Rehman Gali not Ram Gali? Pakistan delays Lahore heritage renaming plan after extremist backlash

Lahore: The Punjab government in Pakistan has reportedly deferred its proposal to restore the original historical names of roads and streets in Lahore after criticism from extremist groups and social media commentators, according to an official familiar with the matter.

The proposal had earlier received approval during a meeting of the Lahore Heritage Areas Revival committee, jointly chaired by PML-N President and three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The meeting approved plans to restore the original historical names of several roads and localities in Lahore and nearby areas.

The Chief Minister’s Office had also issued a statement to the media confirming the decision.

Government now says no final decision has been taken

Despite the earlier announcement, the Punjab government has now indicated that the matter remains under discussion.

Lahore Deputy Commissioner Capt R Muhammad Ali Ijaz told Dawn on Monday that no formal decision had yet been finalised regarding the restoration of old road and street names.

When asked about the March 20 statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office following approval from Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, Ijaz maintained that the issue was still under consideration.

“No such decision has been taken as yet,” he said, adding that discussions on the matter were continuing.

Officials cite backlash from extremist groups

An official familiar with the development said the government decided to step back from the proposal after criticism from extremist elements, including online vloggers, who objected to the restoration of several pre-Partition Hindu and Sikh names in Lahore.

According to the official, critics gave the issue a religious angle, prompting the Maryam Nawaz administration to postpone implementation in order to avoid a wider backlash.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity.

Experts consulted on Lahore heritage proposal

Following the controversy, the Lahore Heritage Areas Revival committee recently organised a gathering involving scholars, historians, architects, urban planners and other prominent personalities to discuss the proposal.

According to a statement issued by the committee, participants examined the cultural, civic and historical importance of reviving Lahore’s traditional place names as part of a broader heritage conservation initiative.

The discussions focused on the historical relevance of old names, documentation of Lahore’s past and the possible impact of restoring traditional names on tourism, public awareness and preservation of heritage.

“The forum explored the cultural, historical, and civic significance of reviving the city’s traditional nomenclature as part of a broader initiative aimed at preserving and promoting Lahore’s rich heritage and identity,” the statement said.

“Participants exchanged views on the historical relevance of various names, the documentation of the city’s past, and the potential impact of such a revival on heritage conservation, tourism, and public awareness.”

Participants support preserving Lahore’s historical identity

The meeting concluded with broad agreement that Lahore’s historical identity represented an important cultural legacy that deserved careful preservation for future generations.

According to the committee, most participants supported restoring the original historical names of roads and streets across Lahore.

Several roads and localities renamed over the years

A number of well-known streets, roads and neighbourhoods in Lahore had previously been renamed by successive governments over the decades.

These include Queen’s Road, which was renamed Fatima Jinnah Road, Jail Road renamed Allama Iqbal Road, Davies Road renamed Sir Aga Khan Road, Lawrence Road renamed Bagh-i-Jinnah Road and Empress Road renamed Shahrah-i-Abdul Hameed bin Badees.

Other renamed areas include Krishan Nagar, now called Islampura, Santnagar renamed Sunnat Nagar, Dharampura renamed Mustafabad, Brandreth Road renamed Nistar Road and Temple Street renamed Hameed Nizami.

Laxmi Chowk was renamed Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Chowk, Jain Mandir Road became Babri Masjid Chowk, Ram Gali was changed to Rehman Gali, Kumharpura became Ghaziabad and Outfall Road was renamed Jilani Road.

Similarly, Mohan Lal Bazaar, Sundar Das Road, Bhagwan Pura Shanti Nagar and several other roads and streets across Lahore also underwent renaming in the past.