Bahawalpur (بہاولپور), is a city located in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Bahawalpur is the 11th largest city in Pakistan by population as per the 2017 census with a population of 762,111.
Founded in 1748, Bahawalpur was the capital of the former princely state of Bahawalpur, ruled by the Abbasi family of Nawabs until 1955. The Nawabs left a rich architectural legacy, and Bahawalpur is now known for its monuments dating from that period. The city also lies at the edge of the Cholistan Desert and serves as the gateway to the nearby Lal Suhanra National Park.
Joining Pakistan
British Princely states were given the option to join either Pakistan or India upon withdrawal of British suzerainty in August 1947. The city and the princely state of Bahawalpur acceded to Pakistan on 7 October 1947 under Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi V Bahadur. [citation needed] Following independence, the city’s minority Hindu and Sikh communities largely migrated to India en masse, while Muslim refugees from India settled in the city and surrounding region. The city’s Quaid-e-Azam Medical College was founded in 1971. While much of southern Punjab’s population in Multan support the Pakistan Peoples Party, the region around Bahawalpur is known for its support of the Pakistan Muslim League.
Economy
The main crops for which Bahawalpur is recognised are cotton, sugarcane, wheat, sunflower seeds, rape/mustard seed and rice. Bahawalpur mangoes, citrus, dates and guavas are some of the fruits exported out of the country. Vegetables include onions, tomatoes, cauliflower, potatoes and carrots. Being an expanding industrial city, the government has revolutionised and liberalised various markets allowing the caustic soda, cotton ginning and pressing, flour mills, fruit juices, general engineering, iron and steel re-rolling mills, looms, oil mills, poultry feed, sugar, textile spinning, textile weaving, vegetable ghee and cooking oil industries to flourish.
Demographics
According to the 2017 Census of Pakistan, the city’s population was recorded to have risen to 762,111 from 408,395 in 1998. The Bakhri are a clan found in the Shabr Farid ilaqa of Bahawalpur claiming Rajput origin. They were previously converted to Islam but fearing to return to their Hindu roots they settled down in Multan as weavers.
Sports
Bahawal Stadium or The Bahawalpur Dring Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, home to Bahawalpur Stags. It hosted a sole international match, a test match between Pakistan and India in 1955. Motiullah hockey stadium is in Bahawal Stadium which is used for various national and international hockey tournaments in the country. Aside from the cricket ground, it has a gym and a pool facility for the citizens. There are also great tennis courts which are under the administration of the Bahawalpur tennis club. There is also a 2-kilometer jogging track around the football ground.
Sources: Wikipedia