District Profile

Toba Tek Singh emerged as a separate district on the map of Punjab with effect from 1st July, 1982 after detaching it from Faisalabad District. It derives its name from the headquarters town named Toba Tek Singh. This town was founded some times in the beginning of the colonization era. It was named after Sikh saint Tek Singh who maintained a pond and used to serve drinking water to the passers-by. He thus rendered a great humanitarian service throughout his life to the community around him. He carried good name through his selfless services rendered to the people and gradually the pond came to be called as ‘Toba Tek Singh’ meaning thereby the pond of Tek Singh. There was a small Mandi (market) nearby this pond which subsequently flourished and also named after this pond.

Location

It is located between 30°33´ to 31°23´ north latitudes and 72°08´ to 72°48´ longitudes.

Boundaries

Situated in the center of the Punjab, Toba Tek Singh is surrounded by District Jhang and District Faisalabad from northwest and east respectively. On the south, River Ravi makes a natural boundary and separates it from the District Sahiwal and District Khanewal.

Area

The District consists of an area of 3,259 square kilometers. It is divided into four sub-divisions and the area of each sub-division is as under:

Races and Tribes

The population can broadly be classified into two categories i.e. locals and settlers. The prominent castes amongst the locals are Syed, Kharal, Kathia, Hirai, Sarghana, Gadhi, Sahoo etc. the locals inhabit a belt roughly of 32 to 38 km width along the River Ravi. Amongst the settlers two castes stand out in numbers i.e. the Arian and Jat. The Arians are immigrants from East Punjab (India) while most of the Jats came from Sialkot, Shekikhupra area. Amongst the settlers, the size of land holding is now reduced to a level of four to six acres. This factor has generated an interest toward literacy and off-farm occupations.

History

The area now comprising the new District of Toba Tek Singh was originally a part of Jhang District. As a result of reclamation proceeds fresh administrative problems naturally presented themselves and the boundaries of the old district had to undergo extensive modifications and new administrative units were set up. Lyallpur (Faisalabad) Tehsil in Jhang District was set up in 1896. Two new tehsils also in Jhang District were set up in 1900 with headquarters at Toba Tek Singh and Samundari. The District of Lyallpur (now called Faisalabad) was constituted during 1904 comprising Tehsil Lyallpur, Samundri and Toba Tek Singh with a Sub-Tehsil at Jaranwala. Toba Tek Singh Tehsil was raised to the status of a Sub-Division in 1930. Toba Tek Singh is the headquarters and the most important tehsil of the district spreading over an area of 5000 acres. To its north is Jhang city at a distance of 29 km, to south Kamalia at a distance of 30 km, to east Gojra at 29 km and to west Pir Mahal Road at 29 km. It is situated to the west of Faisalabad and is connected with both by road and railway. By rail the distance from Faisalabad is 79 km. By road there at two routes, via Faisalabad-Samundri and via Faisalabad-Jhang. The distance in each case is 112 km. The roads are metaled and in good condition.

Local government and civil administration is looked after by the Municipal Committee. The committee is trying to improve the water supply in the city and to spread education by opening more and more schools. The city boasts of a water works and electricity. Almost every house has a municipal tap. But in view of the steadily rising population, the committee is devising means to augment the existing water supply. There is a grain market, timber market, and a fruit market in the city.

Political Set-up

Administrative Structure

Executive

The present Toba Tek Singh District was created in the year 1982 after slicing the area comprising this district from Faisalabad as Toba Tek Singh District which was a part of it as its sub-division. The overall incharge of the district is the Deputy Commissioner Toba Tek Singh who is also the District Collector. For his assistance, there are four Assistant Commissioners and three Additional Deputy Commissioners, Revenue, General, Finance and Planning respectively on executive side.

Revenue

For collection of revenue the Deputy Commissioner is assisted by Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue in each sub-division working under the respective Assistant Commissioner and supported by Tehsildars, Naib Tehsildars and number of Patwaris. Besides, some Consolidation Officer are working for updating the revenue record and consolidating the land holdings in their areas of jurisdiction i.e. sub-division.

Police Administration 

The Department of Police is headed by District Police Officer. The field units consist of 11 Police Stations. The detail of which is as under with respect to their sub-division/tehsils:

Toba Tek Singh

• Saddar
• City
• Rajana
• Chuttiana

Kamalia

• Saddar
• City

Pir Mahal

• Saddar
• Arroti

Gojra

• Saddar
• City
• Nia Lahore

The detail of police strength is as under:

Local Bodies

District Toba Tek Singh has total 85 Union Councils in which Tehsil TTS has 32 UCs, Gojra has 24 UCs, Kamalia has 12 UCs and Pir Mahal has 17 UCs. The district has a total of 118 Wards (Municipal Committees) of which Municipal Committee TTS has 30 Wards, Municipal Committee Gojra has 36 wards, Municipal Committee Kamalia has 34 wards and Municipal Committee Pir Mahal has18 Wards.

District Council

District Council Toba Tek Singh, was created with effect from 1st July, 1982. The total members of District Council when functioning, was 97 headed by Chairperson, District Council, Toba Tek Singh. Now, it is consisting of 109 Members.

It will be worth mentioning that the District Council Library is perhaps one of the best libraries in the province. It comprises three sections, one for the ladies and children, one for the professionals and one for the general public. The best books are being made available in this library.

Land Utilization

Land of Toba Tek Singh is very fertile. Though the holdings of land in majority of cases are small, but the farmers are industrial and have the requisite initiatives for adopting modern agricultural techniques.

Cropping Pattern

Area under Water Logging and Salinity

Note: Rice crop is sown mainly in Tehsil Pir Mahal 

Agriculture Machinery

Departments of Agriculture Engineering and Water Management are providing agriculture machinery like bulldozers and land levelers etc. on nominal rent to the farmers. Apart from the Agriculture Department, a large number of farmers own their own machinery.

Irrigation

Till the end of 19th Century, the area now comprising District Toba Tek Singh, was a vast tract of waste land geographically forming the extreme lower half of the Rachna Doab. The lower Chenab canal was dug in the last decade of 19th century and a network of its branches spread out. It was with the construction of this canal and its branches that a new area has drawn in the district.

Jhang Branch

• It irrigates the northern side of the District. It covers about 15 kilometers wide strip lying between the railway line Faisalabad-Shorkot and the boundary of Jhang District.

Gugera Branch

• It irrigates the southern side of the district lying roughly between the two railway lines i.e. Faisalabad-Shorkot and Jaranwala-Shorkot lines.

Burala Branch

• It irrigation the extreme southern side of the district. It covers the area roughly lying between the Jaranwala-Shorkot railway line and the River Ravi which is the southern boundary mark of the district.

Sub-Divisions

The District consists of five sub-divisions of Irrigation Department. The detail is as under:

• Dhaular
• Waryam
• Bhagat
• Muhammad Shah Wala
• Tarkhani

The breakup of WAPDA figures is as under:

• Total Villages: 544
• Villages Electrified: 544
• Villages to be Electrified: 0

Livestock

Being basically an agricultural area, it is abundant with livestock which also provide valuable protein for human consumption and various other useful food productions. It is also a source of major drought power for agriculture and transportation. It holds pivotal position in the economy of the district, as over 65 percent of its population draws its earnings directly from livestock.

The livestock census of this district is tabulated as under:

Work Achieved