Emirates has announced its plans to launch services to Multan, Pakistan, beginning August 1st this year. Service to Multan, Pakistan’s fifth largest city by population, will commence with four weekly flights operated by a Boeing 777-300 in a two-class configuration – 54 seats in Business Class and 310 in Economy Class.
Multan, is one of the oldest cities in South Asia. It has seen a lot of warfare because of its location on a major invasion route between South Asia and Central Asia. It is famous for its Sufi shrines.  Historic Eidgah in Multan is a part of beautification of the ancient city of saints and revival of its archaic originality. The 268-year old Eidgah, spread over five acres near the LMQ Road, was built in 1735 when Nawab Abdus Samad Khan was the governor of Multan. The architectural specialty of the building is that it is the only edifice having a bulbous dome in southern part of Punjab.
Other places of interest in Multan include Shah Rukan-e-Alam Tomb the glory of Multan. When the city is approached from any side the most prominent thing which can be seen from miles all around is a huge dome. This dome is the Shrine of Sheikh Rukn-ud-Din Abul Fath commonly known by the title Rukn-i-Alam (pillar of the world). The tomb is located on the south-West side of the Fort premises.
Standing at the northeastern side of the old fort which is situated on the high mound, is the tomb of Shikh-al-Kabir, Bahauddin Abu Mohammed Zakariya Al-Qurashi. The tomb occupies the centre of a vast oblong open area measuring 260 feet N.S by 203 feet E.W and is enclosed by a perimeters brick wall. It has two main gates one on the east and the other on the West Side. There is a vow of fourteen “Hujras” on the north for the “Zaireen”.
The tomb of Shah Shamas Sabzwari is situated near the Aam Khas Bagh, about a quarter of a mile on the east of the ancient port on the high bank of the old bed of the Ravi which is now filled with a multitude of modern buildings. Shah shams Sabzwari was a celebrated “Ismaili Dai”. Very little is known about Shams Sabzari’s life. According to a popular legend, he arrived in Multan at the time of Shaikh Baha-al-Din Zakariya. He breathed his last at the age of 111 years in 675/1276 and was buried in Multan.
The announcement by Emirates opens up new opportunities for tourists and business travellers alike.