Pasrur

Pasrur ,پسرور, is a city of Sialkot District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located at 32°16'0N 74°40'0E with an altitude of 238 metres (784 feet). The nearest big cities are Sialkot, Narowal and Gujranwala. The city is the capital of Pasrur Tehsil and is administratively subdivided into two Union councils.

History

Pasrur was originally called Parasrur after Paras Ram, Brahman, to whom the town was assigned by its founder ; it is mentioned by Babar as a halting-place between Sialkot and Kalanaur, and seems to have once been of considerable importance. It possesses a large tank, constructed in the reign of Jahangir. To feed this, Dara Shikoh dug a canal, traces of which are still extant. Near by are the remains of a bridge built by Shah Daula.

 British era

During British rule Pasrur became the headquarters of Pasrur Tehsil. The town (which lies 18 miles south of the district capital Sialkot) lay on the Sialkot to Amritsar road. The population in 1901 was 8,335. The trade of Pasrur had much decayed, partly through the opening of the North-Western Railway, and partly on account of the octroi duties which have diverted trade to the neighbouring village of Kalaswala. Hand-printed cotton stuffs were the only manufacture of importance. Pasrur also was a station of the American United Presbyterian Mission.

The municipality was created in 1867. The income during the ten years ending 1902-3 averaged Rs. 7,900, and the expenditure Rs. 7,800. The income in 1903-4 was Rs. 8,000, chiefly from octroi ; and the expenditure was Rs. 6,900. The town had an Anglo-vernacular high school maintained by the District board, and a Government dispensary.

Sikh era

Pasrur was visited by Guru Nanak during his journey to Arabia. The Mughal emperor Jahangir made his camp here while on a hunting trip. Contrary to the common belief, Pasrur was not conquered by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Rather, it was the home of a branch of the Ahluwalia clan. The Ahluwalia ruling families were his friends as they were related to Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. Because of this, it was mapped in as part of the larger and a formidable kingdom of the undivided Punjab. Pasrur was a hamlet which was often raided by the Afghan invaders on their way to India where looting and plundering was their motive. Lahora Singh, a relative of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia (thought to be his cousin or nephew), was a fourteen year old Nihang boy and he was the son of one of the commanders or chieftains of the Ahluwalia Misl. He arrived at the hamlet and challenged the people to wrestle him. According to legend, the peasants said they couldn't fight him as they wore bangles. He then told them to break their bangles and wear Karas instead since he had come to make them into warriors for the protection of their Dharma (faith). Soon he turned the people into a formidable Khalsa fighting force; in due course of time the hamlet became a small and a sturdy fort. Pasrur was protected, administered and developed under the rule of Lahora Singh’s descendants until its annexation by the British in the Anglo-Sikh wars. The descendants of Lahora Singh currently live in Punjab and Delhi.

Indo-Pak War

During the 1965 war, an Indian Aircraft by mistake landed at the small Pasrur Airfield under pressure from Pakistani Aircrafts following it. The Sikh pilot was captured and his GNAT aircraft was taken into custody of the Pakistan Airforce.

Facilities

* Eye Hospital LRBT

* Tehsil Headquarter Hospital

* Government Degree college, Pasrur

* Government Degree College for Girls, Pasrur

* Chand & Co. Arms Dealer

* Nawaz Sharif Park

* Pasrur Cadet College