Officials in Lahore will restore street names from the pre-Partition era to honor the city's Hindu, Sikh, and British history.
The initiative seeks to preserve Lahore's historic cultural identity and recognize its multi-faith heritage. By reversing previous name changes, the government aims to acknowledge the syncretic nature of the city's past.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired the meeting where the decision was approved [1]. The project is also backed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif [2].
The restoration effort involves a project cost of 50 billion PKR [3]. This funding will support the transition of street signage back to historical designations, such as the return of Krishnan Nagar in areas previously known as Islampura [3].
The move targets the recovery of names associated with various religious and colonial influences that existed before the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan [1, 4]. These changes are intended to reflect a more inclusive historical narrative for the Punjab province [2, 4].
Local authorities are coordinating the rollout to ensure that the restoration of these historical markers aligns with the city's urban infrastructure goals [3].
“Lahore will restore its pre‑Partition street names in a multi‑billion‑rupee project.”
This project represents a symbolic shift in Pakistan's approach to its urban history, moving away from the post-1947 trend of renaming landmarks to reflect a singular religious identity. By investing 50 billion PKR into the restoration of Hindu, Sikh, and British nomenclature, the Punjab government is signaling a willingness to embrace a pluralistic heritage, which may have broader implications for cultural diplomacy and internal social cohesion.
