This Toshakhana is the private museum of the Faqir's family. It is also a microcosm of Lahore history of which the Faqirs themselves are very much part. The 6th generation of Faqirs today traces their family background to an 18th century ancestor, who came from Bukhara to the holy city of Uch Sharif. The first founder of the family was a Faqir or religious ascetic who had three sons, all devout Muslims in a Sikh court, who contrived to win Ranjit Singh's favor. One version is that one of the brothers cured a persistent infection in Ramjet's good eye. Since Ranjit was an illiterate, he heavily relied on the brothers specially Faqir-Aziz-ud-Din who acted as combined Prime Minister, interpreter and travel agent. Faqir Nuruddin was the Royal Physician and founded a hospital for poor Muslims in Lahore, today known as the Mayo Hospital.

All official visitors to Ranjit brought ceremonial gifts to Ramjet's court. These gifts were in turn bestowed upon the favorites including the Fairs brothers, which included a miniature brass cannon which ingeniously fired at noon each day. Pieces of English cut glass and china lamps, clocks and watches. Some of these are in the Lahore museum as part of the faqirs family bequest.

Ranjit Singh also appropriated many treasures from his Moghal predecessors like calligraphic manuscripts, including Quran's and several hundred exquisite 17th and 18th century paints, which are made in a process now, lost, by grinding precious stones such as emeralds and amethysts to a powder. Many of these miniatures found their way to the Faqir Khana.

Other collections include clothes worn by the 18th century Moghul emperors, carpet from their courts, a collection of Sikh weapons, vital accessory in any imperial oriental court, a stone poison filter recently tested by a drug company, guaranteed to work.

The collection was first displayed in 1909, inaugurated by British dignitaries Sir Edward and Lady Maclagan.

On the far side of Zamzma is the Lahore Central Museum built in Mughal Gothic style and opened in 1894. It is one of the best museums  in Pakistan with superb collection of relics from the rich cultural heritage of Lahore. The rare collection of Mughal paintings, statues of Buddha in various attitudes including the priceless 'Fasting Buddha'. On display are various examples of Gandhara sculpture reflecting the successive stages of the oriental civilization, miniature paintings, manuscripts.

It was established in 1950. Industrial and commercial Museum is meant to depict country's economic resources both in the form of raw products and worked objects. Its collection is arranged in one gallery and one large hall of the building. The main hall displays a long range of variety of material such as well plated musical instruments, table lamps of camel skin from Multan and Bhawalpur, Cotton, Silken-woolen and embroided textiles from all important cites of Pakistan. Copper and brass wares from Peshawar and Lahore, dolls from Lahore and Karachi, decorative and functional ceramics from Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat and Lahore. Beside that, there are some agricultural, chemical pharmaceutical and forest products of Pakistan, sports and plastic goods, metallic as well as plaster of Paris and clay toys, national models, and stuffed birds e.t.c. There are good specimens of glassware, silver jewelry, ivory artifacts, alabaster objects, oil and wash color paintings etc. in the gallery there are few handicrafts, medical instruments and plywood goods from Sialkot are displayed.

This museum was actually Shakir's House, which he made for him self. After his death it was bought by Idara-I-Saqafat-e-Pakistan and formally turned into a museum on April 3rd, 1976. The idea  was not only to preserve the great artist's paintings and other masterpieces under one roof but also to open this combination of modern and traditional architecture to the public.

The fort like building is made up of distorted black bricks. These bricks are burnt ones found in the inner most part of the brick kiln. The use of narrows and long black wooden doors and windows with arches give an antique look to the house. The floor of the doorways and terrace is made-up of long and thin red bricks.