Guide
About Sheikhupura
Sheikhupura is a city and district headquarters about 38 km north-west of Lahore. It was founded in 1607 by the Mughal emperor Jahangir near the older town of Jandiala Sher Khan, and its best-known monument, the Hiran Minar, dates from his reign.
Its closeness to Lahore and its position on main roads and the M-2 motorway have made Sheikhupura one of Punjab's main industrial satellites. Manufacturers use it for land and labour within easy reach of the provincial capital, and the city's own markets serve a large and growing district population.
Economy and main industries
Manufacturing is the main business of the district. Industrial units line the Lahore–Sheikhupura–Faisalabad Road, which is a long-standing corridor for factories, warehouses and suppliers. Ministers and officials visiting the Sheikhupura Chamber of Commerce and Industry have stressed the role of this business community in the provincial economy.
The largest recent project is the Quaid-e-Azam Business Park, a 1,536-acre industrial estate on the Lahore–Islamabad Motorway (M-2) near Sheikhupura. It was first planned as the Quaid-e-Azam Apparel Park, renamed in November 2019 and formally launched in July 2020. It is developed by the Punjab government, run by the Punjab Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (PIEDMC) and designated a special economic zone, so investors there can benefit from incentives such as tax holidays. Factories have begun production on site, and the Punjab government has approved a multipurpose business centre for the park. Rachna Industrial Park is a second industrial area under development.
Main business areas and markets
Inside the city, retail and services are spread along the main roads that leave the centre. Lahore Road leads towards the provincial capital, while Sargodha Road and Faisalabad Road lead out to the industrial belt, and business addresses along all three are common. Civil Lines is the administrative quarter, and Housing Colony is an established residential area with its own neighbourhood shops.
Hiran Minar and Qila Sattar Shah are other localities used in business addresses. Traditional bazaars and street food stalls are found in the older parts of the city, including along Sharqpur Road.
Heritage
The Hiran Minar was built by Jahangir between 1607 and 1620 as a memorial to his pet deer, Mansiraj. It is the city's best-known site and its main visitor attraction, and the surrounding area has grown into a residential and commercial locality of the same name. It was founded at the same time as the city itself, near the older settlement of Jandiala Sher Khan.
Finding businesses in Sheikhupura
People commonly look for factories and manufacturers, industrial plots and property dealers, transporters, machinery and spare-parts suppliers, labour contractors, and schools and hospitals for workers' families. Investors also look for consultants who can help with approvals at the Quaid-e-Azam Business Park. PakistanYP listings can be filtered by locality, such as Lahore Road or Faisalabad Road.
Frequently asked questions
What is the area code for Sheikhupura?
Sheikhupura's telephone area code is 056, or +92 56 from abroad.
What is the Quaid-e-Azam Business Park?
It is a 1,536-acre special economic zone on the M-2 motorway near Sheikhupura, developed by the Punjab government and managed by PIEDMC.
How far is Sheikhupura from Lahore?
The city is about 38 km north-west of Lahore.
Who built the Hiran Minar?
The Mughal emperor Jahangir built it between 1607 and 1620 in memory of his pet deer, Mansiraj.