Bahawalpur

City in Punjab, Pakistan, situated on the Sutlej River 350 km/220 mi southwest of Lahore; population (1998) 408,400, (2007 calc) 600,700. Once the capital of the former Indian princely state of Bahawalpur, it is now an industrial city relying on cotton ginning, rice and flour milling, and the production of hand-woven textiles. Other industries include carpets, oilseed milling, and soap manufacture. A rich agricultural area surrounds the city, irrigated by canals. The Islamia University was established in 1975.

The city was founded in 1748 by Muhammad Bahawal Khan. It has the only railway bridge across the Sutlej River in Pakistan, and is linked by rail to Karachi and Peshawar. As well as Islamia University, Bahawalpur is also the home of Qa'id-e A'zam Medical College and of colleges affiliated to the University of the Punjab. Landmarks include Nur Mahal and Gulzar Mahal, palaces of the nawabs (rulers)of Bahawalpur.