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D Ground ڈی گراؤنڈ
Commercial District / Urban Neighborhood
A KFC in D Ground
Country	Pakistan
Province	Punjab
District	Faisalabad
Established	mid-1950s
Government
• Type	Faisalabad Development Authority
Area
• Total	0.0332 km2 (0.0128 sq mi)
Time zone	PKT (UTC+5)
Postal code	38000
Website	https://www.dgroundfaisalabad.pk

D Ground (Punjabi, Urdu: ڈی گراؤنڈ [dɪ ɡɾaʊnd]) is the primary commercial and civic center of Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.^[1][2] The area is named for its distinctive D-shaped layout. Originally designed as a multifunctional public space combining commerce and social congregation, it has developed into the city's central business district and de facto town square.

The site has expanded from an informal market settlement. Its development under municipal planning transformed it into an organized hub of commercial activity and public life, and it is frequently cited in studies of urban planning and design in Pakistan.

The name "D Ground" originates from its distinctive D-shaped layout, a design implemented to bring order and functionality to the area. The curved boundary delineates two main sections: one houses the Radio Pakistan Faisalabad Station, a notable institution for broadcasting and public communication; the other consists of landscaped green space, providing a recreational area amidst the surrounding commercial and residential density.^[3]

This layout demonstrates municipal planning principles aimed at balancing public infrastructure with environmental amenities. The maintained lawns and pathways reflect historical urban design approaches from the city's development period. Consequently, D Ground is regarded as a significant commercial, civic, and urban planning landmark within Faisalabad.

Following the Partition of British India in 1947, the city of Lyallpur—later renamed Faisalabad—underwent rapid transformation. The arrival of a significant number of Muslim migrants from the eastern districts of the former Punjab province altered its demographics and urban character. The city, previously noted for its planned layout, adapted to substantial population growth.

To address the urgent need for housing, the Government of West Pakistan initiated planned urban expansion. This program emphasized public sanitation, organized plot distribution, and systematic road networks, reflecting the continuing influence of earlier urban planning principles. A primary outcome of this initiative was the establishment of People’s Colony, Faisalabad, a residential area designed to provide orderly housing and civic infrastructure during the post-Partition period.

In line with the broader urban planning strategy for the new residential area, D Ground was designed as its commercial and recreational center. Its layout was executed with intentionality, echoing the original British Raj-era plan for Lyallpur (now Faisalabad), which was centered on the Clock Tower and its eight bazaars. Planners created wide, straight roads to facilitate traffic and commerce, while included open spaces and walkways were intended to provide relief from urban density. Plot allocation was carefully managed to ensure residents had access to civic institutions, markets, and recreational facilities. Significant emphasis was placed on public health, with provisions for drainage and waste management that reflected contemporary municipal standards.

In summary, D Ground was conceived as a comprehensive commercial and civic precinct, demonstrating urban planning principles of order and public amenity that characterized mid-20th century development in the region.

Over the ensuing decades, D Ground has undergone a notable urban transformation. What was once a modest precinct, predominantly occupied by local merchants and small, often family-operated shops, has now developed into a thriving central business district of significant importance. Modernity is readily apparent in the proliferation of branded establishments, multi-story shopping complexes, and a wealth of dining venues catering to an increasingly cosmopolitan clientele—an enduring testament to the city’s industrious character and its adaptation to contemporary commercial trends in the aftermath of partition.

The thoroughfares of D Ground are now frequently traversed by a diverse populace, while its open squares serve not only as spaces for trade but also as gathering points for civic engagement, where the citizenry partakes in both recreation and sociocultural exchange. In this regard, the district has evolved beyond its original commercial function, becoming a center of public life and a tangible representation of Faisalabad’s emerging urban identity and prosperity.

In subsequent decades, D Ground has undergone considerable development. Beginning from an area of local merchants and small-scale retail, it has become a primary central business district for Faisalabad. The area is now characterized by the presence of national retail chains, multi-story shopping centers, and numerous restaurants, reflecting broader post-partition economic trends and the city's commercial growth.

Its streets now accommodate substantial pedestrian and vehicular traffic, while its open spaces function as venues for commerce, recreation, and public gatherings. Consequently, D Ground serves a dual role as a major commercial hub and a focal point for public life in the city.

In many respects, the development of D Ground reflects the broader urban transformation of Faisalabad from a planned British Raj-era agricultural centre into a major industrial city. Founded in the late 19th century as Lyallpur for the collection and distribution of agricultural produce, the city expanded significantly in population and economic scope during the 20th century, with D Ground emerging as a notable element of this growth.

While the city's historic core, organised around the Clock Tower, Faisalabad, remains a centre for traditional commerce and public activity, D Ground represents a subsequent phase of planned urban expansion. This area is distinguished by its wider roads, designated commercial plots, and integrated civic infrastructure.

The contrast between the organic layout of the old city and the geometric plan of D Ground illustrates the shift in the city's urban planning approach, from its colonial mercantile foundations towards a more structured modern urban form.