The thrilling stories of the people of South Punjab of Pakistan demanding a separate province still have their footprints in the minds of Pakistanis. Yet the tale had its strings in the 1970s when Multan and Bahawalpur trended high as geographically significant regions. And some political movements were successful enough to populate this narrative. 

The Saraikistan in Pakistan

However, the limelight was sparse to startle the authorities to take a unique path of giving Bahawalpur, Multan, or even the South Punjab of Pakistan a designation of a separate province. The matter was dusted off again in 2018 by some political enthusiasts and reignited the movement of South Punjab Province or Saraikistan. Why is the South Punjab so significant? Let’s explore 

Geographical Significance of South Punjab

South Punjab region is more than the total area of the whole Punjab province. Talking the numbers, the south region covers 57% and 36% of the population of Punjab. The 116,518 km square land is blessed with plain fertile plateaus of agricultural fields. 

How Many Cities are in South Punjab

Constituting the largest area of Pakistan’s most significant provinces, the south cities of Punjab have their own distinctive culture, cuisine, and historical infrastructure. These include;

• Burewala
• Bhakkar
• Bahawalnagar
• Bahawalpur
• Khanewal
• Dera Gazi Khan
• Hasil Pur
• Layyah
• Lodhran
• Multan
• Muzaffargarh
• Rahim Yar Khan
• Rajanpur
• Vehari
• Ahmed Pur East
• Mailsi
• Sadiqabad

SOUTH PUNJAB: The Agricultural Gold 

It would not be incorrect to denote South Punjab as a golden plateau of Pakistan, which produces major crops including cotton, sugarcane, sunflower seeds, mustard seeds, rice, and wheat. The region also grows fruits, and vegetables and also fulfills the dairy and poultry products needs in the country. 

Historical Places in South Punjab

The South Punjab in Pakistan has an abundance of natural beauty, spiritual and cultural significance, and food for history maniacs. Centuries-old forts, desert beauty, and traditional cuisines attract people from all over the world. Click here to explore historical sites in Pakistan. 

South’s Cholistan Beauty

 

The South Punjab also contains the Cholistan desert. It’s the Rohi of the local people, basically the name by which the inhabitants know it. Cholistan is the greater part of the Thar desert which extends to the Sindh province in Pakistan and is also linked with the Indian state of Rajasthan. 

Cholistan is the largest desert in Pakistan, covering an area of 25,000 sq km. As we dived deep into exploring the facts about Cholistan, one of the amazing facts unveiled was that Cholistan was a fertile plain about 1000 years ago. The archeologists have also found traces of Indus Valley Civilization in the area. 

Cholistan also has the majestic Derawar Fort in the middle, a popular tourist attraction. History maniacs never miss being allured by the fort’s massive walls and 40 buttresses. Other than Derawar Fort, the Shrine of Channan Pir, adds a spiritual embrace to Cholistan. 

Cultural Allure of South Punjab

The South Punjab cities of Pakistan embrace centuries-old culture and traditions with traces of Indus Valley civilization. Every city in South Punjab depicts traditions, literature, dance, and music. 

Multan: The City of Saints, Blue Pottery, and Forts

From Mughals and Afghans to Sikhs and British, Multan’s land has tasted the pinch of every dynasty. It has several forts and shrines of Sufi scholars including the most influential Sufi of the 11th century, Hazrat Bahauudin Zakariya.

Bahawalpur: The City of Palaces

Bahawalpur, founded in 1748, holds magnificent historical sites, and Italian, European, and Mughal architectural wonders people love to visit. These include Noor Mahal, built in 1872, a tourist destination, allured for its Italian chateau style architecture. 

South Punjab has always been a land of political focus. However, the authorities must focus on expediting the development of South Punjab so that the reservations of the locals can be resolved. South Punjab can contribute more to the economy if its resources are well utilized.