FEROZEPUR or FIROZPUR, a town and district of British India, in the Punjab. The town is a railway junction, and is situated about 4 m. from the present south bank of the Sutlej. Pop. (1931) 64,634. The arsenal is the largest in India, and Ferozepur is the headquarters of a brigade. British rule was first established at Ferozepur in 1835, when, on the failure of heirs to the Sikh family who possessed it, a small territory 86 m. in extent became an escheat to the British government, and the present district has been gradually formed around this nucleus. The strategic importance of Ferozepur was at this time very great; and when, in 1839, Captain (afterwards Sir Henry) Lawrence took charge of the station as political officer, it was the outpost of British India in the direction of the Sikh power. Ferozepur ac cordingly became the scene of operations during the first Sikh War. The Sikhs crossed the Sutlej in December 1845, and were defeated successively at Mudki, Ferozeshah, Aliwal and Sobraon, after which they withdrew into their own territory, and peace was concluded at Lahore. At the time of the Mutiny an unsuc cessful attempt was made to seize the magazine, which was held by the Europeans.
Ferozepur has rapidly advanced in material prosperity of late years, and is now a very important seat of commerce, trade being mainly in grain.
The DISTRICT OF FEROZEPUR comprises an area of 4,290 sq.m. and had in 1931 a population of 1,156,732. The surface is level, with the exception of a few sand-hills in the south and south-east. The country consists of two distinct tracts, that liable to annual fertilizing inundations from the Sutlej, and the upland tract. The only river is the Sutlej, which runs along the north-western boundary. The principal crops are wheat, barley, millet, gram, pulses, oil-seeds, cotton, tobacco, etc. The other important towns and seats of commerce are Fazilka (pop. 13,829), Dharmkot Moga (14,145), and Muktsar (10,539). Owing principally to the dryness of its climate, Ferozepur has the reputation of being an exceptionally healthy district. In September and October, however, after the annual rains, the people suffer a good deal from remittent fever. The district is watered by the Sirhind canal and by canals from the Sutlej ; known as the Grey canals from their original founder Col. Grey. These latter have now been merged in the Lower Sutlej Irrigation Scheme.