Faisalabad was once part of ancient district Jhang and Sandalbar, mainly consisting of thick forests and local tribes. The city of Lyallpur came into being in 1880 with the city center designed by Captain Poham Young, to imitate the Union Flag with eight roads radiating from a large clock tower (Ghenta Ghar) in the centre of eight separate bazaars. . In 1977, the name of the city was “Faisalabad”, after the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia to commemorate deep friendship which exists between the two great Islamic countries of the world. In 1985, Faisalabad was upgraded as a division with the districts of Faisalabad, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh.
Faisalabad is located in the north east of Punjab. The city covers an area of approximately 1230 square kilometers, comprising largely of flat or rolling plains. It has a population of around 5 million. It is also the third largest city of Pakistan.The climate of Faisalabad district is of extreme nature, reaching around 50 °C in summers and -1 °C in winters. The soil of the district is very fertile. The average rainfall is about 200 mm.Faisalabad is twinned with Manchester, United Kingdom.Faisalabad has grown to become a major industrial and distribution centre because of its central location in the region and connecting roads, rails, and air transportation.It has been referred to as the Manchester of Pakistan”.As of 2013, GDP of Faisalabad was estimated at $43 billion and projected to rise to $87 billion in 2025 at a growth rate of 5.7%.Faisalabad contributes over 10 percent to the Punjab’s GDP and has an average annual GDP (nominal) of $20.5 billion.Agriculture and industry remain its hallmark.
