FIROZPUR

also spelled Ferozepore city, southwestern Punjab state, northwestern India, 5 miles (8 km) from the Pakistani border. Firozpur was founded by Firuz Shah Tughluq in the 14th century; it fell under British rule in 1835. It became a British outpost and was involved in the First Sikh War (184546). The city, lying at a major junction of Indian and Pakistani rail lines, is a trade centre and agricultural market. It is a walled city encompassed by a circular road, with wide, well-paved main streets. Its industries include processing of agricultural products, manufacturing, weaving, and the making of confections. The city has several colleges. A cantonment 2 miles (3.2 km) south contains the district administration and other offices and an airfield. The surrounding region consists of level alluvial terrain crisscrossed by irrigation canals, which are necessary because of the semiarid climate. Principal crops are wheat, cotton, gram (chick-pea), oilseed, and millet. Pop. (1991 prelim.) city, 77,505.