Layyah

This article is about the city. For the district named for it, see Layyah District. For other uses, see Layyah (disambiguation).

Layyah (Saraiki and Urdu: ليّہ), previously spelled as Leiah, is a city in Layyah District of Punjab province of Pakistan.^[2] The city is the headquarter of Layyah District and Layyah Tehsil. It is the 75th most populous city of Pakistan.^[3]

Layyah ليّہ Leiah
City
Layyah Railway Station in c. 2015
Layyah Show map of Punjab, Pakistan Layyah Show map of Pakistan
Coordinates: 30°57′55″N 70°56′38″E
Country	Pakistan
Province	Punjab
Division	Dera Ghazi Khan
District	Layyah
Area
• Metro	6,291 km2 (2,429 sq mi)
Elevation	143 m (469 ft)
Population  (2023)[1]
• City	151,274
• Rank	76th, Pakistan
Time zone	UTC+5 (PST)
Postal code	31200
Calling code	0606
Number of towns	1
Number of Union councils	36
Website	layyah.punjab.gov.pk

The main languages spoken in the city include Saraiki, Punjabi, and Urdu.

Geography

It lies between 30–45 to 31–24 degree north latitudes and 70–44 to 71–50 degree east longitudes. The area consists of a semi-rectangular block of sandy land between the Indus River and the Chenab River in Sindh Sagar Doab. Layyah is situated at an average elevation of 143 m above sea level. The total area covered by the district is 6,291 km² with a width from east to west of 88 km and a length from north to south of 72 km.^{[citation needed]}

History

The town was founded around 1550 by Kamal Khan Mirani, a member of Baloch Mirani dynasty and a direct descendant of Ghazi Khan Mirani, who laid the foundation of Dera Ghazi Khan.^[4] The region was part of Multan province of Mughal Empire.^[5] Around 1610, the town was taken from the Mirani rulers by the Jaskani Balochs, who held it until 1787. Abdun Nabi Sarai was appointed Governor by Timur Shah Durrani, but three years later, it was included in the Governorship of Muhammad Khan Sadozai, who transferred his seat of Government to Mankera. Pathans also settled the land during the Abdali era of Jahan Khan who was the chief of Durrani forces in the region.^[6]

In 1794, Humayun Shah, the rival claimant to the throne of Kabul, was captured near Layyah and brought into the town, where his eyes were gouged out by order of Zaman Shah. Under the Sikh Government, the town once more became the centre of administration for the neighbouring tract, and after the British occupation in 1849, was for a time the headquarters of a Civil Administrative Division. This administrative status of Layyah was short-lived and the British reduced it to the level of Tehsil headquarters, making it a part of Dera Ismail Khan. In 1901, Layyah was transferred to the new District of Mianwali. Later on, it was made part of the Muzaffargarh District. In 1982, Layyah Tehsil was upgraded to District headquarters comprising three Tehsils: Layyah, Karor and Chaubara. The municipality was created in 1875.^[7]

In February 2025, a branch of Pak Tea House, a literary centre, was established in the city.^[8]

Demographics

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1951	14,913	—
1961	19,608	+2.77%
1972	33,549	+5.00%
1981	51,482	+4.87%
1998	72,319	+2.02%
2017	126,055	+2.97%
2023	151,274	+3.09%
Sources:[9]

According to 2023 census, Layyah had a population of 151,274.^[10][11]

Notable people

• Lala Harkishen Lal (d. 1937), Indian industrialist and co-founder of Punjab National Bank
• Munir Malik (1934–2012), Pakistani cricketer
• Mahar Ijaz Ahmad Achlana (b. 1966), Pakistani politician and former member of Provincial Assembly of the Punjab
• Jalat Khan (b. 1999), Pakistani domestic cricketer
• Mehr Abdul Haq (1915–1995), Pakistani philologist
• Mohinder Pratap Chand (1935–2020), Indian writer and poet
• Hassan Nawaz, Pakistani international cricketer

See also

• Chowk Azam
• Multan