Lahore is formally undergoing a historical restoration, and it is really the ultimate voyage down memory lane! In a surprising turn of events, the Punjab government recently sanctioned a comprehensive scheme to restore pre-Partition names for some of Lahore’s famous streets, communities, and routes. The city has gradually swapped its previous British-era, Hindu, and Jain street names with local Islamic or Pakistani ones for decades.
Still, the government is totally turning the tables. Officials aspire to bring back the city’s multicultural legacy, which was once whole and shared among many faiths. It is a huge tribute to Lahore’s pluralistic past, and the internet is already buzzing about it!
The Masterminds Behind the Makeover
This historical rewind forms part of the large Lahore Heritage Areas Revival (LHAR) Project. It’s a major project strongly supported by Nawaz Sharif, the former Prime Minister.
To make it official, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz recently chaired a cabinet meeting and gave the green light to the project. Moreover, this isn’t merely a minor adjustment. The larger renovation project costs an astonishing 50 billion Pakistani rupees! The government intends to spend a lot of money to bring the city’s architectural and cultural fabric back to life.
The Ultimate Name Swap Guide
If you get lost in Lahore over the next few months, don’t panic! Street signs across the city are getting a major rewrite. To help you keep track, here is a quick guide to the most famous areas reverting to their original, pre-Partition names:
- Islampura is officially going back to its roots as Krishan Nagar.
- Sunnat Nagar will switch back to Sant Nagar.
- Babri Masjid Chowk is reverting to its original name, Jain Mandir Road / Chowk.
- Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Chowk is taking back its iconic title, Lakshmi Chowk.
- Mustafaabad will once again be known as Dharampura.
The changes do not stop there! Major colonial-era roads and green spaces are also returning to their old school titles:
- Allama Iqbal Road changes back to Jail Road.
- Fatima Jinnah Road turns back into Queens Road.
- Bagh-e-Jinnah is reverting to its famous colonial name, Lawrence Gardens.
- Sir Aga Khan Road goes back to Davis Road.
- Hameed Nizami Road becomes Temple Street.
- Nishtar Road transforms back into Brandreth Road.
- Rehman Gali switches back to Ram Gali.
- Ghaziabad changes back to Kumharpura.
- Jeelani Road returns to Outfall Road.
- Shahrah-i-Abdul Hameed bin Badees reverts to Empress Road.
Bringing Back the Sports and Culture Glory Days
Apart from altering street signs, the LHAR initiative is bringing Lahore’s golden age of sports back to life. Particularly, Nawaz Sharif suggested rebuilding three ancient cricket grounds and a traditional wrestling akhara at Minto Park, which is currently known as Greater Iqbal Park.
Minto Park was a famous centre where sportsmen from all ethnic groups trained together before the 1947 Partition. For example, the pioneer cricket celebrity of united India, Lala Amarnath, developed his skills on these very grounds. In 1978, during his trip to Pakistan, he famously went straight to Minto Park to reunite with his former pre-Partition club, the Crescent Cricket Club. Early years of training for modern Pakistani superstars like Inzamam-ul-Haq were spent here as well.
The wrestling arena likewise has a great deal of historical significance. Among the legendary subcontinental wrestlers it once welcomed were the renowned Gama Pehalwan (The Great Gama), Goonga Pehalwan, and Imam Bakhsh. Furthermore, Minto Park was a vibrant cultural hub where Hindus annually celebrated the festival of Dussehra before Partition.
The Political Plot Twist
Interestingly, this massive project also doubles as a bit of political damage control for the Sharif family. Back in 2015, the current Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, was serving as the Chief Minister of Punjab. During his tenure, his administration faced massive public backlash for demolishing those exact historic cricket clubs and the wrestling arena to make room for modern urban development. Therefore, by spending billions to rebuild these heritage spaces today, the family is effectively fixing past mistakes and rewriting their infrastructure legacy.
A New Chapter for the Walled City
Ultimately, this renaming initiative is a fascinating step toward embracing Lahore’s complex, multi-layered history. By acknowledging its diverse British, Hindu, and Jain roots, Lahore is proving that progress does not mean erasing the past. It will certainly take some time for locals to stop saying Islampura and get used to Krishan Nagar again, but the change marks a beautiful celebration of shared history. One thing is for sure: Lahore’s cultural landscape just became a whole lot richer!
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