Farooqa

Arar bangla, built by the British in late 1890s

The city was developed in the 19th century as a major town. At that time, it was in Shahpur District, during the British Raj. It was planned to be an agricultural business hub or mandi. There were large numbers of Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims who lived in the town before the Partition of India in 1947. Ancient buildings and mandir can still be seen in downtown Farooka. After the partition, the majority of the population were Muslims and immigrants from the Indian states of Haryana and Punjab, who were mostly the Rajputs and Arains among others.

Over time, many locals from nearby villages started to settle in Farooka for better wages. These locals included many craftsmen and skilled workers. Traditional hand embroidery done here is renowned throughout the Pakistani province of Punjab; embroidery is even famous overseas. Every summer, a melā is held; it is a prestigious and colorful festival that celebrates the completion of wheat cultivation. The Irani circus is a joyous segment of the festival. The town and suburbs are surrounded by three major influential landowners and political families: the Dhudhi, Kalyar, and Baloch families.

The city is famous for supporting the Pakistan Muslim League (N). However, the youth tend to support Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. A rich canal and irrigation system surrounds the city. The area is very rich in agriculture; the land is fertile, due to the Jehlum River, which is about 15 km (9.3 mi) away. Kinnow, wheat, and sugarcane are the most cultivated crops. SW Sugarmill (Chishtia Sugar Mills limited) is a mega-industry that has been working since 1986 in the village of Arar, Tehsil Sahiwal, District Sargodha., on the outskirts of Farooka. It provides major employments to the locals. Farooka is multicultural and people from different Islamic schools of thought. A shrine of a famous 19th-century Sufi saint, Mian Abdullah Dhudhi (known as "Baba Dulla"), is located on the outskirts.

During the 1990s and 2000s, Farooka suffered from religious and sectarian clashes between Shias and Sunnis However, it is one of the fastest-developing towns of Sargodha District. It is well known for its students, civil and military officers, sportsmen, and skilled working class. A large number of people work abroad, mostly in the Middle East.

There are several high schools in the town: Govt. High School Farooka, Government Secondary School No. 1 and Government Primary School No. 2. Government Primary School No. 3 (founder Ashiq Rasool). The government high school for boys is the oldest school in the town, established in 1906. Students at this school learn to be doctors, engineers, teachers, financial experts, and bureaucrats. There are two-degree colleges in Farooka, one for boys and one for girls. There is also one government high school for girls. A number of private schools and colleges are also in the area. Hira Model High School (the first private school in this tehsil) is located on the main road and was established in 1980 by educationist professors Rafiq Ahmed and Nisar Ahmed, who swore to provide quality education in the area.

Dar-e-Arqam School, Hussain Campus is located on Sahiwal Road. Other schools include the Qayadat Public School. Ayyan School, under Alhayat Trust, provides free education, uniforms, bags, books, lunches, and pocket money to needy students. Another private school is the Hira Model High School (the second oldest private school of Farooka).

There are several hospitals in the city, such as the Rural Health Complex Farooka, which is being upgraded to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital; Khan Abdur Rehman Hospital Dilawar Health Care Centre, under the supervision of Dr. Imran Dilawar; and other private clinics. Bilal Clinic and Eye Care Centre is another facility, which is located at Silanwali Road, under the supervision of Dr. Anayat Ullah Baloch and Dr. Almas Anayat.

Notable people include:

• Ashiq Rasool - Teacher (Headmaster Government Primary School No.3 Farooka) and Businessman.
• Dr. Waris Farooka - MBBS, FCPS (Surgery), FRCS (Surgery), Dip. in Laparoscopic Surgery (France), FACS (USA) Laparoscopic Surgeon, General Surgeon, Endoscopic Surgeon
• Mian Shoukat Hayat - Teacher (Headmaster Government High School Farooka)
• Afzal Farooka – an advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and ex member of the Punjab Bar Council for Sargodha
• Dr. Anayat Ullah Baloch – physician and recognized poet
• Mian Asghar Kalyar – a former member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab and adviser to the chief minister[1]
• Rai Haq Nawaz Dhudhi – landlord, retired professional polo player
• Sardar Akhtar Khan Baloch – senior politician
• Mian Farooq Kalyar – politician
• Rai Fateh Sher Dhudhi – politician and famous tent pegging player
• Ghulam Hussain Haidri – sports commentator
• Rana Abdul Jabbar – politician
• Rana Iqbal - politician

Bus services are available from the General Bus Stand/Lari Adda to the Sahiwal-Sargodha transport system. There are bus services to Lahore, Faisalabad, Islamabad, and Quetta.

Farooka has a cricket team, whose home ground is Jinnah Cricket Ground, a multi-purpose ground located in the city center. In 2019, the Farooka Champions League was held at this ground, which included six teams:

• Farooka United
• Farooka Qalandars
• Farooka Zalmi
• Farooka Gladiators
• Farooka Sultans
• Farooka Kings

Volleyball, tent pegging and kabaddi are also famous.[2]

• https://sportsboard.punjab.gov.pk/sargodha/ref
• https://www.pap.gov.pk/members/profile/en/9/133/ref
• http://www.pmd.gov.pk/floodmap/jhelum/4-jhelum,%20sargodha%20and%20khushab%20districts.pdf/
• http://swsugar.com.pk/about%20csml.html