OKARA

city, Punjab province, east-central Pakistan. In 1869 it became the headquarters of the tahsil (subdivision) of Okara, supplanting Gugera as headquarters. A flourishing industrial and commercial trade centre, Okara is situated on the Sahiwal-Lahore road and railway 24 miles (39 km) northeast of Sahiwal. There are several textile, hosiery, carpet, and grain mills located there. Okara is also the site of a national military dairy farm and Livestock Research Centre and has a government college affiliated with the University of Punjab. Because of industrial growth, Okara has developed into a modern city with paved roads, small gardens, and an up-to-date drainage system. Pop. (1981) 153,483.