Punjab govt defers Lahore road renaming plan amid political pressure and backlash fears

Under mounting political pressure and growing backlash concerns, the Punjab government has put on hold its plan to restore Lahore’s historic road and street names.

The proposal, which had earlier been approved in a meeting of the Lahore Heritage Areas Revival (LHAR), was jointly chaired by PML-N president Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The initiative sought to reinstate pre-partition names of several roads and neighbourhoods as part of efforts to revive the city’s cultural and historical identity.

According to Dawn, the plan has now been deferred, with officials indicating that no final implementation decision has been taken. Lahore Deputy Commissioner retired Capt. Muhammad Ali Ijaz said the matter remains under discussion and denied that any formal execution order has been issued.

The pause comes after sections of social media users and vloggers criticised the move, allegedly giving it a religious framing, which intensified debate and prompted caution within the provincial administration.

Heritage push continues amid consultation and competing narratives

Before the controversy escalated, the LHAR held a consultative session with historians, architects, urban planners and civil society members to gather feedback on the proposal. Participants largely agreed that Lahore’s layered historical identity represents a valuable cultural heritage that deserves preservation for future generations.

Many attendees had supported the restoration of original road names, arguing it would reconnect the city with its pre-partition past and strengthen its cultural continuity. Despite this backing, the growing political sensitivity around the issue has slowed progress.

Over the years, Lahore has seen multiple renaming drives that replaced older colonial-era or pre-partition names with those of national figures or Islamic references. Changes included Queen’s Road becoming Fatima Jinnah Road, Jail Road renamed Allama Iqbal Road, and Lawrence Road turned into Bagh-i-Jinnah Road, among others.

Officials maintain that consultations are still ongoing and any final decision will be taken only after weighing public sentiment, political implications and heritage considerations.