Sharqpur (
Urdu:
شرق پُور), also called
Sharqpur Sharif, is a city and
Tehsil headquarters of
Sharqpur (
Urdu:
شرق پُور), also called
Sharqpur Sharif, is a city and
Tehsil headquarters of
Sharqpur Tehsil of
Shaikhupur District in the
Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located at 31°27′48″N 74°6′0″E[1] and lies on the Jaranwala road 32 km from Lahore, and 20 km from first exit of M2. It is very beautiful and flourishing town with different flowers, greenery, meadows and gardens of different fruits. Sharqpur Sharif is known as the city of Saints. Most of the Saints belongs to Arain tribe and is popular due to the presence of the shrine of Hazrat, Mian Sher Muhammad Sharqpuri born in 1282 AH., or 1865 AD., in Sharqpur (District Sheikhupura, Punjab). His father's name was Mian Azizuddin. Mian Sher Muhammad was strict observer and preacher of Quran and the Sunnah. He led a very simple life and blessed numerous people including Allama Muhammad Iqbal. He died on Rabi-ul-Awwal 3, 1347 AH., or August 20, 1928 and was laid to rest in Sharaqpur. His shrine is also present in the city's vicinity.
Gallery[edit]
History and families[edit]
Sharqpur is a town and
tehsil on Jaranwala Road 32 km from Lahore. Many years ago, the river Ravi flowed here and due to the river's presence this area was cultivated. The tribes of Gujranwala saw this place and settled here, followed by the forefathers of the Arain tribe from Sahiwal. The founder of Sharaqpur who built the first home in the area was the grandfather of Hafiz Muhammad Jamal. In this period Hazrat Hafiz Muhammad Qadri and religious scholars came here from Hujra Shah Muqueem and built a mosque. Hazrat Syed Abdul-Qadar Sani (Almaroof Kimia-ul-nazar) stayed here.
In Sharaqpur the largest population is of Arain and Sheikh Arain families. The most notable and most respected Arain family is the family of Saint Mian Sheer Muhammad. The notable members of this family are Sahibzada Mian Muhammad Abubakar (successor to the shrine or Hazrat Mian Sher Muhammad), Sahibzabda Mian Marghoob Ahmad (former Tehsil Nazim Sharaqpur), Mian Jaleel Ahmad (former MNA and district Nazim) and Mian Saeed Ahmad (former MPA and Chairman Zakat and Usher).And also notable family from Kot Mehmood Arain family of Malik Muhammed Nawaz and his son youngest politician Malik Akhtar Nawaz.
Origins of the name[edit]
Different opinions exist about the origins of Sharqpur's name. Mian Mohammad Ashiq writes in his book
History of Sharqpur that the name of Sharqpur was kept by the numbers. If one counts the numbers of Sharqpur then it will be 808
[clarification needed] and this is the year of foundation of Sharqpur. Another opinion is that Sultan Muhammad Shah Sarqi used to meet famous personalities of Sharqpur and give special attention in this area. Therefore, people began to call this area "Sharqipur", which evolved into "Sharaqpur".
Culture and economy[edit]
Sharaqpur is known as the home of the shrine of Saint Mian Sher Muhammad, also known as Sher-E-Rabbani, Mian Ghulam Ullah, known as Sani SB, and Mian Ghulam Ahmad, known as Shabeh-e-Shere Rabbani. Mian Sher Muhammad Sharqpuri was born in 1282 AH, or 1865 AD, in Sharqpur. His father's name was Mian Azizuddin. Mian Sher Muhammad was a strict observer and preacher of Quran and the Sunnah. He led a simple life and blessed numerous people. He died on Rabi-ul-Awwal 3, 1347 AH, or August 20, 1928 and his tomb (darbar sharif) is in Sharaqpur Sharif.
A special kind of shoes called
Khusah is manufactured here and is popular throughout the Punjab province. These Khusahs are made by hand; no machines are used in their creation. Nowadays, these are specially designed for bridegrooms at wedding ceremonies. Leather and silver or golden thread are used for their manufacturing. The Khusah is a part of Punjabi culture.
Sharaqpur has a decorated food street, which is the main bazaar of the old city. It extends from Nalkay Wala Chowk to Malkana Gate. It is open around the clock, 24/7. One can find all kind of foods here, including the popular local dessert,
gulab jamun.
The area's main crops include rice, wheat, sugar cane, and maize. Cultivated fruits include
guavas,
watermelon,
alichee,
strawberries, and
falsa. Vegetables include potatoes, peas, onions, tomatoes, cabbage, and radishes, among many others.
