Bahawalpur (also known as Bhawalpur), city in eastern Pakistan, in Punjab Province, near the Sutlej River. The city is located favorably for commerce, lying at the junction of trade routes from the east, southeast, and south. It is a center for trade in wheat, cotton, millet, and rice grown in the surrounding region. Dates and mangoes are also grown here. Canals furnish water for irrigation. The principal industries are cotton ginning, rice and flour milling, and handweaving of textiles. Islamia University (1975) is in Bahawalpur. Population (1981) 180,263.
