Page 205 - Muzaffargarh Gazzetteer

Chapter 48

Muzaffargarh at 225

While working on the gazetteer, it was revealed that Muzaffargarh was going
to have 225 anniversary of its establishment in 2019, i.e. it was in 1794
th
that the then ruler of Multan, Nawab Muzaffar Khan, laid the foundation of
a fort and a city, at a place known as ‘Musan de Hatti’, on the road that led
to Dera Ghazi Khan from Multan. It was how Muzaffargarh, the fort of
Muzaffar, came into being.

It was very disturbing to note that even though Muzaffargarh had been there
for more than 2 centuries, yet it still lacked in many facilities which other
cities of same size and age possessed as a matter of routine. For instance,
Muzaffargarh did not have a good park for recreation and other such
purposes for the general public; there was no club for the citizenry to have
their gatherings in, and enjoy indoor and outdoor games as well as food along
with their families; there was no auditorium worth the name for holding
cultural, academic and other such activities; there was no market place
where one could room around and shop with one’s family freely; the sole
stadium was not good enough to hold local matches what to talk about larger
tournaments; the historical Taliri Bagh had become a picture of neglect; the
road which passed through the middle of the city was in debilitated state;
there was no proper bus or wagon stand in the entire city; so on and so forth.
No wonder Muzaffargarh was listed in 5 least developed and poor districts of
Punjab—second from the bottom, to be more precise.

In such a backdrop, it was decided that the best way to celebrate the 225
th
anniversary was to devise and implement a comprehensive plan for
equipping the city with all essential facilities. The city would be transformed
thereby and given a complete makeover; Shehr-e-Nau, Nawan Shehr
Muzaffargarh ھڑگ رفظم ؛) رہش ںاون ،ون رہش ( was adopted as a slogan to give
motivation to all team members of the District Administration, and infuse
further energy in them.

However, before embarking upon any such project, it was important to put
one’s house in order first. The DC office was therefore attended to, at priority.

There was no proper waiting area for those who had to visit the DC office for
one task or another. This matter was therefore attended to at priority and a
proper waiting area equipped with necessary facilities such as aluminium
benches, TV, drinking water and toilet facilities was created. The Personal
Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner, who in fact happens to be the face of
the DC office, did not have a proper room either, and used to sit behind a

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