Sialkot Cantonment

Sialkot Cantonment is cantonment area in Sialkot adjacent to city area. It is one of the oldest and most important Cantonments of Pakistan. It was established in 1852 by the British Indian Army. As gleaned from the old records, the Sialkot Cantonment is the precursor of Wazirabad Garrison which stood established for a sojourn from 1849-52. The site of Sialkot Cantonment was chosen by Sir Charles Napier, GCB, the then Commander-in-Chief, in 1851. The Wazirabad Cantonment was vacated and the garrison shifted to “Seealkot Cantt”, as it was then called, where actual occupation was effected in 1852. "Cantt" is an abbreviation for cantonment.

The congenial climate, prospects of meeting military requisites and close proximity to the Jammu and Kashmir state led to the genesis of Sialkot Cantt. The Sialkot Cantonment is primarily flanked by two rivulets called nullas in vernacular i.e. nullah “Palkhu” towards the north and nullah “Bhed” towards the south, both originating from the Indian Kashmir.

It serves as a military base and residential establishment. The civil population of Sialkot Cantonment is approximately 191,000 . The cantonment maintains its own infrastructure of civic facilities and is outside the jurisdiction of Sialkot District Government. Its civic facilities are managed by Sialkot Cantonment Board. Sialkot Cantonment houses two divisions of infantry. There is also a small Sialkot Cantonment Airport in Sialkot Cantt in use by Army aviation.


See also

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Sialkot.

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