Lahore
Demographics
According to the 1998 census, Lahore's population was nearly 6.8 million. Mid-2006 government estimates put the population at somewhere around 10 million, which makes it the second largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi. 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; 10.2% or 816,000 are Urdu speakers; 3% speak Pashto; and the Seraikis, at 0.4%, number about 32,000. 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.
Economy
Gulberg Main Boulevard, which has some of Lahore's largest and finest shopping centres
As of 2005, the city's gross domestic product (GDP) by purchasing power parity (PPP) was estimated at $28 billion with a projected average growth rate of 5.9 percent. This is at par with Pakistan's other economic hub Karachi, with Lahore (having half the population) fostering an economy that is 51% of the size of Karachi's ($55 billion in 2005). The contribution of Lahore to the national economy is supposed to be around 13.2%. Lahore's GDP is projected to be $67 billion by the year 2020. With a slightly higher growth rate of 5.9% per annum, as
compared to Karachi's 5.8% Central to Lahore's economy is the Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE), Pakistan's second largest stock exchange. Lahore has offices of several Pakistani government corporations including the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and Water and Sewage Authority (WASA). Food and restaurant businesses remain open all night. The shopping markets are usually open late into the night.[citation needed] Lahore is the second largest financial hub of Pakistan and has industrial areas including Kot Lakhpat and the new Sundar Industrial Estate (near Raiwand). Lahore’s economic base is broad and varied. Major industries include the manufacture of automobiles and motorcycles, home appliances, steel, telecommunications, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, engineering, and construction material. A major industrial agglomeration with about 9,000 industrial units, Lahore has shifted in recent decades from manufacturing to service industries. Some 42% of its work force is employed in finance, banking, real estate, community, cultural, and social services. The city is the country’s largest software producing center, and hosts a growing computer-assembly industry.
Lahore's economic strength relies on the fact that it is the biggest city of Pakistan's most populous province. It is also the most advanced in terms of infrastructure, having extensive and relatively well developed road links to all major cities in Punjab and NWFP, a rail link with India and the province's biggest International airport. It also has the most developed communications infrastructure in the province, which includes a wide network of fiber optic telephone and cable lines, GSM mobile network, IPP and WiMax. It has the most developed education and health sectors as well, making it the economic, political and educational hub of the province. As Lahore expands, former residential areas are being turned into commercial centres, and the suburban population is constantly moving outwards
Education
Lahore is known as the education capital of Pakistan, with more colleges and universities than any other city in the country. A true Science & Technology hub of Pakistan. The present Government of Punjab has allocated huge amount in 2009–2010 Budget for the establishment of knowledge city near Lahore, Government has also plan to transform Lahore into a High-tech City of Pakistan as well as an important hub of High-tech in the world. Lahore is Pakistan’s largest producer of quality professionals in the field of Science & Technology as well as in High Tech such as IT, Engineering, Medical, Nuclear Sciences, Pharmaceutical, Telecommunication, Bio- Technology and Microelectronics etc. Most of the reputable universities are public, but in recent years there has also been an upsurge in the number of private universities. The current literacy rate of Lahore is 64%.
Lahore hosts the four oldest degree awarding institutes (Government College Lahore, estd. 1864 and Forman Christian College, estd. 1864 & universities (University of the Punjab, estd. 1882, (Kinnaird College Lahore, estd. 1913 and University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, estd. 1921. Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) is the most renowned Business and Computer Science school in Pakistan. National University Of Computer and Emerging Sciences previously known as [Foundation of Advancement of Science and Technology] FAST-ICS has been in Lahore for a long time and producing quality graduates in Computer Science. Recently, they also introduced programs in Management, Telecommunication and Computer Engineering. The University of the Punjab is the oldest institute of higher learning in the country. It was established in 1882. The National College of Arts, is the oldest and most renowned arts college of Pakistan.[citation needed] The oldest institution of Pakistan, Government College Lahore (now Government College University), established in 1864, is also situated in Lahore. Forman Christian College (a chartered university) Lahore is also one of the oldest educational institute of Pakistan. It was established in 1864. The college has launched one of the best 4-year BS program and MBA. A regional campus of National University Of Modern Languages (NUML)is also situated in Lahore.
University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore (UET Lahore), the oldest technical degree awarding institute and the very first university in the area of engineering and technology in Pakistan is situated in Lahore. Established as Mughalpura Technical College in 1921, it was upgraded to University in 1962 when it became Pakistan's first university focusing engineering and technology. UET Lahore is Pakistan's largest public sector engineering university which offers bachelors degrees in 29 specialties and MSc degrees in 55 specialties. Lahore School of Economics is another famous business school in the city. University of Management and Technology (Pakistan)and the University of Lahore are also located in lahore which are one of the best business universities in Pakistan. FAST-NU is another big institution providing the world with great minds particularly in Software Engineering. PUCIT [Punjab University College of Information Technology] is a highly reputed IT institute in Pakistan and produces quality Computer Science and IT professionals. NUST National University of Sciences and Technology is one of the best institutions in Engineering along with GIKI. 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.
Lahore also boasts three finest and most renowned high schools in Asia, Aitchison College,St. Anthony's High School and Lahore Grammar School, which feed students to all the leading universities across the globe. Aitchison College and St. Anthony's High School are also responsible for producing renowned political leaders and sportsmen for Pakistan. The University of Lahore is a new private sector university in Lahore. It is emerging very quickly as a university with strength in the areas of Engineering Sciences & Technology, Business & Administrative Sciences and Biotechnology.
