Layyah, city in Punjab, Pakistan
Layyah is a city in southern Punjab, Pakistan, situated between the Indus and Chenab rivers with mostly flat, sandy land surrounding it. The urban layout mixes busy markets with residential areas, where shopping and craft quarters exist side by side as local families go about their daily routines.
The city was founded around 1550 by Kamal Khan Mirani and later developed under various rulers, including the Jaskani Baloch after 1610 and later Sikh and British administration in the 1800s. In 1982 it became a district headquarters and has since served as an administrative center for three smaller tehsils.
Layyah is shaped by Saraiki, Punjabi, and Urdu speakers whose languages reflect the daily life of the city. People use open spaces to exchange news and gather, while markets and tea houses serve as natural meeting points where family and community traditions continue.
Visitors reach the city via two main highways: the Indus Highway N-55 and the Mianwali-Muzaffargarh road. A railway station connects the city to other parts of Pakistan and makes it easy to travel to surrounding villages and towns like Karor and Chaubara.
Near the town stands the shrine of Lal Esan, grandfather of a renowned Sufi saint, who is remembered for reciting a Quran verse millions of times while standing in the Indus River. An annual festival in September continues to draw visitors who celebrate this legacy and remember local traditions.
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