Malik Ayyaz was the favourite and trusted General of Mahmud of Ghazni. Mahmud and Ayyaz are teh foremost heroes of Lahore. It is generally accepted that Malik Ayyaz founded the present day Lahore after the defeat of Hindu Raja Jai Pal at the hands of Mahmud.
Ayyaz was appointed as the Governor of Lahore in 1042 AD and the reconstruction of Lahore took place by his orders. His tomb today stands in the midst of Lahore’s Walled City, inside Shah Alam Gate in Rang Mahal Chowk very near to the Gold Market. Originally, the tomb was magnificent structure to which an extensive garden was attached.