It is the oldest city in Punjab. It is the centre of that area of the State which has maximum Non-Resident Indians. This has made it a rich and forward looking city. Jalandhar is India's foremost producer of sports goods as it is of hockey Olympians and leading football players. It is one of the biggest centres of the vernacular press in India.

Its satellite town, Phagwara is a leading industrial focal point with famous cloth manufacturing and sugar mills; because of its NRI association its cloth and drapery shops have become international shopping centres. 

Another satellite town Goraya produces fodder chopping machines of all types-called toka in Indian languages. Goraya is known as the toka town of India. Now it is famous for manufacturing harvesting combines and axles of all kinds.

Kartarpur, its satellite historical town is one of the biggest exporters of quality furniture.