Multan is a city in south central Punjab province. It is built just east of the Chenab River. About 966 km from Karachi and more or less right in the center of the country lie the ancient city of Multan. Multan, the 'City of Pirs and Shrines' is a prosperous city of bazaars, mosques, shrines and superbly designed tombs.
A circular road around the rampart gave access to the city through thirteen gates. Some of the imposing structures of these gates are still preserved. In the bazaars of the Old City one still comes across tiny shops where craftsmen can be seen busy turning out master-pieces in copper, brass, silver as well as textiles in the traditional fashion.
The old city has narrow colorful bazaars full of local handicrafts and narrow winding lanes. There are many places of historical, cultural and recreational interest in the city.
Multan is a commercial and industrial center; it is connected by road a rail with Lahore and Karachi and by air with Karachi, Quetta, and Faisalabad. Industries include fertilizer, soap, and glass factories; foundries; cotton, woolen and silk textile mills; flour, sugar and oil mills; and a large thermal-power station. It is famous for its handicrafts (ceramics and camel-skin work) and cottage industries. There are hospitals, public gardens, and several colleges affiliated with the University of the Punjab. The University of Multan was established in 1975. Large, irregular suburbs have grown outside the old walled town, and two satellite towns have been set up. The numerous shrines within the old city offer impressive examples of workmanship and architecture.
The Shams-e Tabriz shrine is built almost entirely of sky-blue engraved glazed bricks. That of Shah Rukn-e Alam (Tughlaq period) has one of the biggest domes in Asia. The shrine of Sheikh Yusuf Gardez is masterpiece of the Multani style. Other shrines include the Pahladpuri Temple and the Eidgah Mosque (1735).
Mangoes of Shujabad district are the best in the world. Multani khussa (shoes); embroidered clothes for ladies; embroidered cholas for men; earthenware pottery, painted potter, camel skin ware (e.g. lamps); carpets wooden products, especial lacquered wood.
Historical Places
- Mausoleum Bahauddin Zakariya
- Mausoleum of Rukn-i-Alam
- Mausoleum of Shams-ud-Din
- Multan Fort
Tombs
- Shrine- Jamal-ud-Din Syed "Shah Yousaf Gardez"
- Shrine-Bahauddin Zakria
- Shrine-Bibi Pak Daman
- Shrine-Shah Rukn-e-Alam
- Shrine-Syed Shams-ud-din "Shah Shams Sabzwari"
- Shrine-Hameed-ud-Din Hakim
- Shrine-Qutab-al-qutaab "Moj Dariya"
- Shrine-Syed Pir Sakhi Shah Hassan Parwana
- Shrine-Qazi Qutab-ud-Din Kashani
- Shrine-Syed Hasan Khanjzee
- Shrine-Hazrat Shah Dana Shaheed
- Shrine-Abu Hassan Hafiz Jamal-ud-din "Musa Pak Shaheed"
- Shrine-Hazrat Shah Kamal Qadari
- Shrine-Hafiz Muhammad Jamal Chisti Nazami
- Shrine-Pir Chup Wardi Waly
- Shrine-Mollana Hamid Ali Khan Naqshbandi
- Shrine-Allama Syed Ahmad Saeed Kazmi
- Shrine-Hazrat Khawaja Awais Khagga
- Shrine-Pir Syed Wali Muhammad Shah(Chadar Wali Sarkar)
- Shrine-Hazrat Gul Shah
Mosques
- Jaima Mosque
- Sawi Mosque
- Mosque Baqarabadi
- Mosque Ali Muhammad Khan
- Moqsue Phool Hattan Wali
- Eid Gah Mosque