SARGODHA THE CITY OF EAGLES

Sargodha is a city in the Sargodha District of Punjab province, Pakistan.

Sargodha is located in the northeast of Pakistan. It is the eleventh largest city of Pakistan and also known as Pakistan's best citrus-producing area. It is an agricultural trade centre with various industries.[1] Sargodha is one of three planned cities in Pakistan, the other two are Faisalabad and Islamabad.

Pakistan's largest Airbase, PAF Base Mushaf (formerly PAF Base Sargodha), is situated in Sarghoda and hosts the headquarters of the Pakistan Air Force's Central Air Command. The airbase is also home to the Combat Commanders School (CCS), formerly the Fighter Leader's School, an elite training facility for training Pakistan Air Force pilots in fighter tactics and weapons.

History

The term Sargodha has its origins in the words Sar, meaning pond, and Godha, meaning sadhu.[2][3]

Sargodha was a small town at the beginning of the British Empire but, due to its geographical location, the British Royal Air Force built an airport there. It took on greater importance after the Independence of Pakistan for the Pakistan Air Force. Shahpur, which is now a tehsil of Sargodha District, was the district at that time. Most parts of the tehsil Sillanwali and Kirana Hills region were part of Jhang district and were included later during the British Raj in the Sargodha district.

The 1965 war with India on September 6, 1965 meant the city was a prime target for India, due to the city's close proximity to the neighbouring rival. The citizens of Sargodha supported the Pakistan Army against the advancing of the Indian Army into Pakistan. In 1966, recognising this bravery, the Government of Pakistan awarded the city of Sargodha as well as Sialkot and Lahore with the award of Hilal-E-Istaqlal. The city also has a Pakistan Air Force base within its city. The PAF Base Sargodha now known as PAF Base Mushaf, named after the late Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, a former Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force. The strategic location of the base has allowed the Air Force to carry out experimental work within the city.

Proud of CITY OF EAGLES

Mohammad Mahmood Alam, who was born in 1935 in Calcutta,is so far the top scorer fighter pilot of PAF. In the war of 1965,At sargodha, he shot down 9 Indian planes (5 in one sortie) and damaged another 2. On 6th September, 1965, during an aerial combat over enemy territory, Squadron Leader Mohammad Mahmood Alam in an F-86 Sabre Jet, shot down two enemy Hunter aircraft and damaged three others. For the exceptional flying skill and valor displayed by Squadron Leader Mohammad Mahmood Alam, he was awarded Sitara-i-Juraat [The Star of Courage]. On 7th September, 1965, Squadron Leader Alam is said to have destroyed five more enemy Hunter aircrafts in less than a minute , which remains a record till today. Overall he had nine kills and two damages to his credit.On miraculous defence again worst enemy of Pakistani nation in september,1965 the city of sargodha was awarded with the name of city of eagles

Geography and climate

It is located 172 kilometres northwest of Lahore, in Sargodha District. It lies about 30 miles from the M2 Motorway which connects Lahore and Islamabad. it is connected to motorway M2 by several interchanges at different locations. Sargodha is roughly 60km from Faisalabad due South east. Directly east connected by the M2 motorway is Lahore and the route to Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Due east is the city of Jhang and towards the west the city of Mianwali and the Chashma Barrage. Dera Ismail Khan is located 50 km from the city and towards the south west region from the city.

Sargodha mainly comprises flat fertile plains, which are the ideal conditions for cultivation of the land. There are a few small hills on Sargodha - Faisalabad Road. River Jhelum flows on the Western and Northern sides and river Chenab on the eastern side of the city. The city has extreme hot and cold climate. The maximum temperature touches 50C in the summer while the minimum temperature recorded is as low as freezing point in the winter.