LAHORE, Pakistan – The Pakistani government has put on hold a controversial plan to restore several historic pre-Partition Hindu and British-era names for roads, bazaars, and neighborhoods across Lahore. The decision to defer the initiative came after significant online opposition from "extremist elements" who framed the proposed changes in religious terms.
The proposal, which aimed to revive Lahore's rich historical identity, had received strong backing from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. It was initially approved in March by the Lahore Heritage Areas Revival (LHAR), chaired by Sharif, as part of the broader multi-billion-rupee Lahore Authority for Heritage Revival (LAHR) project. The Punjab Cabinet subsequently cleared the plan in May.
Planned Restorations Spark Controversy
Among the prominent landmarks slated for renaming were:
- Fatima Jinnah Road, which was to revert to Queen's Road.
- Allama Iqbal Road, proposed to become Jail Road.
- Islampura, originally named Krishan Nagar before Partition, was set to regain its historic identity.
- Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Chowk, intended to become Lakshmi Chowk.
- Other changes included restoring Mustafaabad to Dharampura, Hameed Nizami Road to Temple Street, and Babri Masjid Chowk to Jain Mandir Road.
Online Backlash Forces U-Turn
However, the announcement quickly triggered a fierce backlash on social media. Vloggers and hardline voices accused the government of attempting to revive "Hindu and Sikh" names, leading to widespread criticism. An official source, quoted by news agency PTI, stated that these "extremist elements" pushed the administration onto the defensive, causing the Maryam Nawaz government to defer the decision to avoid further public outcry.
Lahore Deputy Commissioner Captain (Retired) Muhammad Ali Ijaz confirmed on Monday that "no such decision has been taken as yet," indicating the proposal's current stalled status.
Preserving Lahore's Legacy
Despite decades of official renaming efforts following Partition, many colonial and Hindu-era names have persisted in Lahore's public memory. Karachi-based historian Yaqoob Khan Bangash noted that Lahore experienced a different post-1947 demographic shift compared to Karachi, with many refugees integrating into the existing social fabric rather than entirely reshaping the city's identity.
Following the controversy, LHAR convened a consultation with historians, scholars, architects, and urban planners. While participants reportedly agreed on the "invaluable legacy" of Lahore's historical identity and largely supported the restoration of old names, the proposal remains on hold indefinitely.