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Pakistan’s Punjab government halts Lahore Authority heritage renaming plan amid pressure from extremist elements, despite backing from Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz.
The renaming drive was part of the Lahore Authority for Heritage Revival (LAHR), a massive urban conservation initiative launched in 2025. Image/X
Days after Pakistan’s Lahore Authority announced restoration of its pre-Partition identity by replacing Islamised signboards with older Hindu, Sikh and colonial-era names, the Punjab government has deferred its decision allegedly on the pressure of some “extremist elements”.
The renaming drive was part of the Lahore Authority for Heritage Revival (LAHR), a massive urban conservation initiative launched in 2025 by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. Estimated to cost nearly 50 billion Pakistani rupees, the project aimed to restore Lahore’s historic architecture, roads, gardens and cultural landmarks. At least nine locations across Lahore was officially reverted to their historical names over the past two months.
“No such decision has been taken as yet,” Lahore Deputy Commissioner retired Capt. Muhammad Ali Ijaz told Dawn on Monday. This is despite the project being backed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz.
On the question of both Nawaz Sharif and CM Maryam giving approval to restoration of original (pre-Partition) names of roads and streets, and the CM office duly issued a handout in this regard, Dawn quoted Ijaz insisting that no decision had been taken as yet as the matter was under discussion.
According to officials associated with the project, Nawaz Sharif had personally pushed for restoring Lahore’s original names and identity.
The broader revival effort also included restoration of churches, temples, gurdwaras and Sikh-era buildings associated with the empire of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The projects included rehabilitation of the Kharak Singh Haveli, restoration of a painting of Princess Bamba Sutherland at Lahore Fort and conservation work at gurdwaras near the Badshahi Mosque.
Lahore, Pakistan
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