Layyah

For the Baloch subtribe, see Dombki.

Layyah لیہ
City
Layyah لیہ
Coordinates:
Country	Pakistan
Province	Punjab
Area
• Total	6,291 km2 (2,429 sq mi)
Elevation	143 m (469 ft)
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
Calling code	0606
Number of towns	1
Number of Union councils	3
Website	http://www.punjab.gov.pk/layyah,

Layyah (Urdu ليّہ), previously spelled as Leiah, is a small city in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city is headquarter of Layyah District and Layyah Tehsil

Geography

It lies between 30–45 to 31–24 deg north latitudes and 70–44 to 71–50 deg east longitudes. The area consists of a semi-rectangular block of sandy land between the Indus River and the Chenab River in Sindh Sagar Doab. The total area covered by the district is 6,291 km² with a width from east to west of 88 km and a length from north to south of 72 km.

History

The town was founded around 1550 by Kamal Khan, a descendant of Ghazi Khan who laid foundation of Dera Ghazi Khan. Around 1610, the town was taken from the Mirani Rulers by the Jaskani Balochs, who held it until 1787. Abdun Nabi Sarai was appointed Governor by Timur Shah Durrani, but three years later it was included in the Governorship of Muhammad Khan Sadozai, who transferred his seat of Government to Mankera. In 1794, Humayun Shah, the rival claimant to the throne of Kabul, was captured near Layyah and brought into the town, where his eyes were put out by order of Zaman Shah. Under the Sikh Government, the town once more became the centre of administration for the neighbouring tract, and after the British occupation in 1849, was for a time the headquarters of a Civil Administrative Division. This administrative status of Layyah was short-lived and the British reduced it to the level of Tehsil headquarters, making it a part of Dera Ismail Khan. In 1901, Layyah was transferred to the new District of Mianwali. Later on, it was made part of the Muzaffargarh District. In 1982, Layyah Tehsil was upgraded to District headquarters comprising three Tehsils: Layyah, Karor and Chaubara. The municipality was created in 1875.

Demography

The population, according to the 1998 census was 2 Million. Per capita income during the ten years ending 1902-3 averaged Rs. 9,900, and expenditure Rs. 10,100. In 1903-4, the income was Rs. 10,600, chiefly derived from octroi, and the expenditure was Rs. 10,600.

According to the 2011 district census the Muslim population is by far the largest religious group, constituting 98.7% of the population, followed by Christians, who are barely 1% of the population and are equally spread among the urban and rural area locations.

Inhabitants of district speak a great variety of Punjabi dialects.

• Thalochi (Local Desert Punjabi dialect)
• Majhi (Standard Punjabi spoken specially spoken in newly cultivated and city areas)

Other Languages include:

• Urdu is mother tongue of few people but being national language is spoken and understood by the sizeable population.
• English is official language and taught in schools.
• Arabic is religious language and taught in schools and madrasas.

On the average the literacy rate in the district is 39% which is low as compared to the provincial and national literacy rates which are 46.6% and 44%, respectively. While a little more than half the population of 10 years and above age is literate, less than one fourth of this category are females.

Gallery

• 

  Railway Station ریلوے اسٹیشن Layyah

• 

  Railway Station ریلوے اسٹیشن Layyah

• 

  Sadar Bazaar صدر بازار Layyah

• 

  Vegetable and Fruit Market سبزی منڈی of Layyah at twilight

See also

• Layyah District
• Dera Ghazi Khan
• Multan
• Southern Punjab

External links

• Layyah Government
• Layyah Online
• District Courts of Layyah
• A Brief History of Layyah
• Layyah, Pakistan: Radical Islam Fills Void - video report by Global Post