Pakistan to Restore Pre-Partition Names of Lahore Streets | GRAVITAS

Added: 2026-05-20

[00:00:00]Right, moving on to other updates now.

[00:00:02]Lahore may soon be reconnecting with its deep-rooted historic past. In a major cultural revival push in Pakistan, the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has approved a new plan to restore the original names of historic roads, markets, neighborhoods, and landmarks across Lahore. According to government officials, the initiative aims to bring Lahore's rich civilizational history back into public memory and strengthen the city's cultural identity.

[00:00:32]Pakistan's Punjab province government says that Lahore carries the legacy of Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, and British eras and has remained a center of multiple civilizations for centuries. But decades of political changes after the partition in 1947 and later administrative decisions reportedly gradually pushed many historic names into the background.

[00:00:58]Officials now want to revive those identities and showcase Lahore most strongly as a cultural and tourism hub.

[00:01:06]Under this proposal, several locations may regain their earlier names. The proposed changes reportedly include Islampura once again becoming Krishan Nagar. Sant Nagar may replace Sunnat Nagar.

[00:01:19]Dharampura could retain, in fact, its name older name of Mustafabad. While Ram Gali may replace Rehman Gali.

[00:01:29]Authorities also are considering restoring names such as Lakshmi Chowk, Lawrence Road, Queen's Road, and Outfall Road.

[00:01:38]The move comes decades after several landmarks across Lahore were renamed, including Lahore Stadium, renamed to Gaddafi Stadium, Mall Road becoming Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, and Minto Park turning into Iqbal Park.

[00:01:53]But officials say many original names continue to survive in public memory.

[00:01:57]Pakistani historians and archaeologists meanwhile have reportedly supported this initiative stating that historical names represent cultural heritage and they should remain preserved beyond politics or religion.

[00:02:12]Pakistan's Punjab government says the project is not simply about renaming roads or streets. It's about restoring Lahore's historical character for future generations.