Introduction
The flag of Lahore, a city in Pakistan's Punjab province, is a distinctive civic banner representing the administrative capital. It features a deep blue field with a central white shield containing a prominent red five-pointed star and a red crescent. Below the shield, the city's name 'Lahore' is inscribed in white Urdu script, adding a clear textual identifier.
The design is a heraldic flag that departs from traditional Pakistani national symbols, establishing a unique visual identity for the metropolitan government. The use of blue, white, and red creates a stark and easily recognizable contrast, suitable for official use on buildings and documents.
As the flag of a major South Asian metropolis, it symbolizes the city's administrative authority and local pride, separate from provincial or national emblems.
Meaning & Symbolism
The flag's central emblem, the shield, is a classic heraldic symbol representing protection, governance, and civic authority. The red crescent and star placed upon it are widely recognized symbols of Islam, reflecting the faith of the majority of the city's population and its cultural heritage.
The deep blue field is often associated with stability, depth, and trust, qualities befitting a governing body. The white shield signifies peace and transparency. Together, the colors and symbols project an image of a devout, stable, and protective municipal administration.
History of the Lahore Flag
The current flag was adopted for the Lahore Metropolitan Corporation following local government reforms in Pakistan. It represents the modern administrative entity governing the city, distinct from historical flags used in the region during the Mughal, Sikh, or British colonial periods.
Its design is contemporary, created to establish a clear visual identity for the city's government in the 21st century. The flag's adoption is tied to the restructuring of municipal governance, though the exact year of adoption is not widely published in common vexillological sources.
Curiosities
- The flag uses a heraldic shield on a plain field, a design category more common for European civic flags than for South Asian cities.
- The Urdu script for 'Lahore' (لاہور) is an integral part of the design, making it one of the few city flags to incorporate text so centrally.
- Its color scheme of blue, white, and red is shared with many national flags, but its specific arrangement with a central shield is unique.
Download Flag
Download the flag of Lahore in high-quality SVG vector format or PNG raster images. SVG files can be scaled to any size without losing quality.
Construction Sheet
The flag's proportions are typically 3:5. The deep blue field occupies the entire area. Centered on the field is a white shield, whose dimensions are based on classic heraldic proportions. Inside the shield, the red crescent and five-pointed star are positioned centrally, with the star placed to the right (from the viewer's perspective) of the crescent's opening. The Urdu text 'Lahore' is inscribed in a clean, white script directly beneath the base of the shield.
Flags Similar to Lahore Flag
Common Misidentifications
Rarely misidentified due to its specific shield and text, but the central star and crescent on blue may cause a distant resemblance to the flag of Somalia.