Rahim Yar Khan district is located in Punjab. It was declared as a separate administration district in 1943. The district derives its name from its headquarters Rahim Yar Khan. The previous name of this district was Naushehra which was built in 1875 by Fazal Elahi Halani on the ruins of the ancient Pul-Wadda during the Sumra rule in Sindh. Later Nawab Sadiq Khan-IV of Bahawalpur renamed it after his son Rahim Yar Khan.
The district lies between 27.40' - 29.16' north latitudes and 60.45' - 70.01' east longitudes.
Rahim Yar Khan is bounded on the north by Dera Ghazi Khan district, on the east by Bahawalpur district, on the south by Jasilmir (India) and Ghotki district of Sindh province and on the west by Rajanpur district.
This district is divided into three main physical features i.e. (a) Riverine area. (b) Canal irrigated area and (c) Desert area which is called Cholistan. The Riverine area of the district lies close on the southern side of the Indus river mainly falling in the river bed. The canal irrigated area lies on the South and is separated by main Minchan Bund. The approximate height of the irrigated area is 150 to 200 meters above the sea level. The third part of the area called Cholistan lies in the south of the irrigated tract up to the Indo-Pak border. The surface of the desert consists of a succession of sand dunes rising at places to a height of 150 metres and covered with the vegetation peculiar to sandy tracts.
The climate of the district is hot and dry in the summer and cold and dry in the winter. The summer season is comparatively longer. It starts in April and continues till October. The winter season goes from November to March. However, the months of March and November are pleasant. Dust storms are frequent during summer season. The average rain fall is about 100 millimetres. General Description Of The District Rahim Yar Khan
The total area of the district is 11,880 square kilometres. The district comprises four Tehsils namely Rahim yar Khan, Sadiqabad, Liaqatpur and Khanpur. There are three municipal committees and five town committees in the district. All the Tehsils are Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA).
The flora of the district characterizes two major ecological divisions, northern and southern. The botanical life found in the northern half identifies itself with that of the rest of the irrigated tracts at central Punjab . There had been considerable increase in the cultivated area, factors such as water logging and salinity have badly hit plant life and with the increase of salinity at the surface only the salt resistant plants can survive in most of the area. The southern area of the district is characterized by sand dunes, more or less barren of vegetation except in the rainy season. The bulk of the vegetation consists of stunted, thorny or prickly shrubs and perennial herbs capable of withstanding drought. Most of the vegetation grows in open clump formations with plenty of vacant spaces between them. Distinctly scattered trees of stunted growth are found along the depressions technically known as desert scrub.
The arid land, generally referred to as the Cholistan desert, has a lot of wild life. Wild cats, the Chinkara deer, a variety of pigs, jackals, foxes, badgers, porcupines, squirrels, gerbils, wild rats, mongeese, poisonous snakes, hog deer, blue bulls, ravine deer, sand grouse, wild lizards, wild egrets are among many other creatures are found in the district.
Generally there is a little rainfall and at times almost none.
Location
The district lies between 27.40' - 29.16' north latitudes and 60.45' - 70.01' east longitudes.
Boundaries
Rahim Yar Khan is bounded on the north by Dera Ghazi Khan district, on the east by Bahawalpur district, on the south by Jasilmir (India) and Ghotki district of Sindh province and on the west by Rajanpur district.
Physical features & topography
This district is divided into three main physical features i.e. (a) Riverine area. (b) Canal irrigated area and (c) Desert area which is called Cholistan. The Riverine area of the district lies close on the southern side of the Indus river mainly falling in the river bed. The canal irrigated area lies on the South and is separated by main Minchan Bund. The approximate height of the irrigated area is 150 to 200 meters above the sea level. The third part of the area called Cholistan lies in the south of the irrigated tract up to the Indo-Pak border. The surface of the desert consists of a succession of sand dunes rising at places to a height of 150 metres and covered with the vegetation peculiar to sandy tracts.
Weather
The climate of the district is hot and dry in the summer and cold and dry in the winter. The summer season is comparatively longer. It starts in April and continues till October. The winter season goes from November to March. However, the months of March and November are pleasant. Dust storms are frequent during summer season. The average rain fall is about 100 millimetres. General Description Of The District Rahim Yar Khan
Area
The total area of the district is 11,880 square kilometres. The district comprises four Tehsils namely Rahim yar Khan, Sadiqabad, Liaqatpur and Khanpur. There are three municipal committees and five town committees in the district. All the Tehsils are Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA).
Flora
The flora of the district characterizes two major ecological divisions, northern and southern. The botanical life found in the northern half identifies itself with that of the rest of the irrigated tracts at central Punjab . There had been considerable increase in the cultivated area, factors such as water logging and salinity have badly hit plant life and with the increase of salinity at the surface only the salt resistant plants can survive in most of the area. The southern area of the district is characterized by sand dunes, more or less barren of vegetation except in the rainy season. The bulk of the vegetation consists of stunted, thorny or prickly shrubs and perennial herbs capable of withstanding drought. Most of the vegetation grows in open clump formations with plenty of vacant spaces between them. Distinctly scattered trees of stunted growth are found along the depressions technically known as desert scrub.
Fauna
The arid land, generally referred to as the Cholistan desert, has a lot of wild life. Wild cats, the Chinkara deer, a variety of pigs, jackals, foxes, badgers, porcupines, squirrels, gerbils, wild rats, mongeese, poisonous snakes, hog deer, blue bulls, ravine deer, sand grouse, wild lizards, wild egrets are among many other creatures are found in the district.
Rainfall
Generally there is a little rainfall and at times almost none.
