Kotli Loharan

Kotli Loharan is a small town in Sialkot District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is an industrial town in the middle of agricultural tracts below the lower Himalayas. It is divided into two parts: Kotli Loharan West (Laandi [meaning West] Kotli) and Kotli Loharan East (Chardi [meaning East] Kotli).

The people of the town were swordsmiths, and it is said that this village was a kind of a land grant, in recognition of their services. Now the swords are no longer important but surgical instruments still are there. Many kinds of articles for use and ornaments are still made, such as shields and arms, betel-nut cutters, knives, boxes, plates, inkstands, and so on. The material used is iron, and gold and silver are used in inlaying. K. L Industry used to manufacture mine-laying machines, hydraulic jacks and instruments for F-86 aircraft engine maintenance for the Pakistan Army.

In recent years a veterinary hospital, boys and girls colleges, schools and roads have been constructed. Bazars were widened in 2010, fresh water filtration plants were also installed in various locations, streets were cemented, the rural hospital's new building was constructed and upgraded, and ring roads were made.

People from the town are living in Commonwealth countries, the Middle East and the UK. Majority of the original population of this town have moved to the big cities of Pakistan and overseas, especially in Kenya and UK. The current population is a mix of new migrants from Jammu and Kashmir (from the Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948) and the old population.

During the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict, Mehmona Joya a village near the town was targeted in Indian air strikes, claiming to hit a terrorist camp of Hizbul Mujahideen. Pakistan claimed that two missiles struck the village: one misfired and the other landed in an open field, causing no damage.^[1]

The name of this town is derived from the word Kotli Aunchi (high), the old town in K L East, which later become Kotli Loharan. Majority of current population is new migrants from Jammu and Kashmir, that came there after Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948, and some old population.

Supposedly, the town was built or just upgraded, by the British somewhere in the mid-19th century as a weapons and artillery manufacturing town; the principle bladed weapon maker being J D Pensioner & Sons whose name and location in Kotli Loharan E often appears on Nepalese Gurkha kukri and swords.^[2] Most of the original families and residents of the town have moved away to bigger cities in Pakistan, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Lying between 32°35′ North latitude and 74°29′ East longitude at an altitude of 256 m above sea level, the Chenab River flows on the northern side of Kotli Loharan just 10 kilometers from the town. Koti Loharan is cold during winters and hot and humid during summers. May and June are the hottest months. The temperature during winter may drop to 0 °C. The land is, generally, plain and fertile. Most of the rain falls during the Monsoon season in summer. Now the climatic changes have occurred. The summer is getting much hotter than before. The raining has also decreased significantly during the past two years.

Kotli Loharan East is situated in Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan, its geographical coordinates are 32° 34' 50" North, 74° 31' 40" East and its original name is Kotli Lohārān Chardi. Kotli Loharan is right in the middle of Kharoota Sayedaan & Kotli Loharan West (Landi Kotli). Koti Loharan is cold during winters and hot and humid during summers. May and June are the hottest months. The temperature during winter may drop to 0 °C. The land is, generally, plain and fertile. Most of the rain falls during the Monsoon season in summer which often results in flooding. Most of the people in Kotli Loharan are related with the business of manicure and surgical instrument,

The Mohalla (-محلہ ) of Kotli Loharan East areL

1. Hakima (حکیمہ)
2. Rara (رارہ)
3. Kashmiri (کشمیری)
4. Khui (کھوئی)
5. Bullowal (بلووال)
6. Ghallian (گیلیان)
7. Ma'ta'rani (ماتا رانی)
8. Darash (داراش)
9. Chungi (چونگی)
10. Chouhar wali (چوہڑ والی)

In Kotli Loharan East these are:

1. GPO (Pakistan Post Office Branch).
2. Union Council.
3. Wapda Office (Branch).
4. PTCL (Pakistan Telecommunication)
5. Government Hospital.
6. Government High School For Boys.
7. Government High School For Girls.
8. Nadra Office
9. Passport Office
10. Girls College
11. Police Station

Methods include:

• Public Buses
• Shared Taxis and Minibuses
• Rickshaws
• Personal cars & Motorbikes

Local bus services for Kotli Loharan operate from Sialkot's main bus station towards Marala. Kotli Loharan is in the middle of this bus route.

Sialkot International Airport is just 10-15 kilometres from Kotli Loharan East. Sialkot International Airport is the first ever private sector airport of Pakistan managed by SIAL. It is noted for having the longest runway in Pakistan, is located near Sambrial. Direct flights are available from Sialkot International Airport to Karachi, Faisalabad and Kuwait. PIA would start non-stop flight between Sialkot to Manchester and Dubai as well as Hajj flights from Sialkot International Airport in 2008. Emirates is also expected to start its flights in mid 2008 to Dubai. Airblue will operate domestically from Islamabad, Multan and Karachi in mid 2008. There is also a small Sialkot Cantonment Airport in Sialkot Cantt in use by the aviation wing of the Pakistan Army. During 1995-1996 this airport was also used as a public airport by PIA for Helicopter Service from Sialkot to Islamabad.

There are public as well as private schools situated at Kotli Loharan. There are two Govt. Middle Schools separate for boys and girls, Govt. Intermediate College for Girls and Govt. High School for Boys. In addition there are many Montessori and English medium schools and two private girls colleges.

It is one of the oldest high schools of Sialkot District and serves almost 24 villages and towns surrounding of Kolti Loharan.

Govt Hospital There was Rural Health Center (RHC) level hospital situated between Kotli Loharan East and West for easy approach. Since 2015 it has been upgraded to tehsil headquarters hospital with new building and more facilities according.

Private Hospital Zahid hospital is having wide range of specialist doctor.

Clinic Many private clinics & medical store are also providing service to public.

• Sialkot
• Kharota Syedan

• K. Conboy, "Elite Forces of India and Pakistan" ISBN 1-85532-209-9,
• Historical Weather for Sialkot, Pakistan (English). Weatherbase (2008).
• Government of Sialkot (Union Council Kotli Loharan).

• Archived version of Sialkot official website
• Sialkot International Airport website