Lahore (/ləˈhɔər/) is the capital city of the province of Punjab, the second-largest metropolitan area in Pakistan and the 18th-most-populous city in the world. It is an important historical centre in South Asia. With a rich history dating back over a millennium, Lahore is a main cultural centre of the Punjab region and Pakistan, and is the largest Punjabi city in the world. Lahore remains an economic, political, transportation, entertainment, and educational hub of Pakistan.