Phalia Explained

Phalia
Settlement Type:City
Pushpin Map:Pakistan Punjab#Pakistan
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Pakistan
Coordinates:32.4328°N 73.5778°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Pakistan
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1: Punjab
Subdivision Type2:Division
Subdivision Name2:Gujrat
Subdivision Type3:District
Subdivision Name3:Mandi Bahauddin
Subdivision Type4:Administrator
Subdivision Name4:Bilal Feroz Joya AC
Parts Type:No. of Towns
Parts:4
Government Type:Union Council
Leader Title:Administrator
Population Total:21,025
Population As Of:1998
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Demonym:Phalian
Timezone:PST
Utc Offset:+5
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:50430
Area Code Type:Dialling code
Area Code:0546
Blank Name:Phalia City

Phalia (Urdu) is a town and headquarters of Phalia Tehsil of Mandi Bahauddin District, Punjab, Pakistan.[1]

History

Alexander the Great and his army crossed the Jhelum River (Hydaspes) in July 326 BC at the Battle of the Hydaspes River where he defeated king Porus.[1] [2] According to Arrian (Anabasis, 29), Alexander built a city in the place whence he started to cross the river, which he named Bukephala or Bucephala to honour his dead horse Bukephalus or Bucephalus.[1] It is thought that ancient Bukephala was near the site of modern Jhelum City but that is wrong. Phalia was named after Bucephalus, the name of the Alexander's dead horse, and presently a tehsil of Mandi Bahauddin District. Beyond Taxila, Alexander opted for an alternative route instead of the traditional route i.e. today's Grand Trunk Road (link through Pakistan between Afghanistan and Bangladesh) and built two cities on opposite banks of the Jhelum on the route between Bhera and Mong.

In AD 997, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi took over the Ghaznavid dynasty empire established by his father, Sultan Sebuktegin. In 1005 he conquered the Shahis in Kabul and followed it by the conquests of Punjab region. The Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal Empire ruled the region. The Punjab region became predominantly Muslim due to missionary Sufi saints whose dargahs dot the landscape of Punjab region. Jalalpur Sharif is located on west of the river Jhelum whereas Phalia on eastern bank in Mandi Bahauddin District close to river Jhelum earlier known as Hydaspes. A semi hill or mound i.e. the historical sign of the ancient city and a shrine still available in mid of the Mohalla Ameer. In 2010, maximum of the area reshaped into commercial land and precious heritage could not be preserved.

After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikh invaded and occupied Mandi Bahauddin District. The Muslims faced severe restrictions during the Sikh rule. During the period of British rule, Mandi Bahauddin District increased in population and importance.

The predominantly Muslim population supported Muslim League and Pakistan Movement. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while the Muslims refugees from India settled down in the Mandi Bahauddin District.

Phalia is approximately the same age as Lahore. The four subdivisions (Mohallas) are named after the forefathers of Tarar tribe:

Geography and climate

Phalia is situated at 32.43 N latitude and 73.58 E longitude.[3] It is located between the main cities of Mandi Bahauddin and Gujrat, about 23 kilometres from Mandi Bahauddin and from Gujrat and from Malakwal and near about from Salam interchange on M-2 motorway, at an altitude of 672feet above sea level.[1] [3]

Phalia has a moderate climate, which is hot in summer and cold in winter. During peak summer, the day temperature rises up to . The winter months are mild and the minimum temperature may fall below .[4] The average annual rainfall in the district is .[5]

Health facilities

Health Medical facilities are on average available in the city. The main government hospital established in the city is THH (Tehsil Headquarters Hospital). There are several other private hospitals, Health center and Clinics at different locations within the city.

Phalia City

Phalia is not a big city. Most of the population of the village are Muslim with some Christians.

Punjabi language is the native language of the province and is most widely spoken language in Phalia. Urdu language has started to become more prominent in many areas now due to its official status as the national language.[1]

The number of registered voters in the Constituency PP-117 (Mandi Bahuddin-II) Phalia is 134,119.[6] among them almost half of them are of female voters.

Administration

After the abolition of Nazim system, the Administrator of Phalia is Assistant Commissioner Bilal Feroz Joya in 2016.

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History of Phalia. (Tehsil Municipal Administration) TMA Phalia website . 2023-01-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224101903/http://www.tmaphalia.com/History.html . 2013-12-24 . dead.
  2. Web site: History of Phalia and Gujrat area. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 12, (page 365) -- Digital South Asia Library. 22 January 2023.
  3. Web site: Phalia population. World Gazetteer. 2023-01-22. https://archive.today/20130209122256/http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gpro&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-1878&srt=npan&col=aohdq&geo=440773358. 2013-02-09. dead.
  4. Web site: Weather Report for Phalia, Pakistan. Weather City website. 22 January 2023.
  5. Web site: Map of Phalia, Pakistan, Asia - Collins Maps . 2023-01-22 . dead . https://archive.today/20130119140001/http://www.collinsmaps.com/maps/Pakistan/Punjab/Phalia/P892480.00.aspx . 2013-01-19.
  6. Web site: Asif Bashir Bhagat as the election winner in the area for the Punjab Assembly seat . The Election Commission of Pakistan website. 2023-01-22. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120526002042/http://www2.ecp.gov.pk/vsite/complete/Search.aspx?constituency=PA&constituencyid=PP-117 . 2012-05-26.
  7. Web site: Muhammad Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhary, Member, National Assembly of Pakistan (page 67). dead. 26 May 2018. Election Commission of Pakistan, Government of Pakistan website. https://web.archive.org/web/20180526173608/https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202013%20report/Election%20Report%202013%20Volume-II.pdf. 22 January 2023.