Kasur District

Infobox Pakistan district
district = Kasur District
area = 3995
population = 2,912,000
pop_year =
density =
caption = Location of Kasur District (highlighted in red) within Punjab.
region = Punjab
established =
nazim =
naib_nazim =
seats =
tehsils =
languages =Punjabi, Urdu
website =

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Kasur District (Urdu/Punjabi: ضلع قصور) is one of the districts in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. It came into existence on 1st July 1976. Earlier it was part of Lahore District.

The district capital is Kasur city, the birth city of the Sufi poet Bulleh Shah, well known in that region as well as in the whole of Pakistan. The total area of the district is 3,995 square kilometres. [ [http://www.punjabpolice.gov.pk/statistics/district.asp?id=169&did=13&district=Kasur Kasur Police] ]

Population

According to the 1998 census, the total population of the district is 2,376,000. Of this 95.4% are Muslims, 4.4% are Christians while the rest are Ahmadis, Hindus and scheduled castes. 22.78% of them lived in the urban areas. [ [http://www.urckarachi.org/Population%20Table-5.htm Urban resource centre - Population] ]

Administration

The district is administratively subdivided into 3 tehsils [ [http://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/pco/statistics/admin_unit/admin_list_tehsil.html List of Tehsils] ] and 113 Union Councils [ [http://www.nrb.gov.pk/lg_election/union.asp?district=14&dn=Kasur Tehsils & Unions in the District of Kasur] ] :

Physical features

The district is bounded by the Ravi River in the north-west and river Sutlej in the south-east. Whereas the old course of Beas River bifurcates the district into two equal parts locally known as Hither and Uthar or Mithan Majh. Both of the areas have a height differential of approximately 5.5 meters. The natural surface elevation of the district is 198 meters above the sea level, having a general slope from north-east to south- west. Whereas the east and west ends of the district comprise the flood plains of the rivers Satluj and Ravi, characterized by breaching of looping river Channels braided around meander bars.

Topography

Topographically speaking, Kasur District lies between the river Satluj which flows along its boundaries with India and river Ravi which flows its boundary with Sheikhupura District. The districts may be divided into two parts, a low lying or riverine area along the two bordering rivers and upland, away from the rivers. The riverine area is generally inundates during monsoon season. The water level in this area is higher than in the upland. The soil is sandy. The upland is flat plains sloping from north-west to south-west. The general height of the area is from 150 to 200 meters above the sea level.

Flora

Flora of the district has been greatly modified by human agency of the old open forests of small trees and shrubs; there remains only a few Rakhs or portions of forest which are kept as gazing ground for cattle etc. Amongst trees the most important are Kikar (Acacia arbica), Shisham or Tahli (Dalbergia sissoo), Beri (Zizyphus jajaba), Toot (Morus marlaccae), Sharin (Albizzia lebbek, Dharek (Malia azerdaracb), Phulahi (Acacia modesta), and Nim (Melia indica), Piple (Ficus indica) are planted for shade.The growth in Rakhs is composed mainly of three kinds of trees Jand (Prosopis spicigera), Karril (Capparis aphylla), and van or Jal (Salvadora obeoides). Occasionally pelu (acacia Loucophhloea) and Farash (Tamarix articulate) are also found. Pilchi (Tamarix gallio) is found on moist sandy soil along the rivers and is used for wicker-work, basket making etc.

Fauna

Wolf and jackal are the only wild animals of any importance. The former being met with occasionally in the low land wastes of Chunian Tehsil but jackal are found every where. Changa Manga reserve a thick forest is the only area in which a few Nelgai, pig, peafowl and here are found. [ [http://www.ksr.edu.pk/History.aspx Physical features of Kasur District] ]

Tribes and Races

The principal tribes residing in Kasur district are Rajputs. Arain are descendants from the group of soldiers of Muhammad bin Qasim from Areeha (Jericho) were called by their Arabic name "Areehai", which changed to Arain by the usage in local tongues. Mogul or Mughal belong to Chagatai Genghis Khan 's family, Pushtuns or Afghan belong to Israil's family, Gujjar,Ansari, Jats, Butt, Rajput, Mayo, Kamboh, Dogar, Sheikh,Khojas, Khokhar and others, also live in Kasur.

After the partition of British India in 1947, the refugees from east Punjab settling in this district also belong largely to these tribes and castes. There are artists and artisans of various professions and trades also. They include blacksmiths, carpenters, potters, leather makers, shoe makers, barbers, weavers, and masons. Mazaras (peasants) are generally paid in kind at the time of each harvest. These workers are found from any caste, creed, culture and religion. The Arain and Rajput constitute the majority of the population. The next most numerous tribe is Arain consisting of about 30% of the population, Jats with about 05% and Sheikh at 4%, while Sayyed, Butt, Mughal, Chagatai, Afghan, Pashtun, Ansari, Sheikh and Kamboh comprise lesser percentages and are mostly settled in towns.

Places of Interest

* Shrine of Baba Bulleh Shah, Kasur City
* Ganda Singh Wala Border, Pakistan-India Border.
* Balloki Headworks
* Changa Manga Forest, near Chunian Town

ee also

* Kasur, the capital of Kasur District

External links

* [http://www.kasur.20fr.com Kasur City Website]
* [http://www.mykasur.com Kasur City Portal Website]

References

Additional references

* District Census Report of Kasur, Population Census Organisation, Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, August 2000.