Rapid Urban Growth and Change in Urban and Municipal Limits of Bahawalpur City, Pakistan: A Spatio-Periodical Discourse
Pages 528-538
Muhammad Mohsin and Muhammad Nasar-u-minAllah Bhalli

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2015.11.70

Published: 29 September 2015

Abstract: Cities all around the world being crowded rapidly with accelerating urban growth and resultant urbanization particularly in developing countries. Currently, Bahawalpur City is also experiencing rapid urban growth and change in its urban and municipal limits. Therefore, the key objectives of this research were to overview the urban population growth with passage of time, expansion in urban area and resultant delimitations in municipal limits of the city. Data about population figures and spatial change have been derived from various sources including census reports, Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA), Punjab Development statistics etc. Periodical urban growth of the city is divided into four phases characterized with notable events that geared up the urban growth; particularly the last phase has brought more rapid changes. The population of the city is also surging rapidly. Urban area of Bahawalpur City was extended from 4,308.40 acres in 1974 to 7,373.9 acres in 2010, and had caused substantial reduction in agricultural land area and significant addition in residential area. Resultantly, City’s municipal limits also have been altered and reclassified due to this urban stress and extended enormously with considerable fluctuations in agricultural and non-agricultural land area. Presently, City is continuously expanding outward, mostly in the form of housing colonies, roads, shops etc.

Keywords: Urban growth, municipal limits, agricultural land area, Bahawalpur

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