Lahore
capital of the Punjab province, Pakistan
Lahore is the capital and largest city of the Pakistani province of Punjab. It is the second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and 27th largest in the world, with a population of over 14 million. Lahore is one of Pakistan's major industrial, educational and economic hubs. It has been the historic capital and cultural centre of the wider Punjab region, and is a major socially liberal, progressive, and cosmopolitan city in the country.
The site of the city has been inhabited for around two millennia, although Lahore itself rose to prominence in the late 10th century. At times Lahore has served as the capital of several empires, including the Odi Shahis, Ghaznavid Empire and Delhi Sultanate. It was one of the principal cities in the Mughal Empire, being its capital city during the reign of Akbar. During this period, it was one of the largest cities in the world. In the 18th century Lahore fell into a period of decay while being contested among the Durranis and the Sikhs; it regained some of its former grandeur when it became capital of the Kingdom of Lahore in the early 19th century. It was annexed to the British Raj in 1849 and became the capital of Punjab Province.
The public source identifies “Lahore” as capital of the Punjab province, Pakistan. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Lahore, capital and Punjab.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Lahore”, the useful work is to connect “capital of the Punjab province, Pakistan” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Place names and jurisdictional language are key evidence: both can reveal earlier catalogue descriptions and overlooked record series. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 18, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q11739. VIAF identifies the subject as 130807590. The Library of Congress control number is n79079619. Authority coordinates are 31.550, 74.344. 3 of 5 selected statements include explicit references; 2 carry qualifiers and 1 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1849.
Modern boundaries and familiar names can conceal earlier jurisdictions or structures that do not align with the present site. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
- Historic place names
- Jurisdictional context
- Routes into maps and plans
Contemporary maps, plans, listed-building records, estate papers and the responsible local or national archive.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Lahore”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Lahore primary sources, Lahore archive and Lahore research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Lahore”?
- Which earlier names or jurisdictions may reveal additional records?
- What physical evidence or contemporary plan supports the description?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Lahore” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.