| Gujranwala is an ancient city of Pakistan and | | | | wrestlers', and has produced over time many |
| the name Gujranwala appears to have derived | | | | famous wrestlers of the sub-continent. |
| from the Gujar Tribe that inhabited this | | | | However, the city gives a fair share of |
| place about 400 years ago. From early | | | | importance to other sports too, especially |
| recorded history, it seems that Gujranwala is | | | | cricket and kabbadi. The Jinnah Stadium which |
| almost 500 years old. The name of this | | | | was formerly called the Municipal Stadium, |
| settlement at first was most probably Khanpur | | | | having capacity of 20,000 seats, stands as a |
| Shansi after the name of a Jat tribesman Khan | | | | testimony to that. During the cricket season |
| Shansi. It seems that he had established | | | | it is not uncommon to see f4renzied fans all |
| about 11 villages in and around this area. | | | | over the city with their faces painted with |
| The growth of this city can be attributed to | | | | their national colours. The entire city comes |
| the father and grandfather of Maharaja Ranjit | | | | to a standstill if there is any important |
| Singh, the most powerful of all the Sikh | | | | cricket match going on and Pakistan is |
| rulers. The area came under the direct rule | | | | playing. It is a day of unofficial holiday. |
| of the British in 1847. | | | | |
| | | | In 1951 the city of Gujranwala was given the |
| Present day Gujranwala is located in the | | | | status of the capital of the district, and |
| Eastern Punjab Province of Pakistan and is | | | | this paved the way for further and faster |
| the fifth largest city in Pakistan. It is | | | | development of the city. The Gujranwala |
| located almost 700m above sea level. This | | | | Hydroelectric project provides power to the |
| city lies on the tract of the Chenab and the | | | | city from the Chenab River. The area being |
| Degh River. It occupies about 3189km of area | | | | mainly dry, the land is irrigated by means of |
| and has a population of over 11 million | | | | a network of canals. The rice grown here is |
| people. It is situated on the Grand Trunk | | | | one of the best in Asia. Other crops like |
| Road, in between Rawalpindi and Lahore and is | | | | barley, millets, cotton and wheat are the |
| at a distance of about 67 kilometres to the | | | | other principal crops grown here. |
| North of Lahore, the capital city of Punjab. | | | | |
| | | | People of Gujranwala are hard working and |
| It has gained importance after partition as a | | | | industrious and this has made it the fifth |
| marketing center for agricultural products | | | | largest city in Pakistan. Gujranwala has a |
| like sugarcane, grains and melons, and also | | | | dry port and its closest airport is the |
| as a hub for the manufacture of industrial | | | | Sialkot International Airport. |
| products like copperwares, aluminium | | | | |
| utensils, ceramics, brassware, electric fan, | | | | If you are visiting Gujranwala it is worth |
| glassworks etc. | | | | travelling with a native that has information |
| | | | on routes and also accommodation. |
| This city is also famed as the 'city of the | | | | |