At LAHR meeting, Nawaz, Maryam greenlight plan to revive historical identity, heritage of Lahore

• Meeting decides to restore historic names of roads, colleges with Walled City routes to be made pedestrian-friendly

• Clears Convent Garden, new museum block projects, besides Data Darbar expansion with 18 kanal land acquisition

 LAHORE: A high-level meeting on the Lahore Heritage Areas Revival (LAHR) project was held under the chairmanship of PML-N President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, where key decisions were taken to restore the historical identity and cultural heritage of Lahore.

The meeting approved the restoration of original names of roads, streets, and historic government colleges that were later upgraded to universities. It was decided that the term “University” would be removed, allowing these institutions to revert to their historic names.

A comprehensive review of ongoing restoration projects of heritage buildings across Lahore was conducted, including visual assessments of progress.

Among key decisions, the meeting approved the development of a Convent Garden behind Tollinton Market, along with an “Everything Organic Café.” The garden will feature semi-covered areas, shops, and a two-storey underground parking facility.

Plans for a New Museum Block were also reviewed, where world-class galleries—featuring ancient weapons, coins, as well as Chinese and Sikh heritage—will be established, alongside interactive digital screens for visitors.

The session further approved converting the route from Shah Alam Gate to Rang Mahal Chowk into a pedestrian walkway. Additionally, eight historic routes within the Walled City will be restored, including areas around Bhati, Mochi, Akbari, Yaki, Masti, and Delhi Gates.

A Tourist Information Office will be established at Akbari Gate, while restoration plans for Mochi Gate, Yaki Gate, and Masti Gate were also presented.

The meeting agreed to restore the walls of the Lahore Fort to their original condition in phases, with emphasis on maintaining uniform historical architecture on the exterior of old buildings.

Encroachments at Shah Alami Chowk will be cleared to restore Baoli Bagh, while the historic structure adjacent to Neela Gumbad will be rehabilitated in line with heritage design. An underground parking facility and a themed café are also planned at the site.

Progress on the expansion project of Data Darbar was reviewed, with a decision to acquire 18 kanal of land for expansion and directions issued to ensure compensation to affected individuals at market rates.

The initiative reflects a comprehensive effort to revive Lahore’s historic character while integrating modern urban planning to enhance tourism, accessibility, and cultural preservation.

CM directs foolproof security at bus stands, markets ahead of Chand Raat

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed authorities to ensure foolproof security arrangements at bus stands, commercial centres, and markets across the province.

Chairing a review of security measures, the chief minister ordered the deployment of additional personnel in bazaars on Chand Raat. She also instructed that women police squads patrol public areas to prevent incidents of harassment, stressing that protection of women and children must be ensured at all costs.

She further directed the use of drone cameras and night-vision devices for surveillance in markets and business areas, while ordering strict monitoring to curb one-wheeling on roads during Chand Raat.

The chief minister also instructed authorities to enhance security and patrolling around ATMs and banks. Police and transport officials were directed to maintain continuous monitoring at wagon stands and bus terminals.

She emphasised that fare lists must be prominently displayed on the windscreens of buses and vans to ensure compliance with notified fares.

CM welcomes issuance of 5G spectrum licence

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed gratitude over the issuance of the 5G spectrum licence and congratulated Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and his team.

In a statement, the chief minister said that, by the grace of Allah Almighty, Pakistan is advancing in the fast-paced global race of digital technology. She noted that the launch of 5G would not only benefit students but also promote the IT sector and businesses.

She added that the Punjab Artificial Intelligence roadmap had already been introduced and that the province is moving towards establishing the world’s first AI delivery unit. The chief minister said the rollout of 5G would help accelerate implementation of the AI roadmap.