What is the Oldest City of Pakistan?

The oldest city of Pakistan is Multan.
Multan is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, with a history spanning over 5,000 years. It has been a major center of civilization, trade, religion, and culture since ancient times.

Oldest City of Pakistan

✅ Multan

• Location: Southern Punjab, Pakistan

• Age: Over 5,000 years old

• Historical Name: Known as Mulasthana in ancient texts

• Civilizations: Indus Valley, Aryan, Persian, Greek, Muslim

Historical Importance of Multan

Multan has played a vital role throughout history:

• Indus Valley Civilization: Early settlement period

• Alexander the Great: Captured Multan in 326 BC

• Islamic Era: Became a center of Islamic learning and Sufism

• Sufi Saints: Known as the City of Saints

The city is famous for shrines of Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya and Shah Rukn-e-Alam.

Why Multan is Called the Oldest City?

Multan qualifies as the oldest city of Pakistan because:

• Continuous human settlement for thousands of years

• Mentioned in ancient Hindu, Greek, and Islamic records

• Strategic location on ancient trade routes

• Cultural continuity from ancient to modern times

Exam-Oriented One-Line Answer

Multan is the oldest city of Pakistan, with a history of over 5,000 years.

MCQs – Oldest City of Pakistan

Q1. Which is the oldest city of Pakistan?
A) Lahore
B) Karachi
C) Multan
D) Peshawar

✅ Answer: C) Multan

Q2. In which province is Multan located?
A) Sindh
B) Punjab
C) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
D) Balochistan

✅ Answer: B) Punjab

Q3. Multan is also known as the city of:
A) Gardens
B) Lights
C) Saints
D) Forts

✅ Answer: C) Saints

Q4. Which civilization had early settlements in Multan?
A) Roman
B) Chinese
C) Indus Valley
D) Egyptian

✅ Answer: C) Indus Valley

Comparison with Other Ancient Cities

Quick Revision Box

• Oldest City: Multan

• Province: Punjab

• Age: 5,000+ years

• Known As: City of Saints

• Historical Role: Trade, religion, culture