Bahawalpur - Definition and Overview

Bahawalpur is a city of Pakistan (1998 pop. 403,408) located in the Punjab just south of the Sutlej River, formerly the capital of a Princely state of the same name. For the State (including its philately), see Bahawalpur State.

The city was founded in 1748 by Muhammad Bahawal Khan Abbasi I, whose descendants ruled the area, until it joined Pakistan in 1947.

It is a crossroads city, having the only railroad bridge over the Sutlej. The surrounding area is mostly agricultural, and the city is a market town for dates, wheat, sugarcane, and cotton. In addition, it has soap making and cotton spinning factories, as well as enterprises producing silk and cotton textiles, carpets, and pottery.

The Islamia University is located in Bahawalpur.