Kamalia

Kamalia is a city in the Toba Tek Singh District of Punjab Province, Pakistan. It is the administrative center of Kamalia Tehsil. It is the 67th most populous city of Pakistan.

Location

Kamalia is located at approximately 30.725°N latitude and 72.645°E longitude, in the southern part of the Toba Tek Singh District, Punjab, Pakistan.
To the northwest lies Toba Tek Singh, while Rajana is situated about 20 km to the north. Mamu Kanjan lies about 20 km northeast of Kamalia. Toward the east are Harappa and Sahiwal. Chichawatni is located to the south at a distance of about 25 km, and Pir Mahal lies to the west.
The city is situated near the Ravi River. Kamalia lies within the fertile plains of the Sandal Bar, an area once covered by forest and known for its rich grazing lands. It is connected to surrounding towns by a network of regional roads and a branch railway line running between Shorkot and Sheikhupura.

History

Kamalia is an ancient city, existing at least before 325 BC. According to Alexander Cunningham, Kamalia was likely a settlement encountered by Alexander the Great in his campaign against the Malli.
The modern settlement of Kamalia was founded in the 14th century by Kamal Khan, a chief of the Kharal Tribe. It was situated 60 km from Jhang, where the Sials lived. The Lekhari or Kamalia Kharals of the lower Ravi quarreled with the Upera Kharals of the upper Ravi. Kamalia remained under Kharal rule until Walidad Khan, the thirteenth chief of Jhang, took possession of the town from Sadaat Yar Khan. Walidad Khan ruled until his death in 1747, after which his successor, Inayat Khan, restored Kharal control. This period lasted for about a generation. Following the death of Nahar Singh, the chief of Nakai Misl, in a battle at Kamalia against the Kharrals in 1768, the town came under the Sikh Confederacy, specifically the Nakai Misl, led by Ran Singh.
When Shah Zaman of the Durrani Empire invaded Punjab, Muzaffar Khan, Governor of Multan taking advantage of the situation marched to Kamalia and expelled the Sikhs and reinstated the Kharal leader Sadaat Yar Khan II, but he did not hold his position for very long. In 1803, Ranjit Singh annexed Kamalia to the Sikh Empire, although he was reinstated by Ranjit Singh who gave him proprietary rights to 40 villages, which were then passed to his son, Muzaffar Khan.
Muhammad Sarfraz Khan, the brother of Muzaffar Khan was loyal to the British. During the Second Anglo-Sikh War, he gave assistance to the British and attacked the Sikhs. During September 1857 Sarfraz Khan informed the British of the activities freedom fighters of Rai Ahmed Khan Kharal in Montgomery District, which acted crucial in his defeat. During the war, Kamalia was seized under the control of the freedom fighters twice, but the British reoccupied it both times. Kamalia was thoroughly sacked during the Indian Revolt of 1857. Muhammad Sarfaraz Khan was succeeded by his son Sadaat Ali Khan.
In the early 20th century, Kamalia remained under the influence of the Kharals, under the British Rule, and was situated in Montgomery District. The municipality of Kamalia was constituted on 29 July 1868. By January 1907, due to heavy debts incurred by the Kharals, the government advanced a loan of one lakh rupees and placed the Kamalia estate under the Court of Wards. This arrangement continued until 1916, after which the estate was released and then partitioned.
On 6 April 1921, a riot broke out in Kamalia over a dispute between The Akalis and Sehajdhari Sikh Party over the ownership of the Prem Sati Gurdwara, which had been previously transferred to the Akalis.
Following the partition, members of the Kharal family continued to hold proprietary rights in Kamalia and its surrounding villages, with some also serving in administrative roles.
A number of archaic sites exist in Kamalia which include a Shamshan Ghat, Prem Sati Gurdwara located inside of a Girl's Highschool, and many ancient havelis. It is one of the oldest cities in the Punjab Province having an old mosque from the Jahangiri period and many historical places like the Shrine of Hazrat Baba Fazil Dewan.

Etymology

The present name of the city Kamalia is derived from its 14th century ruler Kamal Khan Kharal. It was originally known as 'Kot Kamalia' or 'Kot Kamal'.

Climate

Kamalia has a hot desert climate. Summers are long and intense, with average highs from April to July routinely surpassing 40 °C, and extreme peaks reaching 48 °C. Winters are brief and mild, with daytime temperatures between 15–25 °C and occasional night lows around 5 °C.
Annual rainfall averages 250–300 mm, with the majority falling during the monsoon season. Dust and sand storms are common in the pre-monsoon and monsoon months, due to the region’s arid nature.

Notable people

Kamalia is known for its hand-woven and machine-woven cloth called khaddar, as well as for poultry, sugarcane, and the okra crop. The city serves as one of the country’s largest markets for white eggs and okra. The fertile land around Kamalia supports the cultivation of various crops throughout the year, including wheat, cotton, maize, and rice.

Demographics

Population

The estimated population for 2025 according to Municipal Committee of Kamalia is 172,432.