Lahore لاہور
—  City District  —
The Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore
Emblem
Location within Pakistan
Coordinates: 31°32′59″N 74°20′37″E / 31.54972, 74.34361
Country	Pakistan
Province	Punjab
City District Government	14th August 2001
Towns	9
Government
- Type	City District
- City Nazim	Mian Amer Mehmood (PML (Q))
- Naib Nazim	Muhammad Idrees Hanif
- District Coordination Officer	Muhammad Ijaz
Area [1]
- Total	1,772 km² (684 sq mi)
Elevation	217 m (712 ft)
Population (2007)[1]
- Total	6,319,000
- Density	3,566/km² (9,238. Minar-e-Pakistan ( Urdu: مينارِ پاكستان; Mīnār-ĕ Pākistān or Yadgaar-e-Pakistan) is a tall Minaret in Iqbal Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Currently the internationally recognized territory of Pakistan is subdivided into four provinces and two territories The Punjab ( Urdu:) province of The Pakistan Muslim League (Q or officially Pakistan Muslim League (پاکستان مسلم لیگ ق is a centrist conservative Political party in Pakistan Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To aid in the comparison of sizes of different geographic regions areas between 1  Km² (100 Hectares and 10 km² (1000 hectares are listed below The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 3/sq mi)
	Combined population of Lahore City and Lahore Cantonment
Area code(s)	042
Lahore Cantonment is a legally separate military-administered settlement. A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating Telephone number ranges to countries regions areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks
Website: http://www.lahore.gov.pk

Coordinates: 31°32′59″N 74°20′37″E / 31.54972, 74.34361

Lahore (help·info) (Urdu: لاہور, Punjabi: لہور, pronounced [lahor]) is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and is the second largest city in Pakistan after Karachi. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Urdu ( ur '''{{Nastaliq اردو}}''' trans Urdū, historically spelled Ordu) is a Central Indo-Aryan language Urdu is a standardised Shahmukhi (, Gurmukhi: ਸ਼ਾਹਮੁਖੀ literally "from the King's mouth" is a local variant of the Arabic script Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and The Punjab ( Urdu:) province of The twenty most populated Urban areas of Pakistan host about one-fourth of the country's total population (ڪراچي) is the largest city in Pakistan. It is the world's second largest city proper behind Mumbai in terms of population which exceeds 10 million It is popularly known as the Heart of Pakistan, due to its historical importance in the creation of Pakistan, and also being a cultural, political and educational centre of the country. It is also often called the Garden of the Mughals or the City of Gardens because of the heritage of the Mughal Empire. The Mughal Empire ( Persian and self-designation گورکانی; مغلیہ سلطنت) was an Islamic imperial power which ruled most It is located near the Ravi River and Wagah, close to the Pakistan-India border. The Ravi River (रवि ਰਾਵੀ راوی is a River in Pakistan and India. Wagah ( Hindi: वाघा Urdu:, Punjabi: ਵਾਘਾ is the only road border crossing between India and Pakistan and lies on the Grand Trunk India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country

Much of Lahore's architecture from the Mughal and colonial eras has been preserved. Mughal structures such as the Badshahi Mosque, Ali Hujwiri, Lahore Fort, Shalimar Gardens and the mausoleums of Jehangir, and Nur Jehan are popular tourist spots in the city. The Badshahi Mosque ( Urdu: بادشاھی مسجد) or the 'Emperor's Mosque ' was built in 1673 by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore Abul Hassan Ali Ibn Usman al-Jullabi al-Hajvery al-Ghaznawi or Abul Hassan Ali Hajvery (علی بن عثمان الجلابی الهجویری الغزنوی (sometimes The Lahore Fort, locally referred to as Shahi Qila ( Urdu: شاهی قلعہ) is Citadel of the city of Lahore, Punjab The Shalimar Gardens ( Urdu: شالیمار باغ) sometimes written Shalamar Gardens, is a Persian garden and it was built by the Mughal Tomb of Jahangir, ( Urdu: مقبرہ جهانگير) is the mausoleum built for the Mughal Emperor Jahangir who ruled from 1605 Begam Nur Jahan ( Persian / Urdu: نور جهان) (alternative spelling Noor Jahan, Nur Jehan, Nor Jahan, etc Colonial British structures such as the Lahore High Court, General Post Office (GPO) and many of the older universities still retain their Mughal-Gothic style. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Lahore High Court is based in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Lahore High Court was established on 21 March 1919 although it's predecessors have been providing

Punjabi is the native language of the province and is the most widely-spoken language in Lahore and rural areas. Punjabi (pa ਪੰਜਾਬੀ in Gurmukhi script pa-PK {{Nastaliq پنجابی}} in Shahmukhi script Pañjābī in Transliteration) is an Urdu and English, however, are becoming more popular with younger generations since they are officially supported, whereas Punjabi has no official patronage. Urdu ( ur '''{{Nastaliq اردو}}''' trans Urdū, historically spelled Ordu) is a Central Indo-Aryan language Urdu is a standardised English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Punjabi may refer to The Punjabi language of Pakistan and India Punjabi grammar List of Punjabi Many people of Lahore who speak Punjabi are known as Lahori Punjabi due to their use of a mixture of Punjabi and colloquial Urdu. Urdu ( ur '''{{Nastaliq اردو}}''' trans Urdū, historically spelled Ordu) is a Central Indo-Aryan language Urdu is a standardised According to the 1998 census, Lahore's population was nearly 7 million. Mid-2006 government estimates now put the population at approximately 10 million. ^[2] This makes Lahore the fifth largest city in South Asia and the 23rd largest city in the world.

History

Main article: History of Lahore

Ptolemy, the celebrated astronomer and geographer, mentions in his Geographia a city called Labokla^[3] situated on the route between the Indus River and Palibothra, or Pataliputra (Patna), in a tract of country called Kasperia (Kashmir), described as extending along the rivers Bidastes or Vitasta (Jhelum), Sandabal or Chandra Bhaga (Chenab), and Adris or Iravati (Ravi). The recorded history of Lahore, a district of modern-day Pakistan, covers thousands of years Claudius Ptolemaeus ( Greek: Klaúdios Ptolemaîos; after 83 &ndash ca The Geographia or Geography is Ptolemy 's main work besides the Almagest. The Indus River { Sanskrit: सिन्धु Sindhu; Urdu: urd {{Nastaliq سندھ}} Sindh; Sindhi: snd Paṭnā ( Hindi: पटना is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited This article is about the geographical region of greater Kashmir HeadMarala3jpg|200px|right|thumb|A View of Marala Headworks on Chenab near Sialkot]] The Chenab River (ਚਨਾਬ, चनाब چناب literally 'Moon( The Ravi River (रवि ਰਾਵੀ راوی is a River in Pakistan and India. This city may be ancient Lahore.

A legend, based on Hindu oral traditions, states that Lahore was named after Lava, son of the Hindu god Rama, who supposedly founded the city. Lava ( Sanskrit: लव (sometimes Lav) and his twin brother Kusha (or Kush are the children of the Hindu deity Rama and his wife Sita A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Rama ( IAST: rāma Devanāgarī: राम Khmer: Phreah Ream Thai: Phra Ram Lao: Phra Lam Tagalog: To this day, the Lahore Fort has a vacant temple dedicated to Lava (also pronounced Loh, hence "Loh-awar" or The Fort of Loh. Likewise, the Ravi River that flows through northern Lahore was named for the Hindu goddess Durga. The Ravi River (रवि ਰਾਵੀ راوی is a River in Pakistan and India. In Hinduism, Durga ("the inaccessible" or "the invincible" or Maa Durga (Mother Durga is a form of Devi, the supreme Goddess ^[4]

The oldest authentic document about Lahore was written anonymously in 982 and is called Hudud-i-Alam. Hudud ul-'alam min al-mashriq ila al-maghrib (حدود العالم من المشرق الی المغرب meaning "The Limits of The World from The East to The West" is an ^[5] It was translated into English by Vladimir Fedorovich Minorsky and published in Lahore in 1927. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Vladimir Fedorovich Minorsky (Владимир Фёдорович Минорский February 5 1877 - March 25 1966 was a highly respected Russian Orientalist In this document, Lahore is referred to as a small shahr (city) with "impressive temples, large markets and huge orchards. A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status " It refers to "two major markets around which dwellings exist," and it also mentions "the mud walls that enclose these two dwellings to make it one. " The original document is currently held in the British Museum. The British Museum is a Museum of human history and culture in London. ^[6]. Lahore was called by different names in history, and to date there is no evidence to suggest the actual time, when the city was made, some historians trace the history of the city as far as 4000 years ago. ^[7].

Built 1673, the Badshahi Mosque is a prime example of Mughal Architecture. The Badshahi Mosque ( Urdu: بادشاھی مسجد) or the 'Emperor's Mosque ' was built in 1673 by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore Mughal architecture, an amalgam of Islamic, Persian and Indian architecture, is the distinctive style developed by the Mughal Empire

Mausoleum of Sikh Emperor, Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Map of Lahore drawn up during the rule of the British, 1893

British-built Tollinton Market, 1864 circ. For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British

Minar-e-Pakistan, where the Declaration of the Independence of India and Pakistan Resolution were passed

Few references to Lahore exist for times before its capture by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni in the eleventh century. Minar-e-Pakistan ( Urdu: مينارِ پاكستان; Mīnār-ĕ Pākistān or Yadgaar-e-Pakistan) is a tall Minaret in Iqbal The Declaration of the Independence of India was promulgated by the Indian National Congress on January 26 1930, resolving the Congress and Indian nationalists The Lahore Resolution ( Qarardad-e-Lahore قرارداد لاھور commonly known as the Pakistan Resolution (قرارداد پاکستان Qarardad-e-Pakistan Mahmud of Ghazni (محمود غزنوی Maḥmūd-e Ghaznawī ( November 2, 971 - April 30, 1030) also known as Yāmīn In 1021, Mahmud appointed Malik Ayaz to the throne and made Lahore the capital of the Ghaznavid Empire. Mahmud of Ghazni (محمود غزنوی Maḥmūd-e Ghaznawī ( November 2, 971 - April 30, 1030) also known as Yāmīn Malik Ayaz son of Aymáq Abu'n-Najm was a Turkic slave who rose to the rank of officer and general in the army of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni (also known as The Ghaznavid Empire was a Khorāṣānian Sunni Muslim state founded by a dynasty of Turkic Mamluk. The sultan took Lahore after a long siege and battle in which the city was torched and depopulated. As the first Muslim ruler of Lahore, Ayaz rebuilt and repopulated the city. He added many important features, such as city gates and a masonry fort, built in 1037-1040 on the ruins of the previous one, which had been demolished in the fighting (as recorded by Munshi Sujan Rae Bhandari, author of the Khulasatut Tawarikh in 1695-96). The present Lahore Fort stands in the same location. Under his rule, the city became a cultural and academic center, renowned for poetry. The tomb of Malik Ayaz can still be seen in the Rang Mahal commercial area of town.

After the fall of the Ghaznavid Empire, Lahore was ruled by various Muslim dynasties known as the Delhi Sultanate, including the Khiljis, Tughlaqs, Sayyid, Lodhis and Suris. The Delhi Sultanate ( Urdu: دلی سلطنت, दिल्ली सलतनत or Sultanat e Hind ( سلطنتِ هند; सलतनत ए Khilji or Khalji ( Pashto: خلجی خاندان, Hindi: ख़िलजी ख़ानदान was an Indian ruling dynasty that was The Tughlaq Dynasty ( Urdu: تغلق) of north India started in 1321 in Delhi when Ghazi Tughlaq assumed the throne under the The Sayyid dynasty ruled Delhi sultanate in India from 1414 to 1451. Lodhi Dynasty ( Pashto / Persian: سلطنت لودھی) was a Ghilzai (khilji Afghan ( ethnic Pashtun) dynasty The Suri Dynasty was founded by the powerful Afghan conqueror Sher Shah, an ethnic Pasthun who's family hailed from Peshawer ( Pakistan) ^[8] When Sultan Qutb-ud-din Aybak was crowned here in 1206, he became the first Muslim sultan of the Indian subcontinent. Qutb-ud-din Aybak ( Persian / Urdu: قطب الدین ایبک) was a Turkic ruler of medieval India, the first Sultan of Delhi A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion Sultan (سلطان is an Islamic title with several historical meanings This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia For geopolitical treatments see South Asia. It was not until 1524 that Lahore became part of the Mughal Empire. The Mughal Empire ( Persian and self-designation گورکانی; مغلیہ سلطنت) was an Islamic imperial power which ruled most

From 1524 to 1752, Lahore was part of the Mughal Empire, and from 1584 to 1598, during the rules of the emperors Akbar and Jahangir, the city served as its capital. The Mughal Empire ( Persian and self-designation گورکانی; مغلیہ سلطنت) was an Islamic imperial power which ruled most Akbar redirects here For other uses see Akbar (disambiguation Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar ( Jalāl ud-Dīn Muhammad Akbar Nuruddin Salim Jahangir (full title Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Khushru-i-Giti Panah Abu'l-Fath Nur ud-din Muhammad Jahangir Padshah Ghazi ''( September 20 Lahore reached a peak of architectural glory during the rule of the Mughals, whose buildings and gardens survived the hazards of time. Lahore's reputation for beauty fascinated the English poet John Milton, who wrote "Agra and Lahore, the Seat of Great Mughal" in 1670. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland John Milton ( 9 December, 1608 – 8 November, 1674) was an English Poet, Prose Polemicist and ^[9] During this time, the massive Lahore Fort was built. The Lahore Fort, locally referred to as Shahi Qila ( Urdu: شاهی قلعہ) is Citadel of the city of Lahore, Punjab A few buildings within the fort were added by Akbar's son, Mughal emperor Jahangir, who is buried in the city. Nuruddin Salim Jahangir (full title Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Khushru-i-Giti Panah Abu'l-Fath Nur ud-din Muhammad Jahangir Padshah Ghazi ''( September 20 Tomb of Jahangir, ( Urdu: مقبرہ جهانگير) is the mausoleum built for the Mughal Emperor Jahangir who ruled from 1605 Jahangir's son, Shah Jahan, was born in Lahore. Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Shah Jahan I (full title Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Abu'l-Muzaffar Shihab ud-din Muhammad Sahib-i-Qiran-i-Sani Shah Jahan I Padshah Ghazi He, like his father, extended the Lahore Fort and built many other structures in the city, including the Shalimar Gardens. The Shalimar Gardens ( Urdu: شالیمار باغ) sometimes written Shalamar Gardens, is a Persian garden and it was built by the Mughal The last of the great Mughals, Aurangzeb, who ruled from 1658 to 1707, built the city's most famous monuments, the Badshahi Masjid and the Alamgiri Gate next to the Lahore Fort. Aurangzeb ( (full title Al-Sultan al-Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Abul Muzaffar Muhiuddin Muhammad Aurangzeb Bahadur Alamgir I Padshah Ghazi) ( November 4, The Badshahi Mosque ( Urdu: بادشاھی مسجد) or the 'Emperor's Mosque ' was built in 1673 by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore The Alamgiri Gate ( عالمگيرى دروازا) built in 1673 A The Lahore Fort, locally referred to as Shahi Qila ( Urdu: شاهی قلعہ) is Citadel of the city of Lahore, Punjab This area attracts many tourists and is used by the government for public speeches and social events.

During the 18th century, as Mughal power dwindled, Lahore was often invaded. The city was a suba, a province of the Afghan Empire, governed by provincial rulers with their own court. A province is a territorial unit almost always an Administrative division. The Durrani Empire (also referred to as the Afghan Empire) was a large state based in modern Afghanistan and Pakistan and later included northeastern

The 1740s were years of chaos, and the city had nine different governors between 1745 and 1756. Invasions and chaos in local government allowed bands of warring Sikhs to gain control in some areas. In 1799, all Sikh Misls joined into one to form a sovereign Sikh state ruled by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Misl refers to a fighting clan The period from 1716 to 1799 in Punjab was a highly turbulent time politically and militarily Maharaja Ranjit Singh (ਮਹਾਰਾਜਾ ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ also called "Sher-e-Punjab" ("The Lion of the Punjab" (1780-1839 was a ^[10]

After the death of Ranjit Singh, the empire of Lahore fell into disorder. The second and final Anglo-Sikh war brought Lahore under the rule of the British. For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British During their reign (1849-1947), British construction in Lahore combined Mughal, Gothic and Victorian styles. For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement which began The term Victorian architecture can refer to one of a number of Architectural styles predominantly employed during the Victorian era. The GPO and YMCA buildings in Lahore commemorated the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria, an event marked by the construction of clock towers and monuments all over India. Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901 was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Other important British buildings included the High Court, the Government College University, the museums, the National College of Arts, Montgomery Hall, Tollinton Market, the University of the Punjab (Old Campus) and the Provincial Assembly. Government College University Lahore is a co-educational public university located on The Mall in Lahore, Pakistan. Lahore Museum was established in 1894 in Lahore, Pakistan, and is one of the major museums of South Asia. National College of Arts Lahore, usually referred to by its Acronym NCA, is a famous old College in Lahore, Pakistan. The University of the Punjab (abbreviated as PU) ( Urdu: جامعه پنجاب) colloquially known as Punjab University, is located in Even today, Mall Road retains a variety of Gothic and Victorian style buildings built during the British Raj. At one end of The Mall stands the university, one of the most prestiguous universities of Pakistan. The Mall in Lahore, Pakistan (also known as Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam is one of the city's main roads and along with the Grand Trunk Road, one of its most The British also launched the city's first horse-racing club in 1924, and today function's under the Lahore Race Club. Lahore Race Club named after the city it is based in Lahore, was established in 1924 though some veterans claim that the club started in 1874 but the record goes back to 1924

Lahore enjoys a special position in the history of India's freedom-struggle. The 1929 Congress session was held at Lahore. Indian National Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major Political party in India. In this Congress, the Declaration of the Independence of India was moved by Pandit Nehru and passed unanimously at midnight on 31 December 1929. The Declaration of the Independence of India was promulgated by the Indian National Congress on January 26 1930, resolving the Congress and Indian nationalists Jawaharlal Nehru (जवाहरलाल नेहरू ʤəʋäɦəɾläl nɛɦɾu (14 November 1889 27 May 1964 was a major political leader of the Congress Party Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[11] On this occasion, the contemporary tricolour of India (with a chakra at its centre) was hoisted as a national flag, and thousands of people saluted it. "Indian flag" redirects here For flags used by Native American peoples see the tribes' respective articles, for example the Navajo Nation. Chakra ( Pali: chakka Tibetan: khorlo Malay: cakera is a Sanskrit term meaning Circle or Wheel

Lahore prison was a place to detain revolutionary freedom fighters. Noted freedom fighter Jatin Das died in Lahore prison after fasting for 63 days in protest of British treatment of political prisoners. Jatindra Nath Das (also known as Jatin Das) ( 27 October, 1904 – 13 September, 1929) was an Indian freedom fighter One of the greatest martyrs in the history of Indian independence, Shaheed Sardar Bhagat Singh, was hanged in Lahore Jail. Bhagat Singh ( Punjabi: ਭਗਤ ਸਿੰਘ بھگت سنگھ pə̀gət̪ sɪ́ŋg ( September 27, 1907 &ndash March 23, 1931 ^[12]

The most important session of the All India Muslim League, later the Pakistan Muslim League, the premier party fighting for Indian independence and the creation of Pakistan, was held in Lahore in 1940. The All India Muslim League ( Urdu: آل انڈیا مسلم لیگ Bengali:?????? ??? founded at Dhaka in 1906 was a political party in British The Pakistan Muslim League was founded in 1962 as a successor to the previously disbanded Muslim League in Pakistan ^[13] Muslims under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam demanded a separate homeland for Muslims of India in a document known as the Pakistan Resolution or the Lahore Resolution. The Lahore Resolution ( Qarardad-e-Lahore قرارداد لاھور commonly known as the Pakistan Resolution (قرارداد پاکستان Qarardad-e-Pakistan During this session, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, leader of the league, publicly proposed the Two Nation Theory for the first time. Muhammad Ali Jinnah Urdu: (December 25 1876 – September 11 1948 was a Pakistani politician and leader of the All India Muslim League who founded Pakistan The Two-Nation Theory was the basis for the Partition of India in 1947

At independence, Lahore was made capital of Punjab province in the new state of Pakistan. The Punjab ( Urdu:) province of After 1947, Lahore was affected by large-scale riots among Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs that led to huge structural damage to historic monuments such as the Lahore Fort, Badshahi mosque and other colonial buildings. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion The Lahore Fort, locally referred to as Shahi Qila ( Urdu: شاهی قلعہ) is Citadel of the city of Lahore, Punjab The Badshahi Mosque ( Urdu: بادشاھی مسجد) or the 'Emperor's Mosque ' was built in 1673 by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore ^[14] Among all cities of India, Lahore suffered the greatest loss due to the Partition of Punjab in 1947. The Partition of India was the partition of the British Indian Empire which led to the creation on August 14, 1947 and August 15, However, with United Nations assistance, the government was able to re-build Lahore. The Government of Pakistan ( Urdu: حکومتِ پاکستان uses a federal parliamentary system with a President as the Head of State and an indirectly-elected The second Islamic Summit Conference was held in the city. The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC is an International organization with a permanent delegation to the United Nations. ^[15] In 1996 the ICC Cricket World Cup final match was held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, and Lahore along with Colombo is to host the semi finals of the 2011 Cricket World Cup. The 1996 Cricket World Cup (aka Wills World Cup was won by Sri Lanka who beat Australia by 7 wickets at the final in Lahore. Gaddafi Stadium is a Test cricket ground in Lahore, Pakistan. Colombo ( Sinhala:, ˈkoləmbə Tamil: கொழும்பு is the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. The 2011 Cricket World Cup will be the tenth time this tournament has been held and will be held in the four Asian Test cricket playing countries India Pakistan ^[16].

Geography and climate

Lying between 31°15′ and 31°45′ North latitude and 74°01′ and 74°39′ East longitude, Lahore is bounded on the north and west by the Sheikhupura District, on the east by Wagah, and on the south by Kasur District. Sheikhupura District is a district of Punjab province, Pakistan. Wagah ( Hindi: वाघा Urdu:, Punjabi: ਵਾਘਾ is the only road border crossing between India and Pakistan and lies on the Grand Trunk Kasur District ( Urdu / Punjabi: ضلع قصور) is one of the districts in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. The Ravi River flows on the northern side of Lahore. The Ravi River (रवि ਰਾਵੀ راوی is a River in Pakistan and India. Lahore city covers a total land area of 404 km² and is still growing.

The weather of Lahore is extreme during the months of May, June, and July, when the temperatures soar to 40–45 °C. In August, the monsoon seasons starts, with heavy rainfall throughout the province. December, January, and February are the coldest months, when temperatures can drop to -1 °C. The city’s highest maximum temperature was 48. 3°C,^[17] recorded on June 6, 1921, and again on June 9, 2007. Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar Events 53 - Roman Emperor Nero marries Claudia Octavia 62 - Claudia Octavia commits Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[18] At the time the meteorological office recorded this official temperature in the shade, it reported a heat index in direct sunlight of 55 °C, lowest temperature recorded is -2. 2°C. ^[19]

Civic administration

Being the provincial capital, the Punjab Assembly Building hosts meeting for district heads.

Main Boulevard, Gulberg, is one of the most prestigious areas of Lahore

The City-District of Lahore comprises nine administrative towns and one separate military cantonment, but Lahore also has some historic neighbourhoods.

Economy

WAPDA Headquarters provides electricity and water to the majority of the city

Siddigue Trade Center is one of many new shopping malls launched to meet the increasing shopping demands

As of 2005, the city's gross domestic product (GDP) by purchasing power parity (PPP) is estimated at $28 billion with an average growth rate of 5. Shalimar Town (Urdu شالیمار ٹاؤن is one of the oldest towns in Lahore Pakistan It is located on the Grand Trunk Road. Gulberg ( Urdu: گلبرگ) is a residential and commercial area of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Iqbal Town (اقبال ٹاؤن (also known as Allama Iqbal Town; ur علامہ اقبال ٹاؤن is a commercial and residential locality in the south-western Samanabad is a major residential area and administrative subdivision of Lahore city History The neighbourhood was named after the death of an old woman who's nickname was Mai Ichhra. Hassan Town is a locality on Multan Road in Lahore, Pakistan. Mustafa Town is a residential locality in Lahore, Pakistan It is located on Wahdat Road near Chungi Johar Town in Pakistan is a residential area located in the south of Lahore on the map neighbouring the motorway M-2 History Garden Town was acquired in 1960 by the Lahore Development Authority, which at that time was called the Lahore Improvement Trust Iqbal Town may refer to Iqbal Town Faisalabad, Pakistan Iqbal Town Lahore, Pakistan Faisal Town ( Urdu: فیصل ٹاؤن) is one of the major residential areas of Lahore, close to Model Town. Wapda Town in Lahore Pakistan is a residential area located in the north of Lahore on the map neighbouring the motorway M-2 and Ring Road Valancia is a planned urban community located in south western part of Lahore, Pakistan, adjacent to Wapda Town, Johar Town. A township (or Municipality) is a settlement which has the status and powers of a unit of local government Nespak Cooperative Housing Society is a neighborhood in Lahore developed for the employees of National Engineering Services of Pakistan (NESPAK Bahria Town is a planned urban housing scheme in Lahore, Pakistan. Shad Bagh is a prominent area of northern Lahore in Punjab, Pakistan. Gawalmandi is an old area in the central part of Lahore, which is famous for its cultural and entertainment reasons in the country Shahdara Bagh, Lahore is a northern suburb of Lahore. It is situated on the northern side of the Ravi River. Baghbanpura ( Urdu: باغبان پورہ) is a town and Union Council of Shalimar tehsil Lahore District, Punjab, Pakistan Krishan Nagar is part of the Islampura neighborhood of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The Defence Housing Authority Lahore is a housing authority located in north Lahore, Pakistan. The Walled City of Lahore, also known as the "Old City" or "Anderoon Shehr (اندرون شهر" is the section of Lahore, Punjab, The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. 9 percent,^[21]ranked 122nd in the world. ^[22]. This makes Lahore's GDP to equal 51% of Karachi's, in line with it having 51% of the population of Karachi. Thus the contribution of Lahore to the national economy comes up to 13%. Which is 51% of the figure of Karachi contributing 25% of Pakistan's total GDP. Central to Lahore's economy is the Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE), Pakistan's second largest stock exchange. Lahore Stock Exchange (Guarantee Limited is Pakistan's second largest stock exchange after the Karachi Stock Exchange. Lahore has offices of all Pakistani government corporations including the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and the Water and Sewage Authority (WASA). The Water and Power Development Authority ( WAPDA) is a major Infrastructure development company owned by the Government of Pakistan. It also hosts the country's largest information technology (IT) companies, most of which are located in the IT park, which accounts for nearly 70 percent of Pakistan's software exports. Information technology ( IT) as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA is "the study design development implementation support Food and restaurant businesses remain open all night. The shopping markets are usually open late into the night. Lahore is the second largest financial hub of Pakistan and has industrial areas including Kot Lakhpat and the new Sundar Industrial Estate (near Raiwand).

As Lahore expands, former residential areas are being turned into commercial centres, and the suburban population is constantly moving outwards. This has resulted in the development of the Liberty Market, the MM Alam Road, the new Jail Road (which has some of the largest office buildings in Lahore), and the new eight-lane Main Boulevard, which has some of Lahore's largest and finest shopping centres.

The suburban population's move from commercial areas to less busy areas supports a thriving construction industry and several large housing projects including Bahria Town, Lake City, Eden Villas, and a project by the Dhabi Group (a joint Pakistan-UAE partnership) to construct a new city on the outskirts of Lahore.

Lahore is famous as the hub of hand-made carpet manufacturing in Pakistan. A carpet is any loom-woven felted textile or grass floor covering ^[23] At present, hand-knitted carpets produced in and around Lahore are among Pakistan's leading export products, and their manufacturing is the second-largest cottage and small industry. Lahore-based carpet exports make up nearly 85 percent of all carpet exports from Pakistan. Craftsmen in Lahore can produce any type of carpet using popular motifs such as medallions, paisleys, traceries, and geometric designs. The Lahore Design Centre at the Punjab Small Industries Corporation maintains a separate section of carpet designing to experiment with new designs. Lahore is famous for single-wefted designs in Turkoman and Caucasian style and double-wefted Mughal types. WEFT Champaign 901FM is a Community radio station in Champaign Illinois, founded in 1981 and owned by Prairie Air Inc

Lahore's economic importance depends also on many government institutes and international companies headquartered in the city, including WorldCALL Telecom Group,Pakistan Railways, Pakistan Cricket Board, Punjab University, NCA,Deluxe Shoes Idustry Timber Market , Bata shoes, Haier, Wateen Telecom, Warid Telecom, Honda, Reebok, Daewoo, Nestle, Coca Cola, Tetra Pak, Monsanto, Delaval, Metro Cash & Carry, Mr Cod, Porsche, and Rolls Royce. WorldCALL is a telecommunication operator in Pakistan. It was established in 1996 by First Capital Securities Corporation. This article is about the rail company in Pakistan. For technical details and operations see ' Transport in Pakistan '. The inaugural Board of Control The Pakistan Cricket Board was inaugurated on 1 May 1948 as the "Cricket Control Board of Pakistan" Haier ( is a producer of Household appliances (" White goods " including air conditioners, Laptops refrigerators, etc Wateen Telecom is a Pakistani telecommunication company based in Lahore, Pakistan and is a sister concern of Warid Telecom. Warid Telecom International is an Abu Dhabi based mobile telecommunication firm providing telephony services in Bangladesh, Congo, Pakistan () is a Multinational corporation, engine Manufacturer and engineering corporation headquartered in Japan. Reebok International Limited is a British producer of athletic footwear, apparel and accessories and is currently a subsidiary of Adidas. This article is about the Chaebol Daewoo Group For the Korean auto company Daewoo Motors that is associated with Chevrolet, see GM Daewoo. Nestlé is a multinational packaged food company founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland Coca-Cola is a carbonated Soft drink sold in stores restaurants and Vending machines in more than 200 countries Tetra Pak is a multinational Food processing and Packaging company of Swedish origin The Monsanto Company ( is a multinational Agricultural biotechnology Corporation. Delaval is the surname of a family of gentry/aristocracy in Northumberland, England, from the 11th century to the 19th century METRO Cash & Carry is the international leader in self-service wholesale operating across Europe and in some countries of Asia and Northern Africa Porsche SE or Porsche ( German, ˈpɔɹʃə is a German manufacturer of automobiles which is majority-owned by the Porsche and Piëch Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a British manufacturer of luxury automobiles based out of Goodwood, England.

The economy is also enhanced by Lahore's historic and cultural importance, even though, unlike other smaller cities, its industrial estates are far fewer and smaller. An industrial estate is an area of land set aside for industrial development. Being the capital of the largest province in Pakistan brings the city the biggest development budget in the country.

Transportation

The Allama Iqbal International Airport

Lahore is one of the most accessible cities of Pakistan. In addition to the historic Grand Trunk Road (G. The Grand Trunk Road (commonly abbreviated to GT Road is one of South Asia 's oldest and longest major roads T. road), a motorway was completed in 1997 from Lahore to Islamabad. |name = Islamabad|native_name = |nickname = |settlement_type = Capital City |total_type The government has built underpasses to ease congestion and prevent traffic jams, and according to official figures, Lahore has the highest number of underpasses in Pakistan.

The Pakistan Railways headquarters is located in Lahore. This article is about the rail company in Pakistan. For technical details and operations see ' Transport in Pakistan '. Pakistan Railways provides an important mode of transportation for commuters and connects distant parts of the country with Lahore for business, sight-seeing, pilgrimage, and education. The Lahore Central Railway Station, built during the British colonial era, is located in the heart of the city. ----The Lahore Railway Station in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan was built by the British colonists

Lahore Railway Station

To accommodate increased air travel, the government built a new city airport in 2003. It was named Allama Iqbal International Airport after the national poet of Pakistan, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, and is served by international airlines as well as the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines. Allama Iqbal International Airport is Pakistan's second largest civil airport after Jinnah International Airport. Pakistan International Airlines Corporation, more commonly known as Pakistan International Airlines or PIA ( Urdu: پی آئی اے or پاکستان The previous airport now operates as the Hajj Terminal to facilitate the great influx of pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj every year. The Hajj (حج is a pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi Lahore also has a general aviation airport known as Walton Airport. General aviation (abbr GA) is one of two categories of Civil aviation. Walton Airport is situated near Model Town 10 km (6 mi) from the city centre of Lahore, the capital of the Punjab province in Pakistan

Despite these improvements, Lahore struggles for safety on its roads, which are dangerous because the number of vehicles overwhelms the road space. Massive congestion occurs every day as millions of Lahoris travel through disorganised, fast-moving traffic, and accidents are rife. The government is trying to improve traffic conditions by constructing overhead bridges, underpasses, and conducting public safety campaigns. Plans exist for a mass-transit system in the city and a high-speed railway between Lahore and Rawalpindi. ( Urdu: Rāwalpindī) is a city in the Potwar Plateau near Pakistan 's capital city of Islamabad, in the province

Demography

Hall Road Church, there are a number of churches in Lahore due to the significant number of Christians in the city such as the Cathedral church of Resurrection

According to the 1998 census, Lahore's population was nearly 6. The Cathedral Church of Resurrection is a Church in the Heart of Lahore, Pakistan across the High Court 8 million. Mid-2006 government estimates put the population at somewhere around 10 million, which makes it the second largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi. (ڪراچي) is the largest city in Pakistan. It is the world's second largest city proper behind Mumbai in terms of population which exceeds 10 million ^[24] It is considered to be one of the 30 largest cities of the world. Also according to the 1998 census, 86. 2%, or 6,896,000 of the population are Punjabis and 10. The Punjabi people ( Punjabi: ਪੰਜਾਬੀ پنجابی also Panjabi people) are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group from South Asia. 2% or 816,000 are Muhajir. Finally, the Seraikis at 0. The Seraiki people ( Perso-Arabic: سرائيکی Gurmukhi: ਸਰਾਇਕੀ or Multani people ( Perso-Arabic: ملتانی Devanagari 4% number about 32,000. ^[25] Figures are unavailable for the many Afghan refugees and migrants from Iran who have permanently settled in Lahore but were not included in the census. Afghan refugees (known as Muhajir Afghans in South Asia) are people who fled Afghanistan after the Soviet invasion in 1979 and during the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics.

Many languages are spoken in Lahore, including Punjabi, Urdu, Pashto, Persian, and English. Punjabi (pa ਪੰਜਾਬੀ in Gurmukhi script pa-PK {{Nastaliq پنجابی}} in Shahmukhi script Pañjābī in Transliteration) is an Urdu ( ur '''{{Nastaliq اردو}}''' trans Urdū, historically spelled Ordu) is a Central Indo-Aryan language Urdu is a standardised Pashto ( Naskh: پښتو‎ pəʂ'to also rendered as Pakhto, Pushto, Pukhto, Pashtu, Pushtu, also known as English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States According to the 1998 census, 96% of Lahore's population is Muslim, up from 50. 1% in 1941. Other religions include Christians and a small number of Bahá'ís, Hindus, Parsis, and Sikhs. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth The Bahá'í Faith is a Religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. In 1941, Lahore had 36. 3% Hindus and 18. 4% Sikhs. Due to Lahore diverse culture, there are many mosques, shrines, Hindu and Jain temples, gurdwars, and churches across the city. Before Partition of India in 1947 Lahore was a cosmopolitan city with Hindu Sikh and Jain residents A church building is a Building or Structure whose primary purpose is to facilitate the meeting of a church. Some of the most famous mosques include, Badshahi Masjid, Dai Anga Mosque, Data Durbar Complex, Shia Masjid, Suneri Mosque, Wazir Khan Mosque, Moti Masjid, Masjid-e-Shuhda (Martyr's Mosque) and Mosque of Mariyam Zamani Begum. The Badshahi Mosque ( Urdu: بادشاھی مسجد) or the 'Emperor's Mosque ' was built in 1673 by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore Dai Anga Mosque is a Mosque situated near the railway station of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Data Durbar is the tomb of Hazrat Syed Abul Hassan Bin Usman Bin Ali Al-Hajweri, the famous Sufi saint of Iran, where hundreds of thousands of people come The Shia Masjid (literally meaning 'Shia Mosque' is one of the largest Shia Mosques in the mainly Shi'ite populated area of Islampura in the The Suneri Mosque or Golden Mosque is located in the centre of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan, is famous for its extensive faience tile work Mosque of Mariyam Zamani Begum also known as Begum Shahi Mosque is a mosque situated Walled City in Lahore, Punjab Pakistan. Some of the famous shrines include, Tomb of Muhammad Iqbal, Bibi Pak Daman, Samadhi of Ranjit Singh, Tomb of Shah Jamal, Tomb of Lal Hussain, Tomb of Anārkalī, Tomb of Jahangir, Tomb of Empress Nur Jehan and Tomb of Abdul Hasan Asaf Khan. The Tomb of Allama Muhammad Iqbal is a simple but impressive structure located in Lahore, Pakistan in the Hazuri Bagh lawn between the Bibi Paak Daaman is the name given to the shrine of Ruqayah bint Ali and the mausoleum is in Lahore Pakistan The Samadhi of Ranjit Singh is the Mausoleum of the Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The Tomb of Sufi Saint Baba Shah Jamal is located in Lahore, Pakistan. Tomb of Jahangir, ( Urdu: مقبرہ جهانگير) is the mausoleum built for the Mughal Emperor Jahangir who ruled from 1605 Some of the well-known churches include, Regal Church, Hall Road Church, Convent of Jesus & Mary and Saint Anthony's Church.

Culture

One of the horses on display at the annual horse and cattle show

Lahore's culture is unique. Known as the cultural capital or Heart of Pakistan, the city has been the seat of the Mughal Empire and the Sikh Empire as well as the capital of Punjab in Mahmud Ghaznavi's 11th century empire and in the British Empire.

Lahore played an important role in Pakistani history, as it was in this city where the independence declaration for Pakistan was made. The city was the only known major city of the British Empire that would come into the new Muslims state. It was the largest city in the newly formed Pakistan at the time of independence and provided the easiest access to India, with its porous border near the Indian city of Amritsar only 30 miles (48 km) to the east. Amritsar (ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ meaning The Lake of the Holy Nectar, is the administrative headquarters of the Amritsar District in the state Large numbers of Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims lived closely in Lahore in the pre-Partition era, and the city suffered many revolts and demonstrations, as well as bloodshed and mobs, at the time of independence. The Partition of India was the partition of the British Indian Empire which led to the creation on August 14, 1947 and August 15, Lahore was also wanted by the Sikhs since it used to be their capital before the British. Initially, Lahore was planned to be made the capital of the newly-formed Pakistan, but the idea was dropped due to the city's close proximity to India; Karachi was chosen instead. Lahore's culture -- its history, institutions, food, clothing, films, music, fashion, and liberal community lifestyle -- attract people from all over the country.

Badshahi Mosque at night

Lahore is an extremely festive city. The people of Lahore celebrate many festivals and events throughout the year, blending Mughal, Western, and current trends. Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha are celebrated. Eid ul-Fitr or Id-ul-Fitr (عيد الفطر ‘Īdu l-Fiṭr) often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim Holiday that marks the end of Eid al-Adha ( Arabic: عيد الأضحى ‘Īd ul-’Aḍḥā, Urdu: بقرعید or the Festival of Sacrifice is a religious festival celebrated Many people decorate their houses and light candles to illuminate the streets and houses; roads and businesses are lit for days during these public holidays. In Lahore is located the mausoleum of Ali Hujwiri also known as also known as Data Ganj Bakhsh (Persian/Urdu: داتا گنج بخش ) or Data Sahib and an annual Urs is held every year as a big festival. Abul Hassan Ali Ibn Usman al-Jullabi al-Hajvery al-Ghaznawi or Abul Hassan Ali Hajvery (علی بن عثمان الجلابی الهجویری الغزنوی (sometimes

The Basant festival marked on the coming of spring is celebrated every year by kite flying

Basant is a Punjabi festival marking the coming of spring. Basant (बसंत ਬਸਨ is short for Basant Panchami (वसंत पंचमी a Hindu festival in honor of Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge music Basant (बसंत ਬਸਨ is short for Basant Panchami (वसंत पंचमी a Hindu festival in honor of Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge music The Punjab ( Urdu:) province of Basant celebrations in Pakistan are centered in Lahore, and people from all over the country as well as abroad come to the city for the annual festivities. Kite-flying competitions traditionally take place on city rooftops during Basant. Courts have banned the kite-flying because of casualties and power installation losses. The ban was lifted for two days in 2007, then immediately reimposed when 11 people were killed by celebratory gunfire, sharpened kite-strings, electrocution, and falls related to the competition. Celebratory gunfire is the shooting of a Firearm into the air in celebration ^[26]

The Festival of Lamps, or Mela Chiraghan, is an important and popular event in Lahore. Mela Chiraghan or Mela Shalamar ("Festival of Lights" is a three day annual festival to mark the Urs (death anniversary of the Punjabi This is celebrated at the same time as Basant, every spring on the last Friday of March, outside the Shalimar Gardens.

Cooco's cafe, A famous restaurant in the Old city of Lahore

The National Horse and Cattle Show is one of the most famous annual festivals, held in spring in the Fortress Stadium. The week-long activities include a livestock display, horse and camel dances, tent pegging, colourful folk dances from all regions of Pakistan, mass-band displays, and tattoo shows in the evenings. Tent pegging (sometimes spelled "tentpegging" or "tent-pegging" is a Cavalry sport of ancient origin and is one of only ten equestrian disciplines

On August 14, the people of Pakistan celebrate the day Pakistan gained its independence from the British Raj. For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British There are lots of celebrations in Lahore, the streets are full of people singing and dancing. Parades of the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force are held early in the morning. The Pakistan Army ( Urdu:) is the largest branch of the Pakistan military, and is mainly responsible for protection of the state borders the security of administered Pakistan Air Force ( Urdu: پاک فضائیہ, Pak Faza'ya) ( PAF) is the Aviation branch of the Pakistan armed forces Concerts are held with many pop and classical singers.

Minaret of Badshshi Mosque in background, viewed from roof top of Cooc's cafe

The World Performing Arts Festival is held every autumn (usually in November) at the Alhambra cultural complex, a large venue consisting of several theatres and amphitheatres. This ten-day festival consists of musicals, theatre, concerts, dance, solo, mime, and puppetry shows. The festival has an international character with nearly 80 percent of the shows performed by international performers. On average 15-20 different shows are performed every day of the festival. ^[27]

Lahoris are known for their love of food and eating. While Lahore has a great many traditional and modern restaurants, in recent years Western fast food chains, such as McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Subway Sandwiches, Dunkin Donuts, Nando's and Kentucky Fried Chicken have appeared all over the city. Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly Subway Restaurants, commonly known as Subway, is a Fast food restaurant franchise that primarily sells Sandwiches and Salads called Dunkin' Donuts is an international donut and Coffee retailer founded in 1950 in Quincy, Massachusetts, U Nando's is a restaurant chain originating from South Africa with a Portuguese -theme Kentucky Fried Chicken, usually known as KFC, is a chain of Fast food restaurants based in Louisville Kentucky. Recently the food streets in the historic locales of Lahore (Gawalmandi, Anarkali, and Badshahi) have attracted tourists. Food Street in Gawalmandi, Lahore is a centre of traditional Pakistani food. Gawalmandi is an old area in the central part of Lahore, which is famous for its cultural and entertainment reasons in the country Anarkali ( Urdu: اناركلى Anārkalī) ("pomegranate blossom" was a legendary slave girl from Lahore (now Pakistan Food streets have undergone restorations and are cordoned off in the evenings for pedestrian traffic only; numerous cafés serve local delicacies under the lights and balconies of restored havelis (traditional residential dwellings). Haveli ( Urdu: حویلی, Hindi: हवेली) is the term used for a private residence in Pakistan and North India. Some of the trendiest restaurants in Lahore are concentrated on the M M Alam Road in Gulberg. Muhammad Mahmood Alam (মুহাম্মদ মাহমুদ আলম Urdu: محمد محمود عالم) or shortly M Here, dozens of high-class culinary outlets, ranging from Western franchises to traditional, ethnic, or theme restaurants, attract all classes of Lahore's citizens. New restaurants are constantly opening, and the business is extremely competitive. Many boisterous restaurants of Lahore are open late into the night. One of Lahore's unique café restaurants is "Coocoo's Den", located in the old city just behind the Badshahi Mosque and Lahore Fort at the edge of Lahore's red light district. The Badshahi Mosque ( Urdu: بادشاھی مسجد) or the 'Emperor's Mosque ' was built in 1673 by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore The Lahore Fort, locally referred to as Shahi Qila ( Urdu: شاهی قلعہ) is Citadel of the city of Lahore, Punjab The restaurant is housed in a 300-year-old Kothi-style dwelling of a famous artist and was once a brothel. See Kothi for disambiguation Koti or Kothi is one of the most well-known commercial suburbs of Hyderabad, the Capital At different times in the life of this property, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim families have owned it. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion Another famous Lahore landmark is the Pak Tea House in Anarkali, long a favoured haunt of intellectuals and artists. Pak Tea House is a cafe in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan that has traditionally been frequented by the city's artistic cultural and literary personalities Anarkali ( Urdu: اناركلى Anārkalī) ("pomegranate blossom" was a legendary slave girl from Lahore (now Pakistan

The Singh Building on Mall Road, built during British rule houses many shops and markets

For traditional shopping, the Anarkali and Ichhra bazaars are the most popular of many in the city. Anarkali Bazar is a famous and popular market in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. History The neighbourhood was named after the death of an old woman who's nickname was Mai Ichhra. A bazaar ( بازار) (pazar is a permanent merchandising area Marketplace, or street of shops where goods and services are exchanged or sold The alleys and lanes of these bazaars are full of traditional wares like leather articles, embroidered garments, glass bangles, beaten gold and silver jewelry, and creations in silk. Anarkali is named after the famous courtesan of Akbar’s time, Anarkali (Pomegranate Blossom). Anarkali ( Urdu: اناركلى Anārkalī) ("pomegranate blossom" was a legendary slave girl from Lahore (now Pakistan Akbar redirects here For other uses see Akbar (disambiguation Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar ( Jalāl ud-Dīn Muhammad Akbar The grave of Sultan Qutbuddin Aibak, who died falling off his horse while playing polo, is located in Anarkali on Aibak Road. Qutb-ud-din Aybak ( Persian / Urdu: قطب الدین ایبک) was a Turkic ruler of medieval India, the first Sultan of Delhi Mahmud Ghaznavi's general, Malik Ayaz, lies buried in the commercial area of Rang Mahal. Mahmud of Ghazni (محمود غزنوی Maḥmūd-e Ghaznawī ( November 2, 971 - April 30, 1030) also known as Yāmīn Malik Ayaz son of Aymáq Abu'n-Najm was a Turkic slave who rose to the rank of officer and general in the army of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni (also known as . Rang Mahal is part of old Lahore and today's houses a largest wholesale and retail cloth markets in Punjab. Lahore's technology markets include the Hall Road Electronics market adjacent to the Mall Road and the Hafeez Centre located on the Gulberg Main Boulevard. Pace, a shopping centre once thought to be owned by Imran Khan, is also located on the Main Boulevard beside the Hafeez Centre. Imran Khan Niazi ( عمران خان نیازی) (born November 25 1952) is a Pakistani Cricketer and politician Other well-known and popular shopping areas are the Liberty Market in Gulberg and at the Fortress Stadium, as well as malls in Gulberg, Model Town, MM Alam Road, and Cantonment. The Fortress Stadium is a multi-use Stadium in Smederevo, Serbia. Apart from these, shopping areas are being developed in many of Lahore's new suburbs such as Bahria, Lake City, and Cantonment.

Built by Mughal emperor, Shah Jehan, Shalamar Gardens is a popular tourist attraction

Lahore is known as the City of Gardens. There were many gardens in Lahore during the Mughal era, and although some have since been destroyed, many have still survived. The Shalimar Gardens were laid out during the reign of Shah Jahan and were designed to mimic the Islamic paradise of the afterlife described in the Quran. Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Shah Jahan I (full title Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Abu'l-Muzaffar Shihab ud-din Muhammad Sahib-i-Qiran-i-Sani Shah Jahan I Padshah Ghazi For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. The Qur’an ( القرآن, literally "the recitation" also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran The gardens follow the familiar charbagh model (four squares) with three descending terraces. Persian Gardens Charbagh ( Persian چهارباغ is a Persian-style garden layout The Lawrence Gardens were established in 1862 and were originally named after Sir John Lawrence, late 19th century British Viceroy to India. Bagh-e-Jinnah ( باغ جناح) (or Jinnah 's Garden is a historical park in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. The gardens were organized in an area covering 112 acres (0. 5 km²). The British East India Company vowed that it would provide for the garden 80,000 saplings of 600 different species from every corner of the world. The Honourable East India Company ( HEIC) referred to most commonly as the East India Company, also historically and colloquially as John Company, or After money was collected from the sale of Badami Bagh, the soldiers' bazaar at Anarkali, and from a grant by the Company Bahadur (an extension of the East India Company), the land was purchased in the year 1860. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Badami Bagh is a Cantonment town in Srinagar district in the state of Jammu & Kashmir Anarkali ( Urdu: اناركلى Anārkalī) ("pomegranate blossom" was a legendary slave girl from Lahore (now Pakistan Today it is known as Bagh-e-Jinnah. Bagh-e-Jinnah ( باغ جناح) (or Jinnah 's Garden is a historical park in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. The many other gardens and parks in the city include Hazuri Bagh, Iqbal Park, Mochi Bagh, Gulshan Iqbal Park, Model Town Park, Race Course Park, Nasir Bagh Lahore, Jallo Park, Wild Life Park, and Changa Manga, an artificial forest near Lahore in the Kasur district. Hazuri Bagh ( Urdu: حضوری باغ) is a Garden in Lahore, Pakistan, bounded by the Lahore Fort (east side Iqbal Park (formal 'Manto Park' is large area of green space located at the heart of Lahore city in Pakistan. The Mochi Bagh is Pakistan's most famous political rally spot The Changa Manga forest is a planted forest in Pakistan. It is located in Chunian is about 70 km south of Lahore. Kasur ( Urdu / Punjabi:) the city of Bulleh Shah and the capital of Kasur District, is located 55 km southeast of Lahore.

Education

See also: List of educational institutions in Lahore

Punjab University Old Campus

Lahore is known as the education capital of Pakistan, with more colleges and universities than any other city in the country. Lahore boasts thousands of schools private and public The recent decade has witnessed a major surge in higher education institutions' numbers ^[28] Most of the reputable universities are public, but in recent years there has also been an upsurge in the number of private universities. LUMS, the Lahore University of Management Sciences, is the most renowned business school in Pakistan. Lahore School of Economics is another famous business school in the city. Cathedral School Lahore is one of the oldest and most famous schools in Lahore it is present there since 1850's and has a great ranked faculity and administration staff. The University of the Punjab is the oldest institute of higher learning in the country. The University of the Punjab (abbreviated as PU) ( Urdu: جامعه پنجاب) colloquially known as Punjab University, is located in ^[29] NCA, the National College of Arts, is the oldest and most renowned arts college of Pakistan. National College of Arts Lahore, usually referred to by its Acronym NCA, is a famous old College in Lahore, Pakistan. The oldest institution of Pakistan, Government College Lahore (now Government College University), established in 1864, is also situated in Lahore. Government College University Lahore is a co-educational public university located on The Mall in Lahore, Pakistan. Government College University Lahore is a co-educational public university located on The Mall in Lahore, Pakistan. Year 1864 ( MDCCCLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Forman Christian college(F. C)is also one of the oldest educational institute of Lahore. it was established in 1864. Now it becomes a Chartered University.

UET, Lahore is the one of the most highly regarded engineering universities in Pakistan. University of Engineering and Technology Lahore commonly referred to as UET Lahore is one of the leading engineering universities of Pakistan, and the ^[30] COMSATS is also a well-known institute recently awarded the university charter. The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South ( COMSATS) is an international organization ^[31] Lahore Chitrkar is the only private institute which offers classes in painting, various music instruments and Kathak dance. ^[32]

Media

Lollywood is based in Lahore

Lahore is the core of Pakistan's media and Arts scene. The cinema of Pakistan refers to Pakistan 's film industry Most of the feature films shot in Pakistan are in Urdu language but may also include films in Punjabi Pakistan's most prestigious Art college National College of Arts is located here. National College of Arts Lahore, usually referred to by its Acronym NCA, is a famous old College in Lahore, Pakistan. Every year it becomes the center for 'World performing Arts festival' in which artists from dozens of countries show off their talents'. This festival is managed by the Peerzada group, which is also the largest puppetry theater company in the Pakistan. Lahore is also home to the country's developing fashion industry supported by numerous designer outlets and the country's most prestigious Fashion school, the Pakistan school of Fashion and Design which has some of the best photo studios and Photographers in the country.

Lahore has also been home to Pakistan's old classical music, ghazels and Qawalis, with Big names such as Noor jehan, arif lohar, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mehdi hassan, Ghulam Ali etc all residing in the city. Noor Jehan ( was the adopted stage name for Allah Wasai (born September 21, 1926 – December 23, 2000) who was a Pakistani Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan ( نصرت فتح على خاں, born October 13 1948, died August 16, 1997) was a Pakistani Mehdi Hassan, TI, PP, HI ( Urdu: مہدی حسن) affectionately called Khan Sahib ( Urdu: خان صاحب Ghulam Ali ( Urdu: غلام علی, Hindi: ग़ुलाम अली (born 1940 is a famous Pakistani Ghazal singer of the In recent years Lahore has given out Pakistan's largest pop singer such as Atif Aslam and Ali Zafar, while the city is recognized as the birth place of modern rock scene in south Asia by bands such as Jal, Call the band, Roxen, Noorie and Entityparadigm, which were hugely popular and lead many in the Indian film industry to import their songs. Atif Aslam ( عاطف اسلم, born March 12, 1983) is a Pakistani pop singer Ali Zafar ( Urdu: علی ظفر) also known as Prince of Pop, is a Pakistani Musician, Actor, painter and model Roxen is a medium-sized Lake in south central Sweden, east of lake Vättern, part of the waterpath Motala ström and the Göta Canal Noorie is a 1979 Hindi movie produced by Yash Chopra, and directed by Manmohan Krishna

Pakistan' film industry is also based in the city and is called Lollywood. The cinema of Pakistan refers to Pakistan 's film industry Most of the feature films shot in Pakistan are in Urdu language but may also include films in Punjabi Many films are filmed in Lahore and the city has some of the oldest film studios in the country. Many actors, directors are based in Lahore which bring many artists together to launch films. Cinema is on the incline again in recent years and IMAX is also building outlets in the city.

Lahore is developing into the media hub of Pakistan. Several FM Radio stations have setup their operations here and some of the TV channels are also working from this city. Adding to this media boom, City News Network (Pvt. ) Ltd. is brining Pakistan's first City specific satellite TV channel. They are launching a City Channel of Lahore with the name City42. City42 will be a satellite channel beaming its broadcast to entire Pakistan, Asia, Middle East and some European countries. City42 will be a NEWS and INFOTAINMENT based channel covering everything that happens in the city of Lahore.

Sports

The Imran Khan enclosure gate at Gaddafi Stadium

Gaddafi Stadium is a Test cricket ground in Lahore. Imran Khan Niazi ( عمران خان نیازی) (born November 25 1952) is a Pakistani Cricketer and politician Gaddafi Stadium is a Test cricket ground in Lahore, Pakistan. Gaddafi Stadium is a Test cricket ground in Lahore, Pakistan. This is a list of Test cricket grounds. Since the first Cricket Test match in Australia in 1877 96 grounds have hosted Test cricket, the most Designed by Pakistani architect Nayyar Ali Dada, it was completed in 1959 and is one of the biggest cricket stadiums in Asia. Nayyar Ali Dada ( Urdu: نیر علی دادا) (born November 11, 1945 in Delhi, India) is a renowned Pakistani After its renovation for the 1996 Cricket World Cup, the stadium had a capacity of over 60,000 spectators for high-profile matches or events. The 1996 Cricket World Cup (aka Wills World Cup was won by Sri Lanka who beat Australia by 7 wickets at the final in Lahore. Nearby is an athletics stadium, a basketball pitch, an Al Hamra open-air hall similar in design to the coliseum, and the world's largest field hockey stadium, all of these in a single huge complex. Field hockey is a Team sport in which players attempt to score goals by hitting the Ball across the pitch with a stick In the same vicinity lie headquarters of the Pakistan Football Federation, as well as the multi-sport Punjab Stadium. The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF is the governing body of football in Pakistan. Punjab Stadium is a football Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan. It is used for other sporting events

Lahore is home to Pakistan Premier League giants WAPDA FC, alongside Pakistan Railways FC, and Wohaib FC. The Pakistan Premier League (PPL is the first division of Pakistani football WAPDA are a Pakistani football club who play in the Pakistan Premier League. The Pakistan Railways are a Pakistani football club from Lahore who play in the Pakistan Premier League and play at the Railway Stadium

The Lahore Marathon is part of an annual package of six international marathons being sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The Lahore Marathon is an annual road Marathon held in Lahore, Pakistan since 2005. Standard Chartered Bank (, is a British Bank headquartered in London with operations in more than seventy countries The Lahore race carries prize money of approximately US$100,000. More than 20,000 athletes from Pakistan and all over the world participate in this event. It was first held on January 30, 2005, and again on January 29, 2006. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 904 - Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed Antipope Christopher. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. More than 22,000 people participated in the 2006 race. The third marathon was held on January 14, 2007. Events 1129 - Formal approval of the Order of the Templar at the Council of Troyes. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[33].

Plans exist to build Pakistan's first sports city in Lahore, on the bank of the river Ravi.

Problems

The architecture of Lahore reflects the history of the city and is remarkable for its unique variety. The Architecture of Lahore reflects the history of Lahore and is remarkable for its variety and uniqueness Structures remain from ancient Mughal times, while other buildings reflect the tastes of the British Raj, the mixed Victorian and Islamic style of which is often referred to as Mughal Gothic. For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. ^[34] Lahore also has buildings of modern design. The authorities have been criticised for their failure to preserve much of the city's architectural heritage. British architecture writer Simon Jenkins commented, "In no other world city have I seen so much magnificence so neglected. Sir Simon Jenkins (born 10 June 1943) is a British Newspaper Columnist currently associated with The Guardian . . All Pakistan's history is here, but disintegrating beneath encroaching shanties, cobwebs of wires and piles of rubbish. "^[35]

The 2008 Lahore bombings included two suicide bombings which killed around 30 people and damaged more than a dozen buildings. The 2008 Lahore bombings were twin suicide car bombings which killed at least 28 people and wounded more 350 people in Lahore, Pakistan on March 11 2008

Gallery

The Alamgiri Gate, photographed in 1870. The Alamgiri Gate ( عالمگيرى دروازا) built in 1673 A	George Craddock, 1880s, Railway Station at Lahore, Pakistan.	Street scene of Lahore, 1890s.	Government College of Lahore, 1880s.
Lahore Railway Station, 1880s.	Photograph of the cannon Zam Zammeh outside Lahore Museum which was immortalized in Rudyard Kipling's novel Kim

Sister cities

Lahore has several sister cities:

Literature

• Muhammad Iqbal, scholar, thinker, and poet in Urdu and Persian. Urdu ( ur '''{{Nastaliq اردو}}''' trans Urdū, historically spelled Ordu) is a Central Indo-Aryan language Urdu is a standardised
• Syed Abu Al A'la Maudoodi, Great islamic scholer famous all over the world
• Allama Ghulam Ahmad Pervaiz, scholar and thinker in Urdu and English. Urdu ( ur '''{{Nastaliq اردو}}''' trans Urdū, historically spelled Ordu) is a Central Indo-Aryan language Urdu is a standardised His institute is running in Lahore in the name of Tolu-e-Islam. Web address is http://www.tolueislam.com/.
• Muhammad Tahir ul-Qadri, Islamic hadith compiler, poet and author. Dr Muhammad Tahir ul-Qadri ( Urdu: محمد طاہر القادری) (also known as Quaid-e-Inqalab Quaid-e-Muhterum Shaykh ul Islam and Qibla Hazoor (born Hadith ( ar الحديث, pl aḥadīth; lit. "narrative" are oral Traditions relating to the words and deeds of the Islamic
• Faiz Ahmed Faiz, poet in Urdu
• Saadat Hasan Manto, short story writer in Urdu
• Rudyard Kipling, novelist in English, author of Kim (born in Bombay)
• Bapsi Sidhwa, novelist in English, author of Cracking India and The Crow Eaters
• Mohsin Hamid, novelist in English, author of Moth Smoke and The Reluctant Fundamentalist
• Shauna Singh Baldwin, novelist, author of What the Body Remembers
• Pran Nevile, author of Lahore - A Sentimental Journey

See also

References

External links

• Lahore City Government
• Lahore Photos and History
• Lahore travel guide from Wikitravel
• Wikia has a wiki on this subject: Lahore
• Lahore at the Open Directory Project
• Lahore's Cultural Events, Sports and Tourist Guide
• World Heritage Photographs of the Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens
• Lahore in Photographs
• Simon Jenkins (2008-01-11). Wikitravel is a Web -based project "to create a free, complete up-to-date and reliable worldwide travel guide. Wikia (originally Wikicities) is a selective Free web hosting service for Wikis (or Wiki farm) operated by Wikia Inc The Open Directory Project ( ODP) also known as dmoz (from directory 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1055 - Theodora is crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire. Here in the city of Kim, Pakistan's magnificent history is being left to rot. The Guardian. The Guardian (until 1959 The Manchester Guardian) is a British Newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. Retrieved on 2008-02-09. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 474 - Zeno crowned as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire.