Total population
4,284,964 2023 Census
Bahawalpur District
Bahawalpur District, located in southern Punjab, is a historically rich, 24,830 km² administrative region known as the former princely state seat founded in 1748. Centered around a city of palaces (including Noor Mahal) and 6 tehsils, it is the largest district in Punjab, comprising the vast Cholistan Desert and major agricultural lands.
Basic information
Total area
24,830 km²
Administrative units
6 tehsils · 109 union councils · 714 rural (plus 22 urban administrative areas) villages
Administrative scale
Indicators
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Total population (2023 Census) | 4,284,964 |
| Tehsils | 6 |
| Union councils | 109 |
| Villages | 714 rural (plus 22 urban administrative areas) |
| Total area | 24,830 km² |
| Schools | 1,662 |
| Colleges | 24 |
| Hospitals | 1 DHQ · 4 THQ · 1 Civil |
| Police stations | 25 (6 circles) |
Educational institutions
| Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Schools | 1,662 |
| Colleges | 24 |
Hospitals
| Facility type | Count |
|---|---|
| DHQ Hospital | 1 |
| THQ Hospitals | 4 |
| Civil Hospital | 1 |
Police stations (by circle)
| Circle | Stations |
|---|---|
| City Bahawalpur Circle | 5 |
| Saddar Bahawalpur Circle | 4 |
| Ahmadpur East Circle | 7 |
| Yazman Circle | 4 |
| Hasilpur Circle | 3 |
| Khairpur Tamewali Circle | 2 |
| Total | 25 |
National Assembly constituencies
| Constituency | Name (Party) |
|---|---|
| NA-164 Bahawalpur-I | Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, PML-N |
| NA-165 Bahawalpur-II | Tariq Bashir Cheema, PML |
| NA-166 Bahawalpur-III | Makhdoom Syed Sami Ul Hassan Gillani, PML-N |
| NA-167 Bahawalpur-IV | Muhammad Usman Awaisi, PML-N |
| NA-168 Bahawalpur-V | Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar, PML-N |
Provincial Assembly constituencies
| Constituency | Name (Party) |
|---|---|
| PP-245 Bahawalpur-I | Muhammad Kazem Ali Pirzada, PML-N |
| PP-246 Bahawalpur-II | Farzana Khalil, IND |
| PP-247 Bahawalpur-III | Khalid Mahmood Jajja, PML-N |
| PP-248 Bahawalpur-IV | Hassan Askari Sheikh, PML-Q |
| PP-249 Bahawalpur-V | Rafat Ur Rehman Rehmani, PPP |
| PP-250 Bahawalpur-VI | Syed Ali Amir Shah, PPP |
| PP-251 Bahawalpur-VII | Malik Khalid Mehmood Babar, PML-N |
| PP-252 Bahawalpur-VIII | Mian Muhammad Shoaib Owaisi, PML-N |
| PP-253 Bahawalpur-IX | Zaheer Iqbal Channar, PML-N |
| PP-254 Bahawalpur-X | Rana Muhammad Tariq, PML-N |
Priority issues & challenges
1. Road infrastructure
Road infrastructure in Bahawalpur faces major gaps, with poor traffic management, inadequate public transport, and weak connectivity causing delays in mobility and economic activity.
2. Water crisis
Bahawalpur is facing a serious water crisis, particularly in Cholistan, where groundwater scarcity, salinity, and limited access to safe drinking water affect large parts of the population.
3. Health
Healthcare facilities in Bahawalpur are under pressure, as major hospitals serve a district population of about 4.28 million people, creating challenges in access to quality healthcare services.
4. Unemployment
Bahawalpur faces growing employment challenges due to limited industrial development and insufficient job opportunities for its expanding youth population.
5. Environmental challenges
Water contamination, inadequate sewerage systems, and poor waste management continue to create environmental and public health risks across the district.