Narowal lies from 31° 55' to 32° 30' latitude and 74° 35' to 75° 21' longitude. It is located in the northeast part of Punjab, Pakistan, about 96 kilometers north of the provincial capital Lahore. The Narowal District borders Sialkot to the west, Sheikhupura to the South, Gurdaspur (Eastern Punjab, India) to the east, and the Kathua District and Jammu Kashmir to the north.
Etymology
Although contradictory beliefs exist, the widely held narrative states that Narowal derived its name from a landlord Naro Bajwa back in the 16th-century.
History
In the sixteenth century, Narowal was a small village consisting of only a few houses of labourers around the farmhouse of Land-Lord Naro Bajwa.[4] The city is the capital of Narowal District. The history of modern Narowal dates back to 90 years when Britishers established a railway link between eastern and western Punjab in its bid to strengthen their grip over Punjab. With the establishment of the railway junctions, investment begins to flow and the city begins to flourish with the passage of time. After the partition and establishment of Pakistan, the railway line between the east and west Punjab was blown off for security reasons. Initially, Narowal was a part of Sialkot district, later gained the status of Tehsil before becoming the District in 1992.
The population of Narowal consists of various ethnic groups including Punjabi almost 80%, the peoples who migrated from India to Pakistan in 1947 during partition (in Pakistan they are known as Muhajir) 19%, and Pathan including other minor groups 1%. Punjabi is the predominant Language with Urdu second large language.[6]
The majority religion is Islam, at 98%. Christians make up 1.5% of the population and Hindus and Sikhs make up the other 0.5%.
Economy
Main Road of Narowal
Narowal is an agro-based economy. Its fertile field produces high-quality rice, wheat, maze, corn, and Sugar cane. Rice especially produced in Narowal, is a major export and earn foreign exchange reserves for Pakistan. Wheat production secures food security of the country.[7]
Except that football manufacturing especially stitching, handicraft is included among industries of Narowal. Various bazaars including Zafarwal Road bazaar, Railway Bazar, Chota Bazar, are famous commercial points while Circular Road Narowal is emerging as a new business hub in the city.
Education
Narowal is known as the "House of knowledge". Its literacy rate is highest among neighbour districts. It is the house of various universities and colleges.
University of Gujrat(UOG), Narowal campus.University of Narowal used to be called as University of Gujrat(UOG)but later on UON got independent and now there is not a single Campus of University of Gujrat in Narowal.
and a lot of other private and public sector colleges.
List of medical colleges:
Narowal medical college, Narowal (public sector)
Sahara medical college, Narowal (private)
Al-shifa medical college, Narowal (private)
Narowal public school is one of the largest and best educational institutions in Narowal. There are many other schools like The Educators, Dar e Arqam school system, Hassan Scholars public school and IIUI school system etc. C.M.S. High School Narowal is the oldest school in the region, owned by the famous L.D.BE. Which is the same system that owns institutes like Forman Christian College, Kinnaird College, and Cathedral schools Lahore.
^"Pakistan", Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Far East 1956, Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific, UN, pp. 147–154, 1956-12-31, doi:10.18356/8855fdb8-en, ISBN978-92-1-059935-1, archived from the original on 2021-10-08, retrieved 2021-01-12
