The Islamia University Of Bahawalpur

Bahawalpur has always been a seat of higher learning. Uch Sharif (a nearby ancient town) had one of the largest universities in the world where scholars from all over the world used to come for studies. As a continuation of this tradition a religious university (Jamia Abbasia) was established at Bahawalpur in 1925, following the academic pursuits of Jamia Al-Azhar, Egypt. The renowned scholars spread the beacon of Islam by teaching Tafseer of Quran, Hadith, Fiqh, and History along with other contemporary subjects.

In view of the changing scenario, Jamia Abbasia was declared as a general University in 1975, and renamed as The Islamia University of Bahawalpur. Initially, it started functioning at Abbasia and Khawaja Fareed Campuses with ten departments. In order to construct a modern and self-contained campus, 1250 acres of land was allotted to the University on Hasilpur Road about eight kilometers away from the city centre.

The sand dunes have been converted into well-built faculties, green lawns, hostels, residential colony, farms and orchards. It is known as Baghdad-ul-Jadeed Campus. The University started with ten departments but now this number has increased to 40 offering 53 disciplines. While planning to commence new departments and disciplines due consideration is given to market as well as area specific needs. Consequently, apart from conventional disciplines of Religious Affairs, Languages, Social and Basic Sciences; education is being imparted in the areas of Business Administration, Engineering, Agriculture, Veterinary Sciences, Computer, Law, Education, Fine Arts, Pharmacy, Life Sciences and Sports Sciences, etc. The University values quality education rather than quantity. Towards achievement of this end a team of highly qualified and committed faculty members have been engaged. Moreover, research is being made corner stone of the educational philosophy.

In order to provide opportunities of higher education to the youth at their door step, two campuses were established at Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalnagar in 2005. Initially, Departments of Management Sciences and Computer Science & Information Technology were established for which response was very encouraging. The number of Departments at Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan Campuses have been increased to seven and six respectively.

Establishment: Career Development Centre

Gender Reform Action Plan, Government of the Punjab under its reform relating to Womens Public Sector Employment, has to establish Career Development Centres (CDCs) in five public sector universities progressively. In this regard, GRAP has established Career Development Centre (CDC) in the Islamia University of Bahawalpur in April, 2007 to better prepare their graduates for public sector employment. These centers are equipped with material giving details of terms and conditions of competitive examinations, recommended textbooks, and strategies for taking these examinations. They are invite members of commissions, eminent personalities in civil services, alumni of the university to provide valuable personal insights to the aspirants of these examinations. These centers are also developing linkages with recruitment agencies of the public/ private sector entities so that vacancies are intimated to them and they in turn pass on the information to their graduates.

OBJECTIVES

Capacity building of the students
Job Information
Skills Enhancement
Providing information regarding competitive exams and relevant reading material
Assisting students with their CV making/Interviews techniques
Organize networking sessions between students and potential employers in public/ corporate sector including Donors/ Civil Society Organizations.
Involving government so that it can provide financial/technical assistance in preparing graduates to enter in employment sector

Lal Suhanra National Park

Lal Suhanra Nartional park was declared a national park on 26 October 1972, following recommendations made by the Wildlife Enquiry Committee in 1971. Originally, the park comprised an area of 31,355ha, of which 20,932ha were desert, 8,488ha irrigated forest plantation and 1,934ha reservoir.This park is ideal for recreation, education or research but shooting is forbidden. The park, 36 km to the east of Bahawalpur, is a combination of natural lake and forest on 77480 acres of land and spreads over on both sides of the Bahawalpur canal. It is crossed by the dried-up bed of the Hakra River and features an important wetland, Patisar Lake. Blackbuck became virtually extinct in the Cholistan Desert but the species has been re-introduced in Lal Suhanra within large enclosures, together with Chinkara gazelle, Nilgai antelope, Hog deer and Indian rhinoceros. There is big lake in the center of the park called Patisar Lake, which is ideal for bird watching. Patisar Lake regularly holds between 10,000 and 30,000 ducks and common coot in mid-winter. Over 13,00 waterfowl were present in January 1987. The park also supports a large population of birds of prey.


From October to March one may have a pleasent visit to this national park. It has a watchtower, catching ground, tourist huts, rest houses, camping grounds, TDCP Resort with 6 Air conditioned Bed Rooms and treks for the visitors and nature lovers. The Hog deer, ravine deer, black buck and nilgai are quite common in these parts. Fox, jackals, hares, porcupines, mongoose, larks, owls and hawks are also found in Lal Suhanra National Park. One should be careful of the Wild Boars which are found in large number in the nearby forest areas. Lal Suhanra National Park which is actually a wildlife sanctuary is worth a visit.

Wildlife:

Mammals in the park include Nilgai antelope, Black buck, Chinkara gazelle, Hog deer, Indian fox, Jackal, Desert Hare, Porcupine, Caracal cat, Moongoose, Jungle cat, Indian Wolf (rare),Wild boar, and Indian rhino (introduced).

While Birds may include Houbara bustard, Griffon vulture, Honey buzzard, Marsh harrier, Hen harrier, Laggar falcon, Peregrine falcon, Kestrel, Indian sparrow hawk, Egyptian vulture, Larks, Shrikes, Wheatears and Barn Owl. Some Reptiles located in the park are Monitor lizard, Russells viper, Indian cobra, Saw scaled viper and Spiny tailed lizard. For tourists who love to be in the wilderness, Lal-Suhanra Park is the best place to be!

Map Of Bahawalpur

History of Bahawalpur

Bahawalpur was an independent state until the creation of Pakistan 1947. The town of Bwp wasbuilt in about 1780 on an old site. It was Nawab Bahawal khan I (1746 to 1749) who laid the foundation of Baghdad-ul-jadidin 1748 and made it as his capital. His ruling period was nearly 3 years and was entombed in the graveyard of Malook Shah. Historical record shows that before the Sikh rule in Punjab the area of Bwp was much greater. Apart from the entireDera Ghazi khan district. some parts of Sukkur, Multan, Sahiwal and Muzzafargarhdistricts were also included in it.


During its heydays Bwp was patronizing all notable Islamicinstitutions of the subcontinent including Aligarh Muslim University and Dar-ul-Ulms at nadva and deoband. The contribution of the State was not confined to the field of learning alone.During the decline of Mughal rule the state also served as abulwark against the inroads of Sikhs and Rajputs. It was Bwp which became anabode of peace for muslims.


The area that is now Cholistan was snatched along with its desert strongholds from Rajputs by the Abbasids rulers of the State.Had this not been done the history of the subcontinent would have been different.The present main Railway line connecting Karachi and Peshawar passed through this sensitive area called Bahawalpur. Bwp also did not allow Sikhs to cross the Sutlej river. On the birth of Pk the Princely State was the first state to join itand worked as an independent state till 1970. After that Bwp was included as a division in the province of Punjab.


Baghdad to Bahawalpur is the life story of people who have for thepast many centuries have been serving Islam and the Islamic values in thesubcontinent. Credit goes to our team for highlighting the achievements of these people. The web also contains some rare pictures whichhave important bearing on the history and culture of lower Punjab Pakistan.

Various documents given in the web site (www.mybahawalpur.com) brought to you by (Team Bwp) are of great value. Especially the letters of M.A Jinah, Allama Iqbal, Sir Agha khan, Mulana Shibli Naumani,Khawaja Ghulam Farid and others.


The Ruling Family

Bahawalpur state belongs to the ruling family of the Abbaside clan and has directly descended from Hazrat-i-Abbas, the uncle of Holy Prophet (May Peace Of Allah Be Upon Him). Amir of Bwp, Lt. General, His Highness, AlhajSir Sadiq Mohammad Khan V, was the sixtieth in descent from Hazrat-i-Abbas Alamdar.


In 655 A.H. the Abbaside Caliphate at Baghdad was dismembered as result of the invasion of Baghdad by Halaku Khan who ruthlessly ravaged the sanctity of the holy city and mercilessly butchered all the members of the ruling family except one Abbaside prince who could escape the terrible fate only because he was out of the capital at the time of great massacre. He was prince Abdul Qasim Ahmed who fled to Egypt accompanied by about ten of his faithful nobles. At that time the ruler ofegypt was Malik Zahir Rukun-ud-Din who welcomed the fugitive prince and settled him down respectably in Cairo.


In an attempt to reconquer Baghdad in 660 A. H. Prince Abdul Qasim suffered a heavy defeat and was lost in the war. Few of those who returned alive form the battlefield included one Abbaside prince Abul Abbas Al-Hakim, who was direct descendant of the twenty fifth Abbaside Caliph, Al-Mansor-al-fazlal Abbasi and was later installed as the second Abbaside caliph in Egypt.He was followed by fourteen more Abbaside princes and thus the Khilafat continued for another 255 years when, in 945 A. H., the last Caliph of this dynasty, Al-Mutawakkil, died and the Caliphate was diverted to Benu Usman.
Destiny and History of Bahawalpur Pakistan Starts Here


The exodus of the Abbaside nobles of Egypt to India had already started in about 725 A. H., in the reign of Mohammad Tughlak-ben-Ghias-ud-dinIn 767 A. H. (1366 A. D.) Amir Sultan Ahmed II Abbasi fifth in direct direct descent from Abdul Qasim Ahmed (The First Abbaside Caliph Installed in Egypt)migrated to india with his family members and a few hundred followers and entered into sindh through Balochistan.
His entry was challenged by the then ruler of Sindh, Rao Dhorang, who threatened war, but yielded to the Amir. In course of time the Amir's family gradually moved northward, loosing much of the Sindh territory, but finally settled down at Derawar and in the vicinity of the present city of Bahawalpur.

The rulers first owed allegiance to Afghanistan but on the fall of the durani empire which was followed by the expulsion of Shah Shuja from Kabul they assumed independence.The rulers of the State faithfully implemented the terms of the treaty signed in 1838 between the East India Company and NawabBahawal Khan III.