Faisalabad

Faisalabad, formerly known as Lyallpur, is the second-largest city and primary industrial center of the Pakistani province of Punjab. Located in the Rachna Doab of the central Punjab, it is the third-most populous city in Pakistan. Established in 1890s as a planned city, the population of the city increased six times in the decade following the partition of British India as hundreds of thousands of East Punjabi Muslim immigrants settled the city. Historically one of the largest villages of Punjab, Lyallpur was one of the first planned cities within British India. It became headquarters of the lower Chenab Colony and in 1898 was incorporated as a municipality. It was restructured into city district status; a devolution promulgated by the 2001 local government ordinance (LGO). The city is the headquarters of the Faisalabad District the total area of which is around 5,856 km2 (2,261 sq mi) while the urban area controlled by the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) is around 1,300 km2 (500 sq mi). Faisalabad has become a major industrial and distribution hub due to its centrally located infrastructure including connecting roads, rails, and air transportation. It has been referred to as the Manchester of Pakistan because of its extensive textile industry. In 2013, the GDP of Faisalabad was estimated at $43 billion. Faisalabad contributes over 20 percent to the GDP of the country and has an average annual GDP (nominal) of $20.5 billion. Agriculture and industry remain its hallmarks.