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Wah Cantonment

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Wah Cantonment is a major city located in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It sits upon the Potohar Plateau, northwest of the Islamabad-Rawalpindi Metropolitan Area. The city is situated near the historic city of Taxila, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mughal Garden Wah
Mughal Garden Wah

Wah Cantonment spans an area of 58 square kilometers, or 14,433 acres. It is the 17th most populous city in Punjab and the 24th most populous in Pakistan. According to the 2023 census, the city has a population of 400,733 people. The city is also located along the Grand Trunk Road, an ancient trade corridor. This road has connected Central Asia to South Asia for approximately 2,500 years.

The city's name has a unique origin rooted in the Mughal Empire. Previously, the area was known as Jalal Sar. In 1607, the Mughal Emperor Jahangir visited the region during an expedition. He encountered beautiful natural springs and a powerful waterfall. He was so impressed that he exclaimed "Wah!" which means "Wow!" in Urdu.

Front Wah Gardens
Front Wah Gardens

Following this visit, people began referring to the area as Wah. The term "Cantonment" was added much later, in December 1951. This occurred when Pakistan's Second Prime Minister, Khawaja Nazimuddin, inaugurated four ordnance workshops.

History has shaped the landscape of Wah through several different eras. The region was once part of the Gandhara Civilization, famous for its Buddhist art and scholarship. During the Mughal era, the area saw significant architectural changes. The Mughal Gardens, or Wah Gardens, were created by Raja Man Singh. These gardens hosted several emperors, including Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb.

Front Wah Gardens
Front Wah Gardens

Later, the British took control of the region in 1849 after the Second Anglo-Sikh War. During the British Raj, industrial development began to grow in the area. In 1921, the Associate Cement Company was established. This was one of only four cement plants in Pakistan at the time of Partition.

Wah Cantonment is widely recognized for its high standards in education. It possesses one of the highest literacy rates in Pakistan, which reportedly exceeds 99.99%. Because of this, former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz named it a "Model Education City." The city contains many institutions, such as the University of Wah and Wah Medical College.

Central Mosque Wah Cantt
Central Mosque Wah Cantt

The Central Library on Quaid Avenue is another important landmark. It was inaugurated on October 9, 1984, and holds over 58,000 books and periodicals. The library also manages five reading rooms located in various city parks.

The Federal Government Educational Institutions (FGEI) also maintain a large presence here. The FGEI Regional Office Wah was established in 1984. This network includes 42 schools and colleges that serve over 33,000 students. There are approximately 1,400 faculty members working within this public-sector system. One notable institution is the F.G. Degree College for Men, which began as an intermediate college in 1964. Another important site is Federal Government Public School No. 1, which has a long history of providing education in the area.

Transportation and religion are also central to the city's identity. The city is served by three railway stations on the Karachi–Peshawar main line. The Wah Railway Station, opened in 1909, is the largest of the three.

Wah railway station
Wah railway station

The Budho Railway Station is even older, having been established in 1881.

Budho railway station-0820
Budho railway station-0820

For religious life, the Jamia Masjid serves as the principal congregational mosque. It was inaugurated by President Muhammad Ayub Khan on April 5, 1959. The architecture of the mosque is inspired by the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore.

Badshahi Masjid wah cantt
Badshahi Masjid wah cantt

The city has also been a site for international sports and difficult historical events. In 2005, Wah hosted the first international women's squash tournament, the WISPA competition.

Central Mosque, Wah Cantt
Central Mosque, Wah Cantt

In 2016, it hosted the 3rd Asia Circle Style Kabaddi Cup, featuring six national teams. However, the city also experienced tragedy during the 2008 Wah bombings. On August 21, 2008, two suicide bombers caused an explosion that killed 70 people.

Yaad Gaaar - panoramio
Yaad Gaaar - panoramio

This event occurred while hundreds of workers were leaving their shifts at a factory.

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🖼️ Images & Media (8)
File:Badshahi Masjid wah cantt.jpg
Badshahi Masjid wah cantt.jpg
File:Central Mosque Wah Cantt.jpg
Central Mosque Wah Cantt.jpg
File:Mughal Garden Wah.JPG
Mughal Garden Wah.JPG
File:Front Wah Gardens.jpg
Front Wah Gardens.jpg
File:Central Mosque, Wah Cantt.jpg
Central Mosque, Wah Cantt.jpg
File:Wah railway station.jpg
Wah railway station.jpg
File:Budho railway station-0820.jpg
Budho railway station-0820.jpg
File:Yaad Gaaar - panoramio.jpg
Yaad Gaaar - panoramio.jpg
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