Lahore is the second largest financial hub of Pakistan and has industrial areas including Kot Lakhpat and the new Sundar Industrial Estate (near Raiwand). A major industrial agglomeration with about 9,000 industrial units, Lahore has shifted in recent decades from manufacturing to service industries.[7] Some 42% of its work force is employed in finance, banking, real estate, community, cultural, and social services.[7] The city is the country’s largest software producing center,[7] and hosts a growing computer-assembly industry.[7]
Lahore is the hub of handmade carpet manufacturing in Pakistan.[8] At present, hand-knitted carpets produced in and around Lahore are among Pakistan's leading export products, and their manufacturing is the second-largest cottage and small industry.
Craftsmen in Lahore produce almost every type of handmade carpet using popular motifs such as medallions, paisleys, traceries, and geometric designs. The Lahore Design Centre at the Punjab Small Industries Corporation maintains a separate section of carpet designing to experiment with new designs. Lahore is known for single-weft designs in Turkoman and Caucasian style and double-weft Mughal types.
Among the projects currently under construction in Lahore is the long-delayed Lahore Expo Centre.[9]
Defense Raya Golf Resort is an exceptional housing project that spans 400 acres of premium residential and commercial development. The vibrant community is built around the 18-hole international-standard Defence Raya Golf Course and features a wide range of real estate offerings, including luxury apartments, posh villas and ultramodern commercial centres. The project is a joint venture between DHA Lahore and BRDB Malaysia. The rapid development of large projects such as these in the city is expected to boost the economy of the country.[10]
