Description
Sahiwal (Punjabi and Urdu: ساہِيوال), formerly known as Montgomery, is a city in Punjab, Pakistan. Sahiwal lies on the vast Indus River plain in the densely populated region between the Sutlej and Ravi rivers. It has been the cradle of ancient civilization at Harappa (3000 BC). It is the 21st largest city of Pakistan by population and the administrative capital of both Sahiwal District and Sahiwal Division. Sahiwal is approximately 180 km from the major city Lahore and 100 km from Faisalabad and lies between Lahore and Multan. Sahiwal is approximately 152 meters above the sea level. The city lies in a densely populated region between the Sutlej and Ravi rivers. The principal crops are wheat, cotton, tobacco, legumes, potato and oil seeds.
Sahiwal is twinned with the town of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. Approximately eight per cent of Rochdale's population is of Asian origin, most of whom have links with Pakistan. The twinning arrangement was agreed between Rochdale and Sahiwal in 1998.The climate of Sahiwal district is extreme, reaching 47 °C in summer, and down to 5 °C in winter. The soil of the district is very fertile. The average rainfall is about 2000 mm.