Mosque Wazir Khan is famous for its outstanding beauty and elegance. It was built by Hakim Illum-ud-Din Ansari a renowned physician who rose to the position of a Wazir (Minister) and later the Governor of the Punjab, in the reign of Shahjahan. He earned the title of Wazir Khan.

The mosque was built by him in 1643 A.D. It is one of the most decorative structures in Pakistan with delicate tile inlay, floral patterns, superb calligraphy in mosaic and improved octagonal minarets.

It is a marvellous specimen of tile work and the building is entirely covered with arabesque painting in tile mosaic. The floral patterns which have been used extensively on the walls, the arches and on the interior of the domes, are superb examples of decoration in Persian Style.

This mosque in fact presents a unique phase of the art of decoration in the Mughal architecture, which is known as variegated glazed tile and mosaic work. Cypress as a decorative design in enamelled mosaic work appears for the very first time in this mosque.

The completion of the mosque Wazir Khan may be said to close the chapter of this particular style of Mughal architecture at Lahore. Later attempts such as the golden mosque of Bikhari Khan and the palace and tomb of Khan Bahadur, at Begumpura, only prove how architectural taste fell of the empire, and became a mongrel style, that is half Muslim and Half Hindu.

The mosque has been built on a raised platform which is approached by a flight of steps. The building has been divided into five compartments, each opening upon the spacious courtyard and is surmounted by a dome. A high minaret has been fixed at each corner of the quadrangle, which offers excellent views of the city.