Kasur District (Punjabi, ), is a district located in Lahore Division of Punjab, Pakistan. It came into existence on 1 July 1976. Prior to its creation, it was a tehsil of the Lahore District.
The district capital is Kasur city, the birth city of the Sufi poet Bulleh Shah, who is well known in that region as well as in the whole of Pakistan. The total area of the district is 4,796 square kilometres.
History
In ancient time, Kasur was known for its education and fish. The history of Kasur is more than 1,000 years. Kasur region was agricultural region with forests during the Indus Valley civilization. The Vedic period is characterized by Indo-Aryan culture that migrated from Central Asia and settled in Punjab region. The Kambojas, Daradas, Kaikayas, Pauravas, Yaudheyas, Malavas and Kurus migrated, settled and ruled ancient Punjab region. After overrunning the Achaemenid Empire in 331 BCE, Alexander marched into present-day Punjab region with an army of 50,000. The Kasur region was ruled by Maurya Empire, Indo-Greek kingdom, Kushan Empire, Gupta Empire, White Huns, Kushano-Hephthalites and the Turk and Hindu Shahi kingdoms.
In 997 CE, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi, took over the Ghaznavid dynasty empire established by his father, Sultan Sebuktegin, In 1005 he conquered the Shahis in Kabul in 1005, and followed it by the conquests of Punjab region. The Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal Empire ruled the region. The Punjab region became predominantly Muslim due to missionary Sufi saints whose dargahs dot the landscape of the Punjab region.
The Mughal Empire ruled Kasur for 200 years. After and during the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikhs took over the Kasur District. The agriculture lands were given to leaders and supporters of the Sikh army. Most of the Punjab region was annexed by the East India Company in 1849, and was one of the last areas of the South Asia to fall under British colonial rule. During the British Raj, the irrigation canals were built that irrigated large areas barren lands of the Kasur District.
The predominantly Muslim population supported Muslim League and Pakistan Movement. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Sikhs and Hindus migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in the Kasur District.
Demography
At the time of the 2017 census, the district's population was 3,454,881, of which 1,788,617 were males and 1,666,044 females. 2,564,101 were rural and 890,780 urban. The literacy rate was 60.77%. Muslims were the predominant religious community with 96.48% of the population while Christians were 3.47% of the population.
At the time of the 2017 census, 89.86% of the population spoke Punjabi and 1.80% Urdu as their first language. 7.80% of the population recorded their language as 'Others' on the census.
Development
The Bambawali-Ravi-Bedian Canal was built in Kasur district increasing the agricultural development of the area. There has been commercial and industrial development but the area remain mainly agricultural. Pakistan Army built Cantonment area for an infantry brigade in the district.
Administrative divisions
The district is administratively subdivided into 4 Tehsils spanning a territory of 13 divisions and 125 Union Councils: the total area of Kasur is 3995 km2.
Physical features
The district is bounded by the Ravi River in the north-west and river Sutlej in the south-east. Whereas the old course of Beas River bifurcates the district into two equal parts locally known as Hither and Uthar or Mithan Majh. Both of the areas have a height differential of approximately 5.5 meters. The natural surface elevation of the district is 198 meters above the sea level, having a general slope from north-east to south- west. Whereas the east and west ends of the district comprise the flood plains of the rivers Satluj and Ravi, characterized by breaching of looping river Channels braided around meander bars. Kasur district is attached with Lahore from east, attached with Nankana Sahib from north, attached with Faisalabad from west and attached with Okara and India from south.