Why Multan
Multan is a historic city located along the eastern bank of the Chenab River in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Serving as the administrative headquarters for its namesake division and district, it stands as the sixth-largest city in the country. Renowned as one of Asia's oldest continuously inhabited urban centers, Multan has historically functioned as a vital economic, cultural, and spiritual hub in South Asia, particularly celebrated for its vast heritage of Sufi shrines.
The region's history extends into deep antiquity, with nearby archaeological sites dating back to the early Harappan period. Over the centuries, the settlement was known by several names, including Malli-istan, reflecting the local Malli tribe. It was besieged by Alexander the Great during his 326 BCE Mallian campaign, an event in which Alexander suffered a severe arrow injury. Over subsequent eras, control shifted through various rulers and dynasties, including the White Huns, the Rai dynasty, and Arab forces following the conquest by Muhammad bin Qasim in 712 CE.
During the medieval period, Multan emerged as a flourishing trade and scholarly metropolis. It served as a primary gathering point for Central Asian merchant caravans traveling from Khorasan, with its polyglot populace utilizing both Arabic and Persian for commerce. The city evolved into the capital of the Emirate of Multan and subsequently transitioned through the control of the Ghaznavid, Ghurid, Mamluk, Khalji, and Tughluq dynasties. During the Tughluq era, landmark architectural monuments such as the Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam were constructed.
Multan earned the enduring sobriquet of the "City of Saints" during the 11th and 12th centuries, when a multitude of Sufi mystics settled in the area. Together with the nearby city of Uch, Multan became a major center for pilgrimage, recognized for its large concentration of historical shrines. Over the centuries, the city drew scholars, artists, and emissaries from across Arabia, Persia, and Baghdad, establishing its standing as a major gateway of knowledge.
In later eras, Multan remained a key administrative center, serving as the capital of the Langah Sultanate in 1445 and later forming a major province of the Mughal Empire after 1580. The city subsequently came under the rule of the Sikh Empire from 1818 until 1849, when it was taken by the British following a lengthy siege.
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