Guide
About Sargodha
Sargodha is a city in central Punjab that grew from a canal colony founded by the British in 1903, linked to the Lower Jhelum Canal. It was laid out to a plan, which still shows in its numbered blocks and regular street grid, and is one of a small number of planned cities in the country.
For business, Sargodha is best known as the centre of Pakistan's kinnow (mandarin) industry. Orchards across the district supply processing and packing units in and around the city, and the export season shapes trade, transport and employment every winter. The city is also a service centre for a large agricultural district.
Economy and main industries
Citrus is the defining industry. A 2020 report counted about 160 small and large kinnow processing units in Sargodha and its suburbs, handling washing, waxing, grading and packing for export. Nationally, Pakistan exported about 321,490 tonnes of kinnow in the 2024 season, according to a former chamber president, and Sargodha growers and exporters are the most affected by changes in foreign markets, such as the disruption to shipments to Malaysia in late 2024. The chamber has long pressed for a dry port in the city so that containers can be cleared locally.
Beyond citrus, the city serves the wider farming district with trade in seed, fertiliser, tractors and machinery. PAF Base Mushaf, formerly PAF Base Sargodha and renamed in 2003, and the University of Sargodha on University Road add large numbers of staff and students who sustain retail, housing and food businesses.
Main business areas and markets
Kachehri Bazaar is the traditional main business hub, and together with City Road it has been part of recent development works under the Punjab government's city development programme. Urdu Bazaar, close by, is being converted into a pedestrian market, with a parking area for traders' motorcycles allocated in Block No. 19. Other established markets include Liaquat Market, where bicycle, lubricant and parts dealers trade, Faisal Bazaar, Amin Bazaar, Karkhana Bazaar and the shops in Block No. 2 and around Gol Chowk.
Newer commercial activity has spread to Satellite Town, University Road, Club Road and Fatima Jinnah Road, where offices, clinics, restaurants and branded outlets are common. Civil Lines and Cantt hold government offices and institutions, while Faisalabad Road, Lahore Road and Jhal Chakian serve as the main approaches carrying showrooms, workshops and warehouses.
The kinnow export trade
Each export season, packing houses take on seasonal labour and demand rises for transport, cartons, wax and packaging materials. Exporters are exposed to conditions in buyer countries: a restriction imposed in November 2024 left shipments held at Malaysian ports until the chamber took the matter up with Malaysia's High Commission and the commerce ministry. The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan has held citrus shows to promote the crop abroad, and the government has planned a citrus centre for the area.
Finding businesses in Sargodha
People commonly look for kinnow exporters and processors, packaging suppliers, transporters, agricultural machinery dealers, schools and colleges, hospitals and property dealers. PakistanYP lets you filter results by locality, such as Satellite Town or University Road.
Frequently asked questions
What is the area code for Sargodha?
The telephone area code is 048, or +92 48 from abroad.
Why is Sargodha known for kinnow?
The district has extensive citrus orchards, and around 160 processing units in and near the city prepare kinnow for export, making it the centre of the trade in Pakistan.
Which is the main market in Sargodha?
Kachehri Bazaar is the traditional main business hub, with Urdu Bazaar, Liaquat Market and the block markets close by.
Is there a chamber of commerce in Sargodha?
Yes. The Sargodha Chamber of Commerce and Industry represents local traders and exporters and is active on citrus export issues.