About Faridkot

With the blessings of Suffi Saint Baba Sheikh Farid, Faridkot came in to existence in 1215 A.D. Earlier it was known as Mokhalhar ruled by Raja Mokalse who was impressed with the miracles of Baba Farid, which lead to the change of the name of the city. Present Faridkot District came into existence in 1972 from the area of District Bathinda. In Nov. 1995 Faridkot district was trifurcated into districts of Faridkot, Moga and Muktsar. At present Faridkot district has an area of 1453 square kilometers consisting 176 villages and three cities Faridkot, Kotkapura and Jaitu.

Faridkot is represented by all major regional political parties of the state, but Akalies and Congress have strong hold in the area. During last assembly elections Akali Dal Badal won all the three assembly seats of the district but parliamentary seat of Faridkot was won by Sukhbir Singh Badal of the S.A.D (Badal)party. After drive against corruption by the Congress Govt., public opinion changed in favour of Congress resulting in winning of 143 out of 174 panchayats with thumping majority . It is pertinent to mention here that Late Giani Zail Singh, former President of India belonged to this district, whose political background was also Congress. Late Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru former Prime Minister of India was also arrested and locked-up in the Police Station Jaitu during freedom struggle in the year 1923.

Border of district Faridkot joins with District Bathinda, Muktsar, Ferozepur and Moga. The district is 30 km. from Indo-Pakistan border towards Ferozepur side. Northern railway line of Bathinda-Jaitu-Kotkapura-Faridkot-Ferozepur and national highway No. 15 are important rail and road routes passing through the district. Sirhind feeder, Indira Gandhi Canal and Ganga canal pass through the area of this district.

This Faridkot has a very large number of educational institutions as Govt. Barjindra college, college of educational training, . Guru Gobind Singh medical college, I.T.I., Dashmesh Dental College, Baba Farid University of health sciences and Adesh Engineering Institute. Inspite of number of educational institutes, illiteracy is still prevailing in the rural areas of the district.

There is also headquarter of two army brigades 16th and 33 artillery and, one unit of Border Security Force with its headquarter situated at Talwandi road Faridkot. Faridkot is Division headquarter with the offices of Commissioner Faridkot Division, Faridkot and Inspector General of Police, Ferozepur Zone, Faridkot.

The main occupation of the people is agriculture. The three cities are dependent on agriculture for their business, and agriculture products are major items of their trade. The layer of the ground water of this district is saline and is not fit for irrigation and domestic use. Earlier this district was known as "Cotton Belt" of the area, but American bull worm and water logging badly damaged the cotton cultivation in this area for the last many years.

To maintain Law & Order Faridkot District has been divided into two sub-divisions Faridkot and Kotkapura, six regular Police Stations i.e. City Faridkot, Sadar Faridkot, Sadiq, City Kotkapura , Sadar Kotkapura, Jaitu and three temp. Police Posts i.e. PP Bargari, PP Bajakhana and PP Golewala.