Muzaffargarhਮੁਜ਼ੱਫ਼ਰਗੜ੍ਹ

Muzaffargarh is a city in southern Punjab, Pakistan, with 235,541 people (2023 census). Founded in 1794 as the Fort of Muzaffar and lying between the Indus and Chenab rivers, it is an agriculture city of mango and citrus farms, old Sufi tombs and the Muzaffargarh Thermal Power Station.

Where is Muzaffargarh?

Muzaffargarh stands in southern Punjab, Pakistan, at 30.07° N, 71.19° E, on the bank of the Chenab River. It is the capital of Muzaffargarh District and sits in Dera Ghazi Khan Division. The closest major city is Multan, to its east, and the city lies near the exact geographical centre of Pakistan.

History: the Fort of Muzaffar

The region has been settled since the Indus Valley civilisation and was later ruled by the Mauryas, Kushans, Guptas and Hindu Shahis, then by Mahmud Ghaznavi, the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. It became predominantly Muslim through the Sufi missionaries whose dargahs still stand in the area.

The town itself was founded in 1794 by Nawab Muzaffar Khan, the Saddozai governor of Multan. Muzaffargarh means the Fort of Muzaffar, because the old town stood within the walls of his fort. In 1864 it became the capital of Muzaffargarh District. The British, who took control in 1848 after the Second Anglo-Sikh War, linked the town to the surrounding lands by bridges.

The place was also called Kala Pani, or Black Water, because it sits between the Indus and the Chenab. During the 1947 Partition, Hindu and Sikh families moved to India while Muslim refugees from East Punjab, Haryana and Jammu settled in the district and were given land.

Geography, climate and people

Muzaffargarh forms a strip between the Chenab River to the east and the Indus River to the west, at 123 metres above sea level. The land is a flat alluvial plain, ideal for agriculture, with many citrus and mango farms, and canals such as the Muzaffargarh Canal and Ganesh Wah Canal cut across the district. Its position between the two rivers makes it flood-prone: it was hit especially hard by the 2010 Pakistan floods.

The climate is semi-arid with very hot, humid summers and mild winters. The highest recorded temperature was about 54°C and the lowest about minus 1°C, with average rainfall of roughly 279 millimetres and frequent dust storms.

The 2023 census counted 235,541 people in the city, making it the 39th largest city in Pakistan. Saraiki is the first language of 73.1 percent of residents, Urdu of 21.8 percent and Punjabi of 4.4 percent.

Economy and landmarks

The city is home to the Muzaffargarh Thermal Power Station, a major oil-fired power plant run by the Northern Power Generation Company, with units commissioned in the 1990s. In early 2025 the government approved its privatisation. Agriculture, especially citrus and mangoes, remains the backbone of the local economy.

Places of interest

The cultural heritage sites include the tomb of Tahir Khan Nahar and the tomb of Sheikh Sadan Shaheed, known for its intricate carved brickwork. Fayyaz Park sits in the centre of the city near Katchehry Chowk, and the Nawab Muzaffar Khan Park, renamed in 2021 after the city's founder, covers about 12.8 hectares.

Notable people

Besides its founder Nawab Muzaffar Khan, Muzaffargarh has produced prominent political figures including Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, former West Pakistan governor Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani, former Punjab governor and chief minister Ghulam Mustafa Khar, former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, politician Jamshed Dasti, social worker Sardar Kaure Khan Jatoi and wrestler Azhar Hussain.

Today

The city is linked to the rest of Pakistan by the N-70 National Highway, with direct road travel to Lahore, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Karachi and Bahawalpur, and by rail on the branch line between Multan, Mianwali and Attock. Buses to nearby Multan leave frequently, and the city's bazaars trade in citrus, mangoes and cotton from the surrounding farms.