[21][22][23] Most overland trade was carried out via the Khyber Pass, connecting the Punjab region with Afghanistan and continuing into the Middle East and Central Asia.

Villages paid a portion of their agricultural produce as revenue to the rulers, while their craftsmen received a part of the crops at harvest time for their services.

[27] Ranjit Singh, Maharaja of the Sikh Empire from 1801–1839, ensured that Punjab manufactured all weapons, equipment and munitions his army needed, being self-sufficient.

The prosperity in his empire, in contrast to the Mughal–Sikh wars era, largely came from the improvement in the security situation, reduction in violence, reopened trade routes and greater freedom to conduct commerce.

Per capita output of all the crops in the province increased by approximately 45 percent between 1891 and 1921, a growth contrasting to agricultural crises in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa during the period.

The creation of canal colonies was designed to relieve demographic pressures in the central parts of the province, increase productivity and revenues, and create support for the British amongst peasant landholders.

[36] Accompanied by the increasing franchise of the rural population, this interventionist approach led to a long lasting impact on the political landscape of the province.

The Congress Party's opposition to the Act led to it being marginalised in the Punjab, reducing its influence more so than in any other province, and inhibiting its ability to challenge colonial rule locally.

[38] Military service provided access to the wider world, and personnel were deployed across the British Empire from Malaya, the Mediterranean, to Africa.

[45] Since 1965, the use of high-yielding varieties of seeds, increased fertilisers and improved irrigation facilities collectively contributed to the Green Revolution in India.

[46] A large amount of the development was focused in Punjab, and greatly improved the states economy, especially in comparison to the rest of India, which saw a low rate of growth.

In Punjab, where it was first introduced, the Green Revolution led to significant increases in the state's agricultural output, supporting India's overall economy.

Criticism of the effects of the Green Revolution include the high costs of using High-yielding variety (HYV) seeds for small farmers, which require greater use of irrigation systems and pesticides.

In reality, they still needed to pay for expensive pesticides and irrigation systems, which can lead to increased borrowing to finance the change from traditional seed varieties.

[45] According to a 2019 Indian news report, indebtedness continues to be a grave issue affecting Punjabi people today, demonstrated by the more than 900 farmers recorded to have committed suicide in Punjab in the last two years.

Since the HYV seeds can only be used in lands with a reliable water supply and requires chemicals, fertilizers etc., the introduction of the new technology in the dry-land areas is ruled out.

While the Green Revolution in Punjab had several positive and negative impacts, the introduction of new mechanised agricultural techniques led to an uneven distribution of wealth.

However, Punjab has grown slower than the rest of India, and thus its GDP per capita rank has dropped from first amongst Indian states and union territories in 1981 to sixteenth in 2020.

[55][49] The slower growth of Punjab's economy, particularlywithin the agricultural sector, is believed to have helped fuel the 2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest.

[59] The following chart shows the trends in Punjab's gross state domestic product at market prices, as estimated by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

About 10% of Punjab's population is made up of migrants from poorer states to the southeast such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar who work as farm laborers.

Another worry is the rapidly falling water table on which almost 90% of the agricultural land depends; alarming drops have been witnessed in recent years.

[91] The sugar mills in Punjab are located in Batala, Gurdaspur, Bhogpur, Phagwara, Nawanshahar, Zira, Morinda, Rakhra, Dhuri, Fazilka, Nakodar, Dasua, Budhewal, Budhladha, Mukerian, Tarn Taran, Ajnala, Faridkot, Jagraon, Amloh, Patran, and Lauhka.

The milk plants are mainly located in Verka Town (Amristar district), Ludhiana, Mohali, Jalandhar, Patiala, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, Sangrur, Bhatinda, Faridkot, Nabha, Moga, Kot Kapura, and Hamira.

[102] Popular attractions include various sites of the Indus Valley Civilisation, the ancient fort of Bathinda, the architectural monuments of Kapurthala, Patiala, and the modern capital of Chandigarh designed by Le Corbusier.

[104] The Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) of Amritsar is one of the biggest tourist destinations in Punjab and India as a whole, attracting more visitors than the Taj Mahal.

[107][108][109] Shahpur kandi fort, Ranjit Sagar lake and Sikh Temple in Sri Muktsar Sahib are other popular attractions in Punjab.

Punjab has relatively well-developed infrastructure, including road, rail, air, and river transport links that are extensive throughout the region.

The Shatabdi Express, India's fastest series of train connects Amritsar to New Delhi, covering total distance of 449 kilometres (279 mi).

Alumni of the Panjab University, Chandigarh include Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister of India, and Dr. Har Gobind Khorana, a biochemistry nobel laureate.