LAHORE: The Punjab government has deferred its decision to restore the original historical names of roads and streets in Lahore, reportedly due to pressure from certain groups.
The Lahore Heritage Areas Revival (LAHR) had convened a meeting last March under the joint leadership of PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The session approved the restoration of pre-Partition names for roads and streets in Lahore and its environs. Mr. Sharif chairs the LAHR.
However, the plan faced criticism from certain quarters, including social media influencers, who framed the decision in religious terms. The provincial administration has since stepped back, postponing the initiative to avoid public backlash.
In response to queries from Dawn, Lahore Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali Ijaz stated on Monday, “No such decision has been taken as yet.”
Lahore DC insists no decision has been taken as yet
When reminded that both Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam had approved the restoration of original names—a step formally communicated via a handout from the Chief Minister’s office—DC Ijaz maintained that the matter remains under discussion and no final decision has been reached.
Earlier, the LAHR had organized a symposium with scholars, historians, architects, urban planners, and citizens to solicit input on the government’s “proposal” to restore historical names across Lahore.
The gathering concluded with a consensus that the city’s historic identity represents an invaluable legacy that must be thoughtfully preserved for future generations. “The majority of participants spoke in favour of restoring Lahore’s historical road and street names,” one attendee informed Dawn.
Over the years, numerous pre-Partition streets and roads in Lahore have been renamed, often replacing British-era or Hindu-associated names with those of Islamic, Pakistani, or local historical figures. Examples include Queen’s Road becoming Fatima Jinnah Road, Jail Road turning into Allama Iqbal Road, Davies Road renamed Sir Aga Khan Road, Lawrence Road becoming Bagh-i-Jinnah Road, Empress Road turning into Shahrah-i-Abdul Hameed bin Badees, Krishan Nagar renamed Islampura, Santnagar becoming Sunnat Nagar, Dharampura renamed Mustafabad, Brandreth Road turning into Nistar Road, Temple Street renamed Hameed Nizami Road, Laxmi Chowk becoming Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Chowk, Jain Mandir Road renamed Babri Masjid Chowk, Ram Gali turning into Rehman Gali, Kumharpura renamed Ghaziabad, and Outfall Road becoming Jilani Road.
Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2026
