| Khushab | |
| Native Name Lang: | ur |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | Punjab Pakistan#Pakistan |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Khushab |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Punjab |
| Subdivision Type2: | Division |
| Subdivision Name2: | Sargodha |
| Subdivision Type3: | District |
| Subdivision Name3: | Khushab |
| Official Languages: | English, saraiki, punjabi--> |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Population As Of: | 2017 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Population Total: | 119,384 |
| Total Type: | City |
| Population Rank: | 77th, Pakistan |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | PST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5 |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | +6 |
| Area Code: | 0454 |
| Footnotes: | Khushab Official Website |
Khushab (punjabi: خُوشاب) is a town as well as a district of Sargodha Division, located in the Punjab province of Pakistan.[2] The word Khushab means "sweet water." Khushab city also serves as the headquarters of Khushab Tehsil, an administrative subdivision of the district Khushab.[3] It is the 77th most populous city of Pakistan.
The city of Khushab is the location of the Khushab Nuclear Complex,[4] a critical part of Pakistan's Special Weapons Programme.[5]
The population, according to the 1901 census, was 11,403. Now it is 50,000.[6]
"Khushab" is a combination of two Persian words: khush (Persian: {{Nastaliq|خُوش), meaning "sweet or tasty", and aab (Persian: {{Nastaliq|آب), meaning "water". A common belief is that the Persians from the west first used the word khush-aab in admiration of the sweet and tasty water found in the historical city situated on the bank of Jhelum River. In time the city became known as Khushab.[7]
According to local farmers in Pakistan, there is untapped potential in olive cultivation and oil production, which could reduce the country's reliance on imported edible oil. The Pothohar region in Punjab is most suitable for olive cultivation, with wild olives found abundantly in several areas. However, for good yields, modern irrigation systems, proper drainage, and adequate fertilizers are required.[8] Additionally, specific varieties of the plant such as Ottobratica, Coratina, Frantoio, Leccino, and Mirailo, best for olive oil extraction and commercial production, should be planted.
The Capital Development Authority planned to plant 5,000 saplings in Islamabad on Independence Day in accordance with the Clean and Green Pakistan campaign. Various areas were allocated a different number of saplings to plant, and citizens, students, and organizations participated in the plantation drive. The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad also planted 1,000 saplings across the city. This initiative aimed to increase Pakistan's forest cover and mitigate the effects of climate change.[9]
In October 2022, Pakistani government approved over Rs10 billion for the execution of various uplift projects in the country's different districts, including water supply schemes, the construction of small dams, the rehabilitation of schools and other development projects. The funds were allocated during the National Economic Council meeting, which was chaired by the Prime Minister. The government aims to complete these projects on a priority basis to ensure the socio-economic development of the country.[10]
In the beginning of 2023, the Punjab Irrigation Department aimed to complete the repair and extension work of Jalalpur Canal, a water source for domestic and irrigation purposes in Jhelum, within six months. The canal's extension would provide more than 4,000 acres of land to farmers for irrigation purposes. To speed up the work, the government approved the allocation of Rs. 200 million to the department.[11]
The government of Pakistan approved a plan to extract bauxite reserves and utilize them to bolster the country's industrial sector and foreign reserves. A memorandum of understanding had been signed between the government and a Chinese company for the mining and processing of bauxite reserves in the country's southern region. This move is expected to create job opportunities and promote industrial development, helping to stabilize Pakistan's economy.[12] [13]
