Chaklala, Rawalpindi

Chaklala چک لالہ کنٹونمنٹ
Town
Chaklala Cantonment
Chaklala
Coordinates: 33°36′00″N 73°06′20″E / 33.60000°N 73.10556°E / 33.60000; 73.10556
Country	Pakistan
Province	Punjab
District	Rawalpindi District
Union Council	Chaklala
Elevation	487 m (1,598 ft)
Population  (2017)
• Total	407,952
• Estimate  (2017)	407,952
Time zone	UTC+5 (PST)
Postal code	46200
Calling code	051
Website	www.ccb.gov.pk

Chaklala is a major suburban town of Rawalpindi in the Punjab province of Pakistan.

It is situated astride the Airport Road, to the east of Grand Trunk Road on the main railway line. The town has its own railway station Chaklala Railway Station which is located less than 1 kilometer away from Benazir Bhutto International Airport.^[1]

Chaklala is under the municipal administration of Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) which provides water, sewage treatment and road improvements in the area along with maintaining parks and green areas. This is separate from the other two municipal authorities i.e Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) and Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation which make up the metropolitan city of Rawalpindi

The area also has modern housing schemes namely Gulzar-e-Quaid, Chaklala Housing Schemes I, II & III, Askari - I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VIII, IX, X & XII with a rapidly diminishing rural area.

There is a large commercial market situated in Chaklala Scheme III which is the major shopping area for all the residents in Chaklala. The market comprises a lot of restaurants and shopping areas and a hang out spot for the younger people. There is also a cinema and retail complex located in Jinnah Park on the airport road which is another area where residents venture out during evenings.

Chaklala has a population of around 407,952 according to the latest 2017 census.

The major ethnic groups in the area are Potohari, Punjabis and Pashtuns. A large number of Kashmiris have also settled in the area after independence in 1947. Since Chaklala is a major army garrison and an airforce base as well, a large number of military families are also housed here from all over Pakistan. Chaklala Airforce Base provides strategic transport to Pakistan's political and military leadership.^[1]

The Chaklala Cantonment is a principle military installation located in Rawalpindi District in Punjab, Pakistan. The Joint Staff Headquarters (JS HQ), together with the Army GHQ PAF Base Nur Khan, are currently headquartered in the Chaklala cantonment.^[2] Most of the military facilities, buildings, mobility support workshops have built by the British Army and the Royal Air Force during times of India under British monarchy.^[2] In 2002, the Ministry of Defence had split the Chaklala from larger Rawalpindi Cantonment to improve security around the Army GHQ and provide better administration among the military headquarters of the Pakistani military. Before 2002, Rawalpindi Cantonment was the largest of all cantonments in Pakistan which was creating administrative problems in providing municipal services due to rapid urban growth.

Chaklala Airbase, recently re-named as PAF Base Nur Khan, is an important air base of the Pakistan Air Force. The headquarters of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Pakistan are located in the high-security Pakistan Army garrison.^[2][1]

Grand Trunk Road (N-5) passes through the area.

This major route connects the area with the city center of Rawalpindi and provides a route to the capital city of Islamabad. It extends from the Ammar Shaheed Chowk Roundabout to the Koraal Chowk/Koraal Chowk Intersection. The Benazir Bhutto International Airport and the adjacent Pakistan Air Force Base Chaklala are located along this road. It is a modern six-lane road. Two fly-overs have been constructed to reduce the load of traffic at the busiest sections of the road, closer to the Ammar Shaheed Chowk Roundabout (2009) and at Koral Chowk (2017), respectively. The route serves as the main artery connecting the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.^[1]

It runs along the western perimeter of the Benazir Bhutto International Airport. The road connects the busy traffic arteries of Benazir Bhutto Road alternatively known as Murree Road and Airport Road. It is a newly carpeted four-lane road.

Railway line of Pakistan Railways passes through the town. The area has a railway station, the Chaklala Railway Station.^[1] An associated strategic dry port, the Chaklala Dry Port, handles cargo trains.

Benazir Bhutto International Airport is an important landmark of the area, located at Chaklala which is technically a part of Rawalpindi.^[1]

In 2006, Jinnah Park (Urdu: جناح پارک) was inaugurated in Chaklala and has since become a hotspot of activity for the city of Rawalpindi. It houses a state-of-the-art cinema, Cinepax,^[3] a Metro Cash and Carry supermart, an outlet of McDonald's, gaming lounges, Motion Rides and other recreational facilities. The vast lawns also provide an adequate picnic spot.^[4][5]

Pakistan Television Corporation's Islamabad Centre was initially set up at Chaklala before it was shifted to its present location in Islamabad.^[6]

• Army Public School & College For Boys Chaklala Garrison
• Army Public School & College For Girls Chaklala Garrison
• Joint Staff Public School and College, Chaklala
• FG Quaid-e-Azam Public School
• Pakistan Air Force College Chaklala (PAF Base Chaklala)^[7]
• Fazaia Intermediate College, Chaklala (PAF Base Chaklala)
• Fazaia Intermediate College, Jinnah Camp, Chaklala (Khanna Road)
• Bilquis College of Education for Women (Mujahida Academy)
• Army Public School and College (FWO campus), Gracy Lines, Chaklala
• FG Boys High School, Gracy Lines, Chaklala
• FG Girls High School, Gracy Lines, Chaklala
• Fauji Foundation Model School, Chaklala
• Sir Syed Science College, Chaklala
• Allied Schools, Chaklala
• Army Public School
• JS Public School
• FG Public School
• Army Public School
• Government Degree College For Women
• The Educators School System, Airport Road Campus