Okara District (Punjabi and Urdu: ضِلع اوكاڑا), is a
district of Punjab,
Pakistan. It became a separate
district in 1982, prior to that it was part of Sahiwal
District. The name Okara is derived from Okaan,
which is the name of a type of tree. There were a large
number of Okaan trees in ancient time due to
which it named Okara. It is the 23rd largest city of
Pakistan by population. The city is located
southwest of the city of Lahore and Faisalabad is 100 km
bypassing away Ravi River. It is known for its
agriculture-based economy and cotton mills. Pakistan
military dairy farms, known for their cheese, are
situated in Okara.
Okara is a relatively new agricultural city. during the
period of British
rule there was a forest of Okaan where the city has been
rebuilt, and from this, the name of the city
was derived. The climate of Okara is usually warm and dry.
The coldest months are December to February,
when temperatures may drop to 3 °C (37 °F), with moderate
rainfall. The hottest months are May to July,
when temperatures may reach 45 °C (113 °F). The annual
average rainfall in the city is approximately 548
millimetres (21.6 in).
