Page 5 - Muzaffargarh Gazzetteer

about Nawab Muzaffar Khan, the founder of Muzaffargarh. I have therefore compiled the
history primarily from the perspective of Nawab Muzaffar Khan as I believe readers would
be more interested to know who founded their city and how it has evolved thenceforth.
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I may also inform the readers here that this is the 3 gazetteer produced by a deputy
commissioner of Muzaffargarh. The earlier ones were published in 1908 and 1929. An edition
was brought out in 1964 though, yet it had been the work of an Officer on Special Duty (OSD)
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stationed at Multan. I am also happy that this gazetteer has been compiled on the eve of 225
anniversary of the founding of Muzaffargarh. What time could have been better to produce
an updated, informative document than this one?
Also, we have gone a step ahead of our predecessors, and in addition to reviving the tradition
of the deputy commissioners of the pre-partition era, have launched an electronic/online
version too. It would not only satisfy the tastes of newer generations, as the information would
become available in more accessible and searchable form, but would also make the tasks of
updating and producing new editions easier for those who would follow us in office.

I would be miser if I don’t acknowledge the role of one person: Khair Muhammad Budh, a
retired government official, who had served extensively in district administration in various
capacities. He not only kept me motivated but also collected and sifted material from all other
departments.

And then my own family. For many months, I kept on working on this project, and did so by
compromising on the time which was otherwise due for them; and they bore all of this
patiently, as they always do.

And lastly, I would like to thank the Almighty for having enabled my humble self to do a task
in my less than a year’s stay, which any other deputy commissioner posted in Muzaffargarh
has not been able to do in around a century.

Ehtasham Anwar

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