[10] The modern-day city of Sahiwal was founded in 1865 when a train station was built at the site of a small village on the Karachi-Lahore railway line.

[12] In 1914 construction began of the Lower Bari Doab Canal which now irrigates both the city and the wider region.

[12] During the Partition of India in 1947 the city, being part of Montgomery district, was allocated to Pakistan by the Punjab Boundary Commission.

[13] The climate of Sahiwal district is hot semi arid, reaching 47 °C in summer, and down to 5 °C in winter.

[14] Notable educational institutes of the city include: Sahiwal is twinned with the town of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England.