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Sargodha Cantonment

A title Nishan-e-Istiqlal was given to three cities of Punjab in the Pakistan India War of 1965 against showing severe resitance in front enemy. Thse cities included Sargodha, Lahore and Sialkot. Sargodha city is also called a city of Eagles or 'Shaheenon Ka Shahhar'. Most people think that it is because of the second largest Pakistan Airforce Airbase. Most of the 1965 India Pakistan Air war was fought over Sargodha city and hence this name was officially adopted.Some people think that M.M.Alam flew his fighter plane from Sargodha base & detroyed nearly 12 Fighter jets of India during the Air war.

There are several theories as to the origins of the name. It may be derived from the Sanskrit 'svargadhaama', meaning 'heavenly abode. Other theories suggest that the name Sargodha is derived from that of a Hindu loca, Godha. Also it is believed that there is an old pond in the middle of the town where an old hindu monk or sadhu (GODHA) used to live . Well in hindi language the word for pond is "SER" . Since the town had modest population people would refer the place as SERGODHA, the place where that famous Sadhu resided next to the pond.

Sargodha is one of three "planned cities"in Pakistan(other two are *Faisalabad and Capital *Islamabad) Just over a century back,there was a well owned by a hindu named "Goodha",well was known as "Gool Khuuh"(round well),and travellers used it as a resting place.When the wheel of time turned the well was eventually out of use and a market evolved around it There is a market at the place where "Gool Khuuh" used to exist and a grand mosque above the market and it is known as "Goal Chowk", which is the center of downtown Sargodha today. Sargodha was a small town in early British Raj but due to its geophysical location British Royal Air Force set up an airport here which took greater importance after partition for the Pakistan Air Force. Shahpur which is now a tehsil of district sargodha was the district at that time. Most part of the tehsil Sillanwali and Kirana Bar region were part of district Jhang and were included later during British Raj in district Sargodha.

Sargodha is the eighth largest city of Pakistan, 175 kilometres north-west of Lahore, in Sargodha District. It is called "Shaheenõ Ka Shahar" (City of Falcons), having Pakistan Air Force Operational and Central Command Air Base, and an Army Garrison. It is an agricultural city, Wheat, Rice, and Sugarcane being its main crops. Also it is famous for its Keno oranges.

Sargodha is famous for production of citrus fruit "Kinnu","Malta","Grapefruit"etc. Soil is very receptive to citrus fruit and sargodha arguably produces the best quality"kinnu"(type of orange)in the world. Per acre yield of "Kinnu"is arguably the highest in the world.Demand for "kinnu"of Sargodha is highest in domestic fruit markets,especially from Tehsil "Sillanwali"followed by a narrow margin by "Kinnu" of "Kot momin".

Although recreational activities are limited, but two major recreational parks "Joy Land" in Jinnah Garden(Company Bagh) and Rehmat A Park in Satellite Town provide a space for enjoyment and recreation. A cricket stadium adjacent to University was developed and ODI match between PAK & W.Indies was played here in 1980's but according to the new rules of ICC it is not suitable for today's international cricket. The city is also famous for large scale sports activity in cricket,hockey, kabaddi and volley ball.Muhammad Hafeez(Chanda), Naveed Latif & Misbah-ul-Haq also belongs to Sargodha.An annual seasonal spring festival "Mela Mandi", a tradition of Punjab is organized during month of march.

A decade before, shopping in Sargodha was limited to the bazaars like 'Ameen Bazaar','Kachehri Bazaar','Urdu Bazaar',Anarkali Bazaar' etc. But now, the city's development is in progress and this has also provided the citizens with a good scope of shopping by the establishment of shopping centers. Hotelling, that was not a vogue in Sargodha some years ago, has now become a part and parcel of the citizens' lives today.