Lahore played a special role in the independence movements of India. The 1929 Indian National Congress session was held at Lahore. In this Congress, the Declaration of the Independence of India was moved by Jawaharlal Nehru and passed unanimously at midnight on 31 December 1929.[50] On this occasion, the Swaraj flag (with a charkha at its centre) was adopted by the Congress. Lahore's prison was used by the British to detain revolutionaries. Noted independence activist Jatin Das died in Lahore's prison after fasting for 63 days in protest of British treatment of political prisoners. One of the most famous martyrs in the history of Indian independence, Shaheed Sardar Bhagat Singh, was hanged here.[51] The most important session of the All India Muslim League (later the Pakistan Muslim League), demanding the creation of Pakistan, was held in Lahore in 1940.[52] Muslims under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah demanded a separate homeland for Muslims of India in a document known as the Pakistan Resolution or the Lahore Resolution. It was during this session under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the leader of the league, that Muslims League publicly proposed the Two-Nation Theory for the first time.[53]
Post-independence
Upon the independence of Pakistan, Lahore was made capital of the Punjab province in the new state of Pakistan. Almost immediately, large scale riots broke out among Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus, causing many deaths as well as damage to historic monuments—including the Lahore Fort, Badshahi mosque and colonial buildings.[54]
After independence and its deep impact, Lahore as so many times before, once again gained its significance as an economic and cultural powerhouse of the region, through government reforms. The second Islamic Summit Conference was held in the city in 1974.[55]
Geography
Main article: Geography of Lahore
Lying between 31°15′—31°45′ N and 74°01′—74°39′ E, Lahore is bounded on the north and west by the Sheikhupura District, on the east by Wagah, and on the south by Kasur District. The Ravi River flows on the northern side of Lahore. Lahore city covers a total land area of 404 square kilometres (156 sq mi).
Climate
Main article: Climate of Lahore
Lahore
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
23 194
29 227
41 2814
20 3420
22 3924
36 4027
202 3627
164 3526
61 3524
12 3318
4 2712
14 215
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Hong Kong Observatory[56]
[show]Imperial conversion
Lahore has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh). The hottest month is June, when average highs routinely exceed 40 °C (104.0 °F). The monsoon season starts in late June, and the wettest month is July,[56] with heavy rainfalls and evening thunderstorms with the possibility of cloudbursts. The coolest month is January with dense fog.
The city's record high temperature was 48.3 °C (118.9 °F), recorded on 30 May 1944.[57] 48 °C (118 °F) was recorded on 10 June 2007.[58][59] At the time the meteorological office recorded this official temperature in the shade, it reported a heat index in direct sunlight of 55 °C (131 °F). The record low is −1 °C (30 °F), recorded on 13 January 1967.[60] The highest rainfall in a 24-hour period is 221 millimetres (8.7 in), recorded on 13 August 2008.[61] On 26 February 2011, Lahore received heavy rain and hail measuring 4.5 mm (0.18 in), which carpeted roads and sidewalks with measurable hail for the first time in the city's recorded history.[62][63]
[hide]Climate data for Lahore (1961–1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 27.8
(82) 33.3
(91.9) 37.8
(100) 46.1
(115) 48.3
(118.9) 47.2
(117) 46.1
(115) 42.8
(109) 41.7
(107.1) 40.6
(105.1) 35.0
(95) 30.0
(86) 48.3
(118.9)
Average high °C (°F) 19.8
(67.6) 22.0
(71.6) 27.1
(80.8) 33.9
(93) 38.6
(101.5) 40.4
(104.7) 36.1
(97) 35.0
(95) 35.0
(95) 32.9
(91.2) 27.4
(81.3) 21.6
(70.9) 30.8
(87.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 12.8
(55) 15.4
(59.7) 20.5
(68.9) 26.8
(80.2) 31.2
(88.2) 33.9
(93) 31.5
(88.7) 30.7
(87.3) 29.7
(85.5) 25.6
(78.1) 19.5
(67.1) 14.2
(57.6) 24.32
(75.78)
Average low °C (°F) 5.9
(42.6) 8.9
(48) 14.0
(57.2) 19.6
(67.3) 23.7
(74.7) 27.4
(81.3) 26.9
(80.4) 26.4
(79.5) 24.4
(75.9) 18.2
(64.8) 11.6
(52.9) 6.8
(44.2) 17.8
(64)
Record low °C (°F) −2.2
(28) 0.0
(32) 2.8
(37) 10.0
(50) 14.0
(57.2) 18.0
(64.4) 20.0
(68) 19.0
(66.2) 16.7
(62.1) 8.3
(46.9) 1.7
(35.1) −1.1
(30) −2.2
(28)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 23.0
(0.906) 28.6
(1.126) 41.2
(1.622) 19.7
(0.776) 22.4
(0.882) 36.3
(1.429) 202.1
(7.957) 163.9
(6.453) 61.1
(2.406) 12.4
(0.488) 4.2
(0.165) 13.9
(0.547) 628.8
(24.757)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 218.8 215.0 245.8 276.6 308.3 269.0 227.5 234.9 265.6 290.0 259.6 222.9 3,034
Source #1: NOAA (1961-1990) [64]
Source #2: PMD[65]
Civic administration
Administrative towns of Lahore[66]
Under the latest revision of Pakistan's administrative structure, promulgated in 2001,[67] Lahore became a City District, and was divided into nine towns.[68] Each town in turn consists of a group of union councils (U.C.'s).[69]
Economy
Main article: Economy of Lahore
As of 2008, the city's gross domestic product (GDP) by purchasing power parity (PPP) was estimated at $40 billion with a projected average growth rate of 5.6 percent. This is at par with Pakistan's economic hub, Karachi, with Lahore (having half the population) fostering an economy that is 51% of the size of Karachi's ($78 billion in 2008).[70] The contribution of Lahore to the national economy is supposed to be around 13.2%.[71] As a whole Punjab has $115 billion economy making it first and to date only Pakistani Subdivision of economy more than $100 billion at the rank 144.[70] Lahore's GDP is projected to be 102 billion$ by the year 2025, with a slightly higher growth rate of 5.6% per annum, as compared to Karachi's 5.5%.[70][72]
A major industrial agglomeration with about 9,000 industrial units, Lahore has shifted in recent decades from manufacturing to service industries.[73] Some 42% of its work force is employed in finance, banking, real estate, community, cultural, and social services.[73] The city is Pakistan's largest software & hardware producing centre,[73] and hosts a growing computer-assembly industry.[73]
Expo Centre Lahore
The Lahore Expo Centre is one of the biggest projects in the history of the city and was inaugurated on 22 May 2010.[74] Defense Raya Golf Resort, also under construction, will be Pakistan's and Asia's largest golf course. The project is the result of a partnership between DHA Lahore and BRDB Malaysia. The rapid development of large projects such as these in the city is expected to boost the economy of the country.[75] Ferozepur Road of the Central Business Districts of Lahore contains high-rises and skyscrapers including Kayre International Hotel and Arfa Software Technology Park.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon