Multan is a city in East Central Pakistan in the province of Punjab, southwest of Lahore. The population of the city is approximately 1,182,441 as of 1998. The city got its name from an idol in the temple of the sun god, obvisouly from the pre-Islam time period. The city is one of the oldest in Pakistan, and also one of the oldest in the Indo-Pak region. Alexander the Great conquered the city in about 326 B.C. It was also conquered by the Arabs in the 8th century and then once again conquered by the Muslims Turks at the beginning of the 11th century. From the 16th century to 1818, the Mughal's possessed control of the city. In 1818, the Sikhs took control and in 1848, the British finally took the city as it took over all of Pakistan. The city was under Pakistan control when Pakistan declared its independence in 1947. The city is known for its agricultural and leather goods. Metalworking, flour, sugar, and oil milling are the four industries the city has to offer.