HISTORY OF RAHIMYAR KHAN

Rahim Yar Khan is a most famous city in the south of Punjab (Pakistan).Rahim Yar Khan city is one of the few cities in the world that are still at their pioneering places since the formation. It has been renamed customarily amid last 5000 years, first available (on record) name was AROR or ALOR, and then it became City of Pattan, Phul Wada, Noshehra and now Rahim Yar Khan.
Rahim Yar Khan is bounded on the north by Muzaffargarh district, on the east by Bahawalpur district, on the south by Jasilmir (India) and Ghotki district of Sindh province and on the west by Rajanpur district.
There are 4 Tehsils in District Rahim Yar Khan ;
1)Rahim Yar Khan
2)Sadiq Abad
3)Khan Pur
4)Liaqat Pur
In 1883 Nawab Sadiq Khan-IV of Bahawalpur renamed it after his son Rahim Yar Khan. Formerly Rahimyar Khan was also one of the names of the three districts of the former princely State of Bahawalpur until 1955. Today, Rahimyar Khan lies on an important train route which runs south to Sukkur and north to Bahawalpur. According to the 1998 census, the city population was 233,537 with an annual growth rate of 4.04%. As of January 2007, it is around 330,000.
General Description
Rahim Yar Khan was declared as a separate administration district in 1943. The district derives its name from its headquarter Rahim Yar Khan. The previous name of this district was Naushehra, which was built in 1875 A.D by Fazal Elahi Halani on the ruins of the ancient Pul-Wadda during the Sumra supremacy in Sindh. In the year 1881, the Railway Authorities desired to change the name of a railway station in the name of a town called Nowshera situated in Peshawar district. Consequently in 1881 to avoid any confusion because of similar nomenclature Nawab Sadiq Khan-IV of Bahawalpur also changed the name of the sub-division Naushera after the name of his first son Rahim Yar Khan.
History
The Rahimyar area came under Greek control during Alexander the Great's Invasion of India, after Alexander victory at Multan, he appointed General Philipos to rule Multan and Uch and advanced himself towards Alor. This part of the country is also said to have been a part of the Buddhist Empire of Ashoka. Authenticated history of the district begins by about 493 CE, when the Raja dynasty of Rai dynasty came to the throne. In the Rai dynasty dominions were vast, extending from Kashmir and Kanauj to Kandhar and Seistan and on the west to Mekran and a part of Debal, while on the south to Surat. During the reign of Raja Dahir some Arab carrying ships carrying merchandise were attacked and plundered by his subjects. Arsabs demanded compensation and on refusal by Raja Dahir, Muhammad Bin Qasim invaded this area in April 712 and conquered the whole territory up to Multan. Dahir was killed in the battle at Pawar. The territory remained under the various governors appointed by the Abbasid and the Ummayids from 712-870. In 871 the powers of Caliphs declined and the province of Sindh slipped from their control. Sindh went under the Balkh dynasty when two principalities, Multan and Mansura (Bahawalpur Division) were founded. In the 1578 the territory was invaded and conquered by the Ghjori Sultans of Delhi, who were succeeded by the Mughals. The exodus of the Abbasides nobles of Egypt to India had already started in the reign of Muhammad Taughlak Bin Ghiasuddin. Amir Muhammad Mubarik Khan 1, Abbasi who came to the power in 1702, was an able commander and leader. Throughout his reign he had to fight many battles against the Kalhoras. He abdicated in 1723 in favour of his son, Sadiq Mohammad Khan 1, who was killed in battle with Khuda Yar Kalhora. Amir Mohammad Bahawalpur Khan 1, (1746-1949) ascended the throne in 1746. During his short rule, he built the towns of Bahawalpur, Qaimpur, Hasilpur, Tranda Ali Murad Khan, Shabazpur and Mohammadpur Lamman. During his reign three canals namely Khan Wah, Qutab Wah and Wahi Qaider Dina were dug. As a result the agriculture of the state improved considerably and the people became prosperous. In 1776, the Sikhs confederates Jhanda singh, Ganda Singh and Hari Singh invaded the Amir"s trans-sutlej territories but were repulsed. Amir Mohammad Mubarik Khan II Abbasi was an able administrator and a powerful ruler. He took keen interest in building his army. Many of the forts on the border of the state were built during his reign. He kept the Sikhs in check. Many canals on which the prosperity of the district depended were constructed during his time.
The first treaty between Bahawalpur and the British government was affected in 1883, which remained in force till the 14th August, 1947 when the state acceded to Pakistan . On the death of Amir Bahawal Khan III, Sadiq Mohammad Khan III, (1852-1853 ) was crowned as Amir. On assuming rule, he confined prince Haji Khan and his brothers and treated them harshly. A large number of the Bahawalpur army was demobilized. All the grants, rights and claims of Daudpotas and other usual expenses were diminished and abolished. These events made the Amir unpopular. On the 29 th of Rabi-ul-Sani, 1269 A.H, Fateh Garh Fort was attacked at night. Prince Haji Khan who was kept as prisoner, was freed and brought to Khanpur. Prince Haji Khan, who was kept as a prisoner, was freed and brought to Khanpur. Haji Khan entered Ahmedpur East without any resistance and Sadiq Muhammad Khan III was imprisoned. Prince Rahim Yar Khan succeeded his father, the late Amir Fateh Khan Abbasi, as Muhammmad Bahawal Khan IV (1858-1866). He was poisoned and died on the 25th March 1866. On the death of Bahawal Khan IV, Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan IV was crowned when he was four and half years old. He was installed in 1879, when he attained maturity. In the interim period from 1866 to 1879, British officers supervised the state. Amir Muhammad Bahawal Khan V, the next successor was about 16 years old, he ruled the state till 1955 when it was integrated in the Punjab province of Pakistan.
Special Events
Most fabulous personalities had visit the Rahim Yar Khan ;
" Gen.Pervez Musharaf (Pakistan Presedent)
" Shaikh Zaid Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (Presedent UAE)
" Mian Nawaz Shareef (Pakistan Ex.Prime Misiter)
" Ch.Pervez Illahi (Chief Minister,Punjab)
" Khalid Maqbool (Governer Punjab)
" Mian Shehbaz Shareef (Ex.Chief Minister Punjab)
" Benazir Bhutto (Former Pakistani prime minister) ,on December 24, 2007.
Demography
Rahim Yar Khan is a district with a very rich mixed culture where people from different races/languages/cultures/ethnicities/religions live together with peace and harmony and this feature boosted the development of the district as well as increased cross cultural understanding. Rahim Yar Khan being Saraiki majority district of southern punjab has more then 67 % of its population which speaks saraiki, however, other inhabitants include punjabis, baloch, sindhi, pushtoons, hindoos, urdu speaking mohajirs and many more. following are some of the most respected and powerfull families of the district in the past 100 years or so and the areas they are settled in.
Economy
Rahim Yar Khan is a commercial and industrial center, it is connected with the rest of the country through rail and air including the other industrial hubs such as Lahore, Karachi, 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. Cotton production in Punjab Province starts from this area.Mango and Malta are two main fruits of this city.
Schools & Colleges
Educational status of this city is excellent. Every year ,a lot of students get admission in highly ranked professional colleges in Pakistan & in Foreign countries. There are many high schools which are run by the Government. There are 5 Government High schools for boys and 6 for girls. Among leading private schools are,
*Army Public School
*Sheikh Zayed High School.
*Pilot High School.
*Ta'meer-e-Millat High School.
*Governmet Cumprehensive High School.
Colleges ;
*Khawaja Fareed Govt. College (RYK)
*Punjab College of science (RYK)
There are separate post-graduate colleges for boys and girls.
*A campus of Islamia University Bahawalpur is also located in the city.
Shaikh Zaid Medical College & Hospital
Its named in th honour of Shaikh Zaid Bin Sultan Al Nahyan(King Of Dubai,(UAE).This is included in the rank of biggest Hospitals in Pakistan.There is another Hospital on the name of Shaikh Zaid i-e in Lahore.
Industries, Trade, and Trade Centers
The major industries of the district are textile, cotton ginning and pressing, sugar, cottonseed oil, edible oil, soap, beverage making, agricultural implement manufacturing, and fertilizer manufacturing. Cottage industry includes ginning, pottery/clay products, electric desert cooler, agricultural machinery, handicrafts, and embroidery.
Leaver Brothers (pvt) Limited
This is the international bigggest brand company & most fabulous in Pakistan.There are only two companies of Leaver Brothers (pvt)Limited in Pakistan.One in Karachi & one in Rahim Yar Khan.This is the honour for Rahim Yar Khan.
Bhong Mosque
Stadiums
Built in 1995, Rahim Yar Khan has a cricket stadium called 'Mehmood Stadium'.
Towns, Roads
There are a lot towns in the city, some of the main ones are;
1. Gulshan e Iqbal #Setellite Town
2. Bhutto Nagar #Officer Colony
3. Gulshan e Usman #Abbasia Town
4. ALlama iqbal town #Hasan Colony
5. Jinnah Park #Niazi colony
6. Shahi Road #Hospital Road
7. Leghari Road
Bazars
" Saddar Bazar
" Sadiq Bazar
" bano bazar
Parks & Zoo
" Cental City Park
" city Zoo
Desert Palace
Most notably the former President of the[UAE], [Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan] had a residence built for him just outside the city, and is called '[Desert Palace]' or Abu Dhabi Palace. It is now owned by his son and successor [Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan].
Shaikh Zayed Airport
Shaikh Zayed Airport, also known as Rahim Yar Khan Airport, is located at Rahim Yar Khan, in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is named in honor of Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, as it was originally built for his exclusive use, so that he may visit his "Desert Palace" just outside the city; he later donated it to the Government of Pakistan.
Twin City
Not many people know but Rahim Yar Khan has been declared a twin city of Paris, Abu Dhabi, Sydney and Cairo. A visit to Rahim Yar Khan by N5 clearly shows which one of the twins has got the step motherly treatment.