education to the students of Multan as well as the other southern backward areas of Multan. Multan Public School known as a Divisional Public School which is providing boarding facilities for the students of far-flung areas. Multan Public School has also a fleet of Hino Buses for pick and drop of the students.^[24]NFC Institute of Engineering and Technological TrainingThe NFC Institute of Engineering and Technology Multan (NFC-IET) is the training center of the National Fertilizer Corporation (NFC) of Pakistan. It is an engineering college serving mainly the areas of Southern Punjab province.It is one of the leading institute in chemical engineering in Pakistan.

Bahauddin Zakariya University (formerly known as Multan University) is the main source of higher education for this region. The Swedish Institute of Technology in Multan is a campus of the Swedish Group of Technical Institutes, the largest private-sector organization providing technical education and vocational training in the Punjab.^[25] Multan Medical and Dental College is the only private medical institution in Southern Punjab. Now more universities from federal are also open there campuses here in Multan as they are trying to make this city more educated like AIR university, NUML (National university of modern languages), a private medical college MMDC (Multan medical and dental college), The first Education Institute, Institute of Southern Punjab is the only private institute recognize by HEC in Multan. Govt. High School Rid, Moza Rid, Chk 2 Faiz Multan is affiliated to BISE Multan and show satisfactory results at secondary education level.

Cuisine of Multan[edit source | editbeta]

Multani-sohan-halwa

Multan is full of bazaars, mosques, shrines and plenty of places to have food. Restaurants in Multan serve array of cuisine’s including Pakistan Food, Continental Food, Fast Food, Arabic, BBQ and Chinese. Restaurants in Multan Range from Multi National Food Chains like (KFC, Subway, Pizza Hut, Hardee's) to some amazing Local Restaurants like Bundu Khan, MUX Lounge and Restaurant, Zanzibar. Some famous cuisines of the city are the Multani Mutton Chops and a special dessert named "Sohan halwa". Two special Sweet Roti's, very common and famous among Multani Families are, Doli Roti and Busri.

Sports[edit source | editbeta]

Multan is another Pakistani city that loves cricket. Multan is home of the Faysal Bank T20 Cup team Multan Tigers. The city has the Multan Cricket Stadium, the cricket stadium which hosts domestic and international cricket matches. The Ibn-e-Qasim Bagh Stadium, an old multi- purpose statdium which is used mainly for football and cricket matches. The Multan Cricket Stadium is home to the Multan Cricket Association. Other sports grounds include Divisional Sports Ground and the Pakistan Cricket Board owned Government College Cricket Ground.

Transportation[edit source | editbeta]

Nishtar Chowk Flyover

Chungi No 8 Flyover

Aerial view of Multan Ghanta Ghar chawk

Multan has connections with other cities by a variety of means of transportation. The district has concrete road reaching up to 983.69 km. The district is linked with Khanewal, Lodhran and Muzaffargarh districts through concrete roads. Buses to Bahawalpur leave frequently, since it is located closely to the city. There are a variety of buses travelling farther from the city. Many of them are now air-conditioned with a fairly good safety record. The N-5 National Highway connects the city to connect to all parts of Pakistan. The road otherwise, known as GT Road, allows connections to Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Karachi, Lahore as well as Bahawalpur. Coach services such as Daewoo Express, Faisal Movers Express, Niazi Express, Khan brothers transport, Nadir flying coach, Punjab Tourism Department, Skyways[disambiguation needed] and New Khan Bus Service are some of the most reliable coach companies operating out of Multan.

Multan is connected by rail with all parts of the country and lies on the main track between Karachi, Peshawar,Lahore and Quetta. The main Peshawar-Karachi railway line passes through Multan district. The district then links trains to nearby districts of Khanewal, Lodhran and Muzafargarh districts through the railway network.^[26] Multan Cantonment railway station is the main railway station of Multan.

Multan International Airport is an airport situated 10 km away from the city centre of Multan. It is not as large as the other airports in Pakistan, as it operates to cater mainly to the population of Multan, Vehari, Khanewal, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Sahiwal, and Pakpattan to mainly to other points within Pakistan as well as the Middle East. Flight are currently operated by the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines. However, since the growth of air travel within the region, there has been speculated interest from other private carriers. The rise in air-travel has also led to the expansion of the current airport with a new runway and terminal.