Kharian
کھارِیاں | |
---|---|
Nickname: Little Norway | |
Coordinates: 32°48′39″N 73°51′53″E / 32.81083°N 73.86472°E | |
Country | Pakistan |
Province | Punjab |
Division | Gujrat |
District | Gujrat |
Elevation | 263 m (863 ft) |
Population | |
• City | 103,036 |
Demonym | Kharians |
Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
Calling code | 0537 |
Highways | N-5 M-12 |
Kharian (Punjabi, Urdu: کھارِیاں), is a city in Gujrat District, as well as the Gujrat Division of the Punjab Province of Pakistan. It is the headquarters of Kharian Tehsil (sub-district). As of 2023 Kharian is the second largest Tehsil in the Gujrat Division (after Gujrat itself with a population of 1,174,935. Gujrat Division
The city is known as Little Norway of Pakistan because more than 70 percent of Pakistanis in Norway belong to this area.[3][4]
Kharian is known for its agriculture and large expatriate population. Many residents have migrated to Gulf countries and Europe in search of better financial opportunities, and the remittances they send back make up a significant portion of the tehsil's income. This influx of funds is one of the main reasons Kharian is often regarded as the wealthiest tehsil of Pakistan.[5] Additionally, people from other regions of Pakistan move to Kharian seeking employment, filling the labour gap left by those who have moved abroad.[6]