THAL DESERT
The Thal desert Urdu, Punjabi: is situated in Punjab, Pakistan. It is vast
area mainly between the Jhelum and Sindh rivers near the Pothohar Plateau. Its
total length from north to south is 190 miles, and its maximum breadth is 70
miles 110 km while minimum breadth is 20 miles. This region is divided into the
districts of Bhakkar, Khushab, Mianwali, Jhang, Layyah, and Muzaffargarh. Its
part in Jhang is on the left bank of the river Jhelum. Geographically, it
resembles the deserts of Cholistan and Thar. Main towns of Thal are Murshid
Abad Shareef, Roda Thal, Mankera, Hyderabad Thal, Dullewala, Mehmood Shaheed,
Shah Wala, Shahi Shumali, Piplan, Kundian, Chowk Azam, Sarai Muhajir, Jiasal,
Rangpur, Adhi Kot, Jandanaala, Mari Shah Sakhira, Noorpur Thal, Kapahi,
Goharwala,Mahni.The history of the Thal Canal Project goes back to over 130
years. It was in 1873 that the project was first conceived for the whole of
Thal Doab. The proposal to irrigate this area was repeatedly brought up for
discussion in 1919, 1921, 1924, 1925, 1936 and in 1949. It was however
repeatedly shelved because of the argument that it would severely hurt the
water availability to the lower riparians. The project proposal once again came
under discussion in 1975 when the Executive Committee of National Economic
Council ECNECrefused to endorse the project. Finally, on August 16, 2001,
General Rtd Pervez Musharraf, as President of Pakistan, inaugurated the
30-billion rupee Greater Thal Canal GTC project.The local language of the Thal
Desert is the Saraiki also known as Thalochi dialect of Saraiki Language. The
people here live mainly in houses constructed of mud.The area remains lacking
in basic facilities such as electricity. The people of Thal are hospitable, and
are generally religious. Grams are produced in this desert and sent all across
Pakistan. People go to shrines and Peers to ask for prayers.In some areas
people started installing Tube well to water their crops.Main tribes of people
living in this desert region include the Ghullo,Wahla Jutt, Rajpoot, Panwaar,
Saigra, Khokhar, Cheenna, Sandhila jutt, Naich Jutt, Aheer, Bhachar, Johiya,
Mammak, Chhina,Kulachi Baloch, Baloch, Tiwana, Sial, Baghoor, Awans, Rahdari,
Uttra Jutt, Bhullar, Lashari, Kanyal, Jhammat, Gahi Malik, mehr, Waghra Aulakh,
Majoka, Magsi and Pushia. Before the partition of India in 1947 there was a
large Sikh and Hindu Population. Karlu Jutt.
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