Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in Pakistan after Karachi. Lahore is often referred to as the cultural heart of Pakistan, as it is the center of Pakistani arts, films, and intelligentsia.

Historically, the main city of undivided Punjab, it is often called the Garden of Mughals because of its rich Mughal heritage.

It successively served as the capital of the Shahi kingdoms in the 11th century, the Ghaznavids in the 12th century, the Ghurid State in the 12th and 13th century, the Mughal Empire in the 16th century, and the Sikh Empire in the early 19th century. It was also the capital of the Punjab region under the British Raj, in the mid 19th and early 20th century.

Mughal structures such as the Badshahi Mosque, the Lahore Fort, Shalimar Gardens, and the mausolea of  Jehangir and Nur Jehan are popular tourist attractions of the city.