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.