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Dinga is a town of Gujrat District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It lies between the rivers Jhelum and Chenab. The main highway (GT Road) that runs from Lahore to Rawalpindi is about 27 km northeast of Dinga. Dinga is about 100 km from the border that separates Pakistan and India, the city is famous in Pakistan for ‘Meethi Saunf’ (sugar-coated aniseeds).

History:

Dinga is an historical town. The actual name of the town was Deen Gha (hub of Islamic education) but with the interval of time during the British Empire its name became Dinga. Many people say that the name of this city called on a Gurjar family, the Dinga family. Nowadays you see Dinga names in other areas like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh provinces.

There is evidence that this town was established in the 16th century, by Choudhry Muqeem Khan. He came from the nearby village of Bhalaisranwala and laid the foundation of a settlement. He started raiding the Dacoits who at the time were a persistent danger and established both peace and order.

In 997 CE, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi, took over the Ghaznavi dynasty empire established by his father, Sultan Sebuktegin. 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 Punjab region. The Punjab region became predominantly Muslim due to missionary Sufi saints whose dargahs dot the landscape of Punjab region.

After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikh invaded and occupied Gujrat District. During the period of British rule, Gujrat District increased in population and importance. 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 Muslims refugees from India settled down in the Gujrat District.

Administration:

The city of Dinga is part of Kharian Tehsil (a subdivision of Gujrat District) Punjab and is administratively subdivided into two union councils, Dinga-I and Dinga-II.

Transport:

The easiest way to reach Dinga from abroad is to fly in to the airport at Islamabad, and then take a bus or some other means of transport to Dinga. Dinga is about 155 km from Islamabad. It takes 2.5 hours to reach Dinga from Islamabad by road and 3 hours from Lahore. Dinga is connected to Islamabad by the Grand Trunk Road (GT Road) the main highway that runs from Rawalpindi to Lahore.

At the city of Kharian on the highway, you will take a right turn onto Rasul road towards Dinga. Dinga is about 25 km from this point, which would take about half an hour to reach. The condition of the GT road from Rawalpindi/Islamabad to Kharian is excellent, and the road from Kharian to Dinga is reasonably good for travel. An alternate way to reach Dinga from abroad is to fly in to the airport at Lahore, and take the transport to Dinga via Kharian. Lalamusa-Dinga Road via Jaura Karnana is also an option. Lalamusa-Dinga railway link can also be used.

Dinga is a junction of many important roads. It is itself located on Kharian-Mandi Bahauddin Highway. While many roads take off the city, i.e., Dinga-Gujrat road, Dinga-Phalia road, Dinga-Lalamusa road, Dinga-Kunjah road, Dinga-Mangowal road, Dinga-Mandi Bahauddin road. Dinga railways station is situated on Lalamusa-Sargodha railway line.

Educational institutions:

An old high school named Sardar Hakam Singh High School was replaced by Govt. Higher Secondary School Dinga in 1926 by a wealthy Indian man named Rai Bahadar Sundardas the new school is situated in the same building with a new infrastructure. However, Mansoor Behzad Butt, a researcher from Gujrat district, argues that this detail is wrong as Mr Chopra had died in 1920, then how he could get it done. He would have surely done during his life as he had been donating to this school.

Other schools and colleges in Dinga include Govt. Degree College for Boys Dinga, Govt. Degree College for Women Dinga, Asian College For Women, Asian College for Boys, Govt.Tanning Institute, Arshad Institute of Technology and Dar-ul-uloom-Jamia-Rizvia Zia-ul-Quran and Kidsbeacon school Dinga (Abdullah Campus, an institute for Islamic education), Pakistan high secondary school, The Grammar School Dinga, Pakistan Quality School, Eraas House Of Knowledge, Daar-e-Arqam School, Govt.High School For Girls. VEGA school system. Sirrat-e-Mustqeem High School Dinga, Gazali School System, The Educators (Mian Ghulam Ghous Campus) and Islamic model high school Dinga.

Islamic places:

An Old Mosque Jamia Masjid Eid Gah is near Ghala mandi. Other Mosques in Dinga town are Jamia Masjid-e-Aqsa, Masjid Gulaman-e-Mustafa, Masjid Gulzaar-e-madina, Masjid farooqiya, Madni Masjid, Maaki Masjid, Masjid Ali Murtaza, Masjid Imam bar gah, Imam Bar gah Qasr-e-Abu talib, masjid Bakniya, Imam Bar gah Tufail hussain Shah and Mandar Masjid.

Main markets:

Dinga is a major economic hub for the nearby villages and has a very old Ghala Mandi, Androon Bazaar, Barkat Market, Aalim Market providing local farmers a platform to sell their products. There is a Main Bazaar of about 200 shops.

Famous people:

Dinga City is proud to be the birth-place of a real Pakistani hero, Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed (Nishan-e-Haider). He was born on 14th April 1938 in Dinga. He belonged to the famous Qazi family. He was commissioned on 13th October of 1963 in Frontier Force Regiment.

Major Muhammad Akram and a company of the 4th FF Regiment which he commanded in the forward area of the Hilly district, in East Pakistan in 1971, came under continuous and heavy air, artillery and armor attacks. But for an entire fortnight, despite enemy superiority in both numbers and fire power, he and his men, in near super human ability, repulsed every attack, inflicting heavy causalities on the enemy.

Major Muhammad Akram got Shahadat during this epic battle in 1971 and was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan’s highest military award.

Nearby villages:

Nearby villages include: Kolian Shah Hussian, Dhandala, Dhandali, Bhalesranwala, Shekhu Chak, Shah Quli, Yaqeen Pur, Amra Kalan, Amra khurd, Mojianwala, Chaillianwala, Punjan Sher Shahana,  Dhulyan, Bajjarwala, Khori Alam, Beknawala, Attowala, Karnana, Jaura, Bhaoo Gaseet Purr,  Karariwala, Chak Jani, Dhakarr, waraichawalan, Fateh Bandh, Ismaila, Gakhar, Chanan, Khokhara, Noor Jamal, Sandhanwala, Kala Kamala, Sikeryali, Sivya, Jhandu, Traiuanwala, Mirkhani, Chakori miani.