Vehari

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Vehari is a city in the Punjab province of Pakistan and the headquarters of Vehari District. It is the 62nd largest city in the country, with about 130,000 people living there.

Where it is and how you get there
Vehari lies along the Multan–Delhi road and is near the Sutlej River. It’s about 96 km from Multan and 300 km from Lahore. Islam Headworks on the Sutlej provides irrigation water to the area, supporting farming on both sides of the river.

What the city is like
The region is mainly agricultural. Cotton is a major crop, and there are many cotton processing factories and cottonseed oil mills. Sugarcane is grown and processed as well. In summer, mangoes are common; in winter, guava and other citrus fruits are popular.

Climate
Vehari has very hot summers and cool winters. Summer temperatures often reach 45–50°C, while winter temperatures range from about 5–21°C. Rainfall is light and often inconsistent, making the area quite arid most of the year.

History and administration
Vehari District was created in 1976, separating from Multan District. The area has a long history that includes ancient and medieval empires. Today, local government is led by a administrator/deputy commissioner.

Education
Vehari hosts two full university campuses and several colleges. COMSATS University, Vehari Campus has offered programs since 2009, and the Virtual University Campus has operated there since 2001. The Education University campus is another major institution, and other universities have sub-campuses in the city. The area is home to many higher secondary schools and private colleges as well.

Transport
The city sits on a northern railway and road route between Multan and Lahore, with a southern route nearby. A newer motorway improved connections to the north. Pakpattan, a nearby town on the way to Lahore, is known for the shrine of the Sufi saint Baba Farid.