Wazirabad

Wazirabad, a town of British India, in Gujranwala district of the Punjab, near the right bank of the river Chenab, 62 m. N. of Lahore. Pop. (1901) 18,069. It is an important railway junction. The main line of the North-Western railway here crosses the Chenab by the Alexandra bridge, opened by the prince of Wales in 1876. The branch to Sialkot has been extended to Jammu (51 m.); another branch follows the line of the Chenab canal towards Multan. Boat-building and manufactures of steel and iron are carried on
An Historian Mr. W.W. Hunter writes in the "Indian History" that Wazirabad Gujranwala was well known during the ancient period as prosperous city of Punjab when its name was different from the present name. In the Buddhist d the present city of Wazirabad Gujranwala had been known as capital of Punjab for years. A Chinese tourist follower of Buddhism writes about Wazirabad Gujranwala that during the 630 BC he saw a famous city, which was the capital of five rivers land in Punjab. Wazirabad Gujranwala was build and ruined many times in past because the warrior tribes from Turkmenistan, Mongolia, Afghanistan and Iran invaded Wazirabad Gujranwala like other important cities of Punjab.

According to the reports of Mr. F. Cunningham we come to know that Mr. Mc Mullen was first Deputy Commissioner of Wazirabad Gujranwala who was posted in 1860. After very long time Sh. Asghar Ali was posted as P Muslim Deputy Commissioner, in Wazirabad Gujranwala on February 14, 1909 who took keen interest establishment of different industrial units in Wazirabad Gujranwala. Although industries have been started establishing in Wazirabad and Nizamabad during 1855 before the World War I. These two towns were famous through out the India for their quality products of iron and cutlery. During 1881 and 1882 the local inhabitant of above towns of Wazirabad Gujranwala have been producing arms and ammunition of indigenous nature for the use of British Army British Army and their allied forces used these arms during World War I against their enemies. Products made of iron and steel, including bayonet, Karpan, Knives and Daggers and other similar items were much popular in all parts of India. However, wooden boats were also made in Wazirabad and Wazirabad Gujranwala for military purposes, which were used by the British Forces in the river Chenab. In 1914 all kinds of hardware products were started producing in Wazirabad Gujranwala which includes axes, nails, frying pans, safes, cupboard, door locks and stoves of indigenous nature. After World War I when military supply was suspended the people of Wazirabad Gujranwala and their neighboring towns Wazirabad and Nizamabad started producing domestic and household items for their livelihood. These items include all kinds of knives, cutlery and metal utensils etc.

According to the reports of Mr. F. Cunningham we come to know that Mr. Mc Mullen was first Deputy Commissioner of Wazirabad Gujranwala who was posted in 1860. After very long time Sh. Asghar Ali was posted as P Muslim Deputy Commissioner, in Wazirabad Gujranwala on February 14, 1909 who took keen interest establishment of different industrial units in Wazirabad Gujranwala. Although industries have been started establishing in Wazirabad and Nizamabad during 1855 before the World War I. These two towns were famous through out the India for their quality products of iron and cutlery. During 1881 and 1882 the local inhabitant of above towns of Wazirabad Gujranwala have been producing arms and ammunition of indigenous nature for the use of British Army British Army and their allied forces used these arms during World War I against their enemies. Products made of iron and steel, including bayonet, Karpan, Knives and Daggers and other similar items were much popular in all parts of India. However, wooden boats were also made in Wazirabad and Wazirabad Gujranwala for military purposes, which were used by the British Forces in the river Chenab. In 1914 all kinds of hardware products were started producing in Wazirabad Gujranwala which includes axes, nails, frying pans, safes, cupboard, door locks and stoves of indigenous nature. After World War I when military supply was suspended the people of Wazirabad Gujranwala and their neighboring towns Wazirabad and Nizamabad started producing domestic and household items for their livelihood. These items include all kinds of knives, cutlery and metal utensils etc.


It is pertinent to note that Mr. Lockwood Kipling first Principal of Mayo pool of Arts Lahore (National College of Arts Lahore) wrote about the industrial importance of Wazirabad Gujranwala that during 1881 Wazirabad Gujranwala was famous and popular for its Brass, Copper and Aluminum utensil and other products. All kinds of metal utensils were made in Wazirabad Gujranwala in excellent design and patterns. During 1881 products of Wazirabad Gujranwala displayed in the 'Punjab Exhibition' held in Lahore where products Wazirabad Gujranwala were introduced first time throughout India, which attracted the attention of local businessmen, traders and citizens on the large extent. Mr. Lockwood Kipling also state that match sticks and boxes, ornaments of gold and silver, pottery, glaze ware and many other items were also produced in Wazirabad Gujranwala in different factories during 1881.

Keeping in view the in industrial importance of Wazirabad Gujranwala, the British Government established "Tool Maker and Trade School" in Wazirabad Gujranwala for the preparation of different kind of tools and training of local inhabitants in Wazirabad Gujranwala during 1881. After the establishment of this school many factories came into existence rapidly in Wazirabad Gujranwala. According to the facts and figures by 1935, 31 factories had been established in and around Wazirabad Gujranwala.

Before the creation of Pakistan the Muslims of Wazirabad Gujranwala were running many cottage industries. However, the Hindus were dominant in industries. For this reason, the factories of Muslim were in bad condition and always victimized by the dominating rich Hindu families. After the partition in 1947 there were total 14569 industrial units working in India out of which 1406 industrial units came under the jurisdiction of Pakistan. These included rice mills, cotton and-ginning factories, but there was no research laboratory in Pakistan.

However, during 1947 the condition of factories in Wazirabad Gujranwala was not healthy. Due to the riots between Muslims and Hindus many factories were ruined or were out of operation. It left very bad effect on the economy of Punjab. Although industrial base was existing in Wazirabad Gujranwala when General Muhammad Ayub took over the charge as President of Pakistan. He gave first industrial policy in Pakistan in 1961. The people took this opportunity as blessing of God and started establishing different industrial units in Wazirabad Gujranwala rapidly. In a very short span of time Wazirabad Gujranwala became one of the famous industrial cities of Pakistan and started producing high quality products which include electrical fans, sanitary fittings, sanitary ware, hosiery products and yarns, textile items, carpets and pray mats, p. and board. wooden and plastic furniture, ceramics products, pottery and light engineering products, household appliances etc. Wazirabad Gujranwala is making progress by leaps and bound in all directions rapidly and sharply. Now more than 20,000 cottage, small, medium and large industrial units are working in Wazirabad Gujranwala and producing quality products which are also exported to countries around the world.

Inshallah in the years to come, Wazirabad Gujranwala (Wazirabad) will be known as industrial giant of Pakistan.