- Municipal Committee Chiniot
History
History and background of the Municipal Committee
MUNICIPAL COMMITTEE CHINIOT
Chiniot is a city and the administrative headquarter of Chiniot District in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. Located on the bank of the river Chenab, it is the 28th largest city of Pakistan. It is also known for its quality wooden furniture, architecture and mosques. It is also the birth place of Nawab Saad Ullah Khan Thaheem, Prime Minister of the Sub-Continent. The origins of Chiniot are obscure and historical records accurately detailing its founding are unavailable. According to some accounts, the city was founded by an ancient King's daughter named Chandan, who while on a hunting expedition was charmed by the surrounding area and ordered the construction of the settlement of Chandaniot, alternatively spelt Chandniot, which was named in her honour. The name Chiniot, a contracted version of the original name, eventually gained favour, though the older name has been used up until at least the 1860s. During Mughal rule, Chiniot was governed as part of the suba or province of Lahore. The city reached its zenith under the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his governor of the area, Nawab Saadullah Khan of the Thaheem tribe, who served between 1640 and 1656. Under Saadullah Khan's governorship, Chiniot's famous Shahi Mosque was built. Chiniot's artisans were renowned for their skills during the Mughal era and were employed in the building and decoration of the Taj Mahal and Lahore's Wazir Khan Mosque.
Location
Chiniot is at the intersection of the Faisalabad-Sargodha and Lahore-Jhang roads. It is 158 kilometres northwest from Lahore and 38 kilometres north of Faisalabad. Chiniot city is spread over an area of 10 square kilometres with an average elevation of 179 metres (587 ft). Chenab Nagar (Rabwah), the headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Community is on the other side of the Chenab River. In the center of river, a worship center (or Chilla Gah) of the Sufi Bu Ali Shah Qalandar is also located.
Furniture
Chiniot is known for its furniture. Chinioti craftsmen and artisans have for centuries carved flowers and geometric patterns onto cellulose fibres. Masons from Chiniot are thought to have been employed during the construction of the Taj Mahal and Golden Temple.
Tribes
Chiniot region was an agricultural region with forests during the Indus Valley Civilization. Chiniot is a district of multi-tribes nation. Tribes of Chiniot include Rajput Dhudhi Sahmal Sipra, Janjua, Dogar, Syed, Sial, Mufti, Arain, Laali, Marath, Aheer, Awan, Makhdoom, Baloch, Bhatti, Bhutta, Butt, Bhowana, Chohan, Dhera, Durrani, Gujjar, Hanjra, Indra, Sipra, Walara, Haral, Tamimi, Hashmi, Jappa, Jatt, Koli, Kamoky, Kharal, Khokhar, Marral, Naul, Nakokara, Traggar / Tragar, Nissowana, Puri, Pathan, Slara, Wassi, Dhawan, Wadhawan, Sehgal, and Kalyar.