The City Gojra

Gojra (Punjabi, Urdu: گوجرہ‎), the administrative seat of Gojra Tehsil, is a city of Toba Tek  in the Punjab province of Pakistan, and is located 30  miles (50 km) from Faisalabad, 125 km from Burewala, 157 km from Vehari and 20 miles (32 km) north of Toba Tek Singh. It has a history of more than hundred years, and being the centre of the cultivated lands, the village was known for its "Mandi" (market) for cash crops. The predominantly Muslim population supported Muslim League and Pakistan Movement. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in Gojra.

Singh District

History:

Gojra town was established in 1896 when colonisation of Faisalabad began. The railway line between Faisalabad and Gojra was laid in 1899. The town was given the status of notified area committee in 1904 and upgraded as B-Class Municipality in 1925. In 1906 the population was 2,589, according to The Imperial Gazetteer of India "The business done in this rising mart on the railway, which has sprung into existence in the last six years owing to the extension of the Chenab Canal to the surrounding country, bids fair to rival in importance that of Faisalabad itself".

In 1919 following the Rowlatt Act, hartals broke out throughout Punjab, Gojra was affected by serious protests and a member of the Church Mission Society had to be escorted out of the town by loyal residents.

Municipal committee status:

After independence from Britain, in view of its increasing size, it was declared as 2nd class Municipal Committee in 1960.

Tehsil status:

The town was raised to the status of Tehsil town and affiliated with the newly established district Toba Tek Singh on 01.07.1982. After the introduction of Devolution of Powers Plan, the Tehsil Municipal Administration Gojra came into being on 12.08.2001. Canal rest house is the oldest building constructed during British government in 1898.

Education:

The city has two dedicated further education institutions, Government Degree College for Boys and Government Degree College for Girls (Women), The Scholars Public Middle School Gojraand number of private sector colleges

The city also has number of Higher Education school, two prominent schools are Government M. C. High School and Government Islamia High School. M. C High School is one of the oldest school and has produced some of the most prominent hockey players for the national hockey team. There are many other private institutions and colleges like Muslim college of science and commerce, Unique Shiblee College and many more.

Hockey:

Gojra contributed a number of players to the Pakistan Hockey team, including Iqbal Bali and Muhammad Aslam . When they returned to Gojra they established their own hockey teams, and provided free training to the youth of the city and created a nursery for the Pakistan hockey team and many of the Pakistan hockey team players.

The Gojra Hockey Club (a local club, has won this year's Jat Tar Singh memorial U19 (Under 19) hockey tournament, this high profile tournament was held in India, where Gojra city team competed again best of Indian U19 hockey teams and won this championship. The Gojra team won this title by defeating Amritsar Academy 4–2 at Ludhiana hockey stadium.

The Manzoor-ul-Hassan and Rasheed-ul-Hasan brothers were the main source of inspiration for hockey and establishing it in their native town. They brought Gojra to be recognised in the hockey playing nations of the world. Manzoor-ul-Hassan (1972–1982) played 154  games and scored 101  goals for Pakistan. He was given the name "Wall of China" because he was so hard to beat as he was a defender (full back). Rashid-ul-Hassan played 199 matches and scored 9  goals. He was the backbone of the Pakistan Hockey team from 1979 to 1987.