Kot Addu, Pakistan

{{Infobox settlement | name = Kot Addu | official_name = | native_name = {{Nastaliq|کوٹ ادو}} | settlement_type = [[City]] | image_skyline = File:Karim Daad Qureshi Kot Addu Road.jpg | image_caption = Karim Daad Qureshi Kot Addu Road (part of [[Grand Trunk Road|G.T. road]]) | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Punjab Pakistan#Pakistan | pushpin_label_position = left | coordinates = {{Coord|30|27|59|N|70|57|56|E|type:city_region:PK|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[Pakistan]] | subdivision_type1 = [[Subdivisions of Pakistan|Province]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Punjab, Pakistan|District]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Kot Addu District|Kot Addu]] | leader_title = | leader_name = | area_total_km2 = | elevation_m = | population_footnotes = | population_total = | population_as_of = | population_density_km2 = | timezone1 = [[Pakistan Standard Time|PST]] | utc_offset1 = +5 | area_code_type = [[List of dialling codes of Pakistan|Calling code]] | area_code = | website = | postal_code = 34050 }} [[File:District Kot Addu boundary.jpg|alt=آغاز حدود ضلع کوٹ ادو |thumb|A board representing the boundary of district Kot Addu]] '''Kot Addu''' ({{langx|ur|{{nq|کوٹ ادو}}}}) is the capital city of newly created [[Kot Addu District]] in the [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] province of [[Pakistan]]. The city is subdivided into five Union Councils and has a population of over 104,000, making it the [[List of cities in Pakistan by population|70th most populous city in Pakistan]]. It is located just east of the [[Indus River]], about 68Km from [[Multan]] and 20Km from [[Taunsa Barrage]].

[[File:Kot Addu Junction Railway Station.jpg|thumb|[[Kot Addu Junction railway station]]]] Kot Addu City attracts a large number of tourists every year, due to the Indus river and public gardens, among other things. The city is served by Kot Addu Junction railway station. The Zip code of Kot Addu is 34050.

== Demographics ==

=== Population === {{Historical populations|1951|10507|1961|13107|1972|21409|1981|37479|1998|80,720|2017|129,703|2023|142,161|align=center|percentages=pagr|footnote=Sources:<ref>{{cite web |title=Population by administrative units 1951-1998 |url=https://repository.lahoreschool.edu.pk/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/13673/Administrative%20Units.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1 |publisher = [[Pakistan Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref>}} According to [[2023 Pakistani census|2023 census]], Kot Addu had a population of 142,161. * Total population ** 104,217 persons * Location ** N 30° 28' 34'' E 70° 57' 52'' * Total Area ** {{cvt|8,77,989|acre|ha}} * Area under cultivation ** 4,24,521<ref>

[http://apnamuzaffargarh.googlepages.com/ Muzaffar Garh Demographic]</ref><ref>

[http://www.maplandia.com/pakistan/punjab/muzaffargarh/kot-addu Google Map]</ref>

The city contains a total of 33 [[Union councils of Pakistan|Union councils]], which are listed below. {{div col|colwidth=20em}}

# Haider Ghazi # Bait Qaimwala # BhariHoog # Budh # Chak No. 547/TDA # Chak No. 565/TDA # Chak No. 632/TDA # Chowk Sarwar Shaheed # [[Dera Din Panah|Daira Din Panah]] # Dogar Kalasra # Ghazi Ghatt # Hinjrai # Ehsanpur # Kot Adu No. 2 # Kot Adu No. 1 # Kot Adu No. 3 # Manhan Sharif # Mehmood Kot # Mirpur Bhagal # Pattal Monda # Pattal Kot Adu # Patti Ghulam Ali # Sanawan # Shadi Khan Monda # Sheikh Umer # Thatha Gurmani # U.C. 22 Gujrat # Wahandur # Pirhar # cha larr wala # NoorShah<ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.nrb.gov.pk/lg_election/union.asp?district=22&dn=Muzaffargarh Tehsils & Unions in the District of Muzaffargarh - Government of Pakistan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209043319/http://www.nrb.gov.pk/lg_election/union.asp?district=22&dn=Muzaffargarh |date=9 February 2012 }}</ref><ref>[[Muzaffargarh District|District administration (Kot Adu)]]</ref> # Basti Sirai # Alu Rid

== Location ==

The city of Kot Addu is located in the southern area of Punjab province, almost at the exact center of Pakistan. The area around the city is a flat plain and is ideal for [[agriculture]]. There are two main canals (Muzaffar, and T.P. link) and eight sub-canals that cross Kot Addu, providing water from the [[Indus River]]. The geographical [[coordinates]] of the city, according to [[Google Maps]], are: N 30° 28' 34" Latitude and E 70° 57' 52" longitude. Kot Addu is located at an average elevation of 133 meters above sea level.

== Geography and climate ==

Kot Addu is located almost exactly at the geographical center of Pakistan. The closest major city is [[Multan]]. The area around the city is a flat alluvial plain and is ideal for agriculture, with many citrus and mango farms. There are also canals that cut across the Muzaffargarh District, providing water to farms. During the [[monsoon season]], the land close to the Taunsa Barrage is usually flooded.

Kot Addu has an arid climate with very hot summers and mild winters. The city has experienced some of the most extreme weather in Pakistan. The highest recorded temperature was approximately 51 °C (129 °F), and the lowest recorded temperature was approximately −1 °C (30 °F). The average rainfall is roughly 127 millimeters (5.0 inches). Dust storms are a common occurrence within the city.

== Education == [[File:Government Highschool in Kot Addu.jpg|thumb|A public high school in Kot Addu.]] Like other major cities in Punjab, Kot Addu features a rich educational landscape. In the last few years, the city has observed a surge in the number of educational institutions. Colleges include private commerce and science colleges, schools, academies like Concordia Colleges (a project of Beaconhouse), Punjab Inter Science Academy, and a Cadet College (now: Superior Group Of Colleges). Government degrees are provided for both men and women. Several colleges are affiliated with the [[Bahuddin Zakrya University]] (B.Z.U) Multan Pakistan, and Punjab University Lahore Pakistan.

Some of the private educational institutions in the area are: Kot Addu School of Economics and Management Sciences; Punjab Higher Secondary School, Bismillah; Inter Science Academy; Punjab Group of Colleges; My School System; Dar-E-Arqam School; Oxford Grammar School and Professor Academy. A government technical college is also under construction. === Schools and colleges ===  * [[Dar-e-Arqam School]] Kot Addu Campus * [[Punjab Group of Colleges]] Kot Addu Campus

== Taunsa Barrage == [[Taunsa Barrage]] is a [[barrage (dam)|barrage]] on the [[River Indus]]. It is situated {{convert|20|km}} southeast of [[Taunsa Sharif]] and {{convert|16|km}} from [[Kot Addu]]. This barrage controls water flow in the [[River Indus]] for irrigation and flood control purposes. This barrage serves 2.351 million acres (951,400 hectares) besides diverting flows from Indus River to the [[Chenab River]] through [[TP Link Canal|Taunsa Panjnad (TP) Link Canal]]. The barrage also serves as an arterial road bridge, a railway bridge, and crossing for gas and oil pipelines, telephone line and extra high voltage (EHV) transmission lines.<ref name="P+D TaunsaRehab">PLANNING AND DESIGN OF TAUNSA BARRAGE REHABILITATION PROJECT S.M.A. Zaidi, M. Akram Khan, Saif ur Rehman</ref> Watch more [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsRv-UJZXv4 here].

'''2010 Floods'''

In 2011, the rehabilitation of the Taunsa Barrage was blamed for devastation of the Muzaffargarh district during the [[2010 Pakistan floods]].<ref name="pt-sbt">{{cite news |url= http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/12/sindhu-bachao-tarla-protest-against-wb/ |title= Sindhu Bachao Tarla protest against WB |publisher= Pakistan Today |date= 2011-12-03}}</ref> Critics blamed the rehabilitation of the barrage, alleging that it failed to raise its height and strengthen protective embankments, used dysfunctional computer control system of the hoist gates and ignored hill-torrent management.<ref name="et-taunsa">{{cite news |url= http://tribune.com.pk/story/301446/taunsa-barrage-project-affected-people-continue-protest/ |title= Taunsa Barrage project: Affected people continue protest |publisher= The Express Tribune |date= 2011-12-03}}</ref>

== Industry ==

Kot Addu is a prominent commercial and industrial city in the Punjab province. It is connected by road and rail with [[Lahore]], Karachi, [[Multan]], Islamabad, [[Quetta]], and [[Faisalabad]]; and also by air from Multan Airport to all Pakistani airports.

=== Main industries ===

* Pak Arab Oil Refinery (PARCO)<ref>[http://www.parco.com.pk/ PARCO]</ref> * [[Water & Power Development Authority|Water And Power Development Authority (WAPDA)]]

==== Power stations ====

* [[Kot Addu Power Company|Kot Adu Power Company (KAPCO)]]

* LalpirThermal Power Station<ref>[http://islamabad.usembassy.gov/pakistan/h07042403.html Pakistan Government] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526003350/http://islamabad.usembassy.gov/pakistan/h07042403.html |date=26 May 2008 }}</ref>

==== Sugar mills ====

* Sheikhoo Sugar Mill<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071025051339/http://www.pakboi.gov.pk/word/Sugar%20.doc Pakistan Government]</ref> * Fatima Sugar Mill<ref>[http://www.mca.gov.pk/Downloads/order/sugar/Fatima.pdf Pakistan Government]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref>

'''Flour Mills'''

* Gillani Flour Mill Ltd * Shoaib Qasim Floor Mill Besides these, cotton factories, foundries, cotton, woolen, and silk textile mills, flour, and oil mills are also located in this region. This area is famous for its handicrafts (Kundra work), and cottage industries.

Numerous cottage industries are present in the region. The area has cotton factories, foundries, cotton, wool and silk textile mills, as well as flour and oil mills. This area is known for its handicrafts (Kundra work), and cottage industries.

=== Information technology ===

As information technology has become increasingly important, Kot Addu has adopted this change. The first professional information technology center was introduced in 2002, named I.TECH,<ref>[http://www.itech.ae/ Kot Addu I.T. Institutions]</ref> which then also opened a branch in Dubai in 2006, U.A.E. It mainly focuses on web designing and development. There are many other institutions contributing towards education in information technology. In November, 2009, the Government of Pakistan also opened LAL-MEER technical college in the Union of Kot Addu.<ref>[http://www.ecp.gov.pk/content/na/NA-177.pdf Government of Pakistan]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref>

== Health centres ==

There is one government civil hospital and several private hospitals in the city, beside much small government and private hospitals in the union councils. Following is the Tehsil-Level Hospital (THQ hospital) in the city: * THQ Hospital Kot Addu<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to THQ Hospital Kot Addu {{!}} THQ Hospital Kot Addu |url=https://thqkotaddu.punjab.gov.pk/ |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=thqkotaddu.punjab.gov.pk }}{{Dead link|date=June 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== Agriculture ==

Kot Addu is an important agricultural area. The total area of [[tehsil]] Kot Addu is {{cvt|8,77,989|acre|ha}}, of which 4,24,521 acres are under cultivation. The main crops of the area include [[maize|corn]], [[cotton]], [[rice]], [[sugarcane]], [[tobacco]], [[wheat]], and [[vegetables]] like [[Pearl millet|Bajra]], [[moong]], mash and [[masoor]]. Oil seeds, such as mustard and [[sunflower seed]]s, are also grown in the district.

[[Mangoes]], citrus, [[guavas]], and [[pomegranates]] are Kot Addu's most important fruit crops. Minor fruit crops include dates, [[jaman]], pears, [[falsa]] and bananas are also grown.

One other local fruit is called a bare (berry). It is one of the main fruits grown in this region. Due to flooding, the crops are now rare, especially cotton and wheat products affected by this flooding. Now a majority of the agricultural lands are covered by sugarcane. People either sell this sugarcane to sugar mills or produce [[jaggery]] from sugarcane.

== Notable people ==

* [[Inayat Hussain Bhatti]] - film industry * [[Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani]] - former Governor of West Pakistan * [[Malik Ahmad Yar Hunjra]] - Member of the [[Provincial Assembly of the Punjab]] * [[Pathanay Khan]] - poet, pride of performance * [[Ghulam Mustafa Khar]] - former Governor and Chief Minister of Punjab * [[Hina Rabbani Khar]] - former Foreign Minister of Pakistan * [[Sultan Mehmood]] - former Minister * [[Shabbir Ali Qureshi|Mian Shabbir Ali Qureshi]] - former Federal Minister * [[Muhammad Ashraf Khan Rind]] - Member of [[Provincial Assembly of the Punjab]] * [[Milkha Singh]] - Indian athlete also known as the "Flying Sikh"

== See also == * [[Kot Addu Tehsil]]

== References == {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Kot Addu District]]