The Largest Cities in Pakistan

Pakistan is situated in South Asia and ranks among the world's most populated countries. The country boasts of over 200 million inhabitants occupying 881,913 km² of landmass. The largest city in Pakistan is Karachi with a population of over 14 million people.

Pakistan has experienced rapid economic growth to become a semi-industrialized economy, a situation which has caused the emergence of major cities such as Karachi and Lahore. The population of Pakistan is predominantly indo-Iranian speakers and the country is culturally and historically associated with its neighbors of India, Afghanistan, and Iran. The country was created when it was partitioned from British India and together with India got its independence in 1947. Data comes from the latest Pakistani census. 

The Three Biggest Cities In Pakistan

Karachi - 14,910,352 

Karachi is Pakistan's largest city by population. In fact, the Karachi Metro area is one of the largest cities on Earth by population. The city is the capital of Sindh Province. Karachi lies along the Arabian Sea and is the biggest and most vital port in Pakistan. The city started as a small fishing village established by the Sindhi and Baloch tribes. A small number of descendants of these tribes still live in the area to date.

Karachi is the financial hub of Pakistan. It has the largest Stock Exchange in Pakistan and hosts headquarters of major corporations in the country. An increasing trend in Karachi is the rise of investors in the IT sector. Karachi is slowly becoming an information and communications hub. Industries in Karachi include textiles, automobiles, steel, and pharmaceuticals. Karachi pollution ranks higher than the recommended standards by the WHO.

Lahore - 11,126,285

Lahore has a population of 11,126,285. It is the capital of Punjab Province. Lahore has a rich history and has served as the capital of various empires such as Shahi, Mughal, and Sikh. Lahore’s architecture is a blend of modern and ancient. Lahore is considered a cultural, educational, arts, and sports center in Pakistan. Lahore contributes almost 13% to Pakistan’s economy and has a lucrative service sector with industries such as real estate, banking, financial services, tourism and information and technology services. These industries employ a substantial population in the city. 

Faisalabad - 3,203,846 

Faisalabad has a population of 3,204,726 and is in a district in the province of Punjab. Faisalabad has long been a community of villages and became an urban center under British rule. It flourished as a commercial, industrial, and agricultural center into the metropolitan it is today. Industries in the city include textiles, pharmaceuticals, paper, beverages, jewelry, and food processing. Agricultural produce from the city includes cotton, vegetables, wheat, and sugarcane. The city’s infrastructure was well planned and includes extensive networks of roads, highways, and rail. A growing trend in the city has been the attraction of numerous investors, who initiate mega projects such as malls because of the rising middle class.