Historic zone restoration delayed

Heritage trails planned at Bhati, Mori, Lohari, Mochi, Yakki and Masti gates

LAHORE:

A Rs60 billion project to restore the Walled City and Circular Garden of Lahore to their original condition on the directions of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has faced delays due to lack of coordination among various relevant departments.

According to sources, several components of the project were halted due to court orders, while others were delayed owing to the Walled City Authority's lack of adequate preparedness. Traders and residents of the inner city remain unclear about the project timeline.

The Punjab government had approved around Rs65 billion sought by the relevant departments for the reconstruction of the Walled City and Circular Garden, relocation of shops and other structures, construction of underground parking plazas and restoration of historical gates. Funds were released in phases.

The communications and works department began work on parking plazas the Taxali, Sheranwala and Mochi gates.

However, the PHA allegedly failed to complete preliminary work, including tree relocation, before the start of construction. As a result, the Lahore High Court issued stay orders against work at Taxali and Sheranwala gates.

Only the underground plaza at Mochi Gate is currently under construction.

The Walled City Authority issued tenders for projects including sewerage, drainage and water supply upgrade, road rehabilitation, electrical work and restoration of historic buildings. Tenders worth over Rs900 million were floated for areas adjoining Mochi and Akbari gates, while contracts exceeding Rs300 million were invited in December last year for areas near Kashmiri and Sheranwala gates. Although contracts were awarded, the work has yet to begin.

Under the "Restoration of Mall Road and the Historic Zone of Lahore" initiative, substantial funds were released for the rehabilitation and lighting of New and Old Anarkali, Jain Mandir, Pan Wali Gali and Buxi Market.

However, some tenders were cancelled following objections from contractors over procedural issues and have since been reissued, causing further delays.

Six heritage trail projects were planned at Bhati, Mori, Lohari, Mochi, Yakki and Masti gates to preserve historic streets and cultural heritage. Work on these projects has also not commenced.

Meanwhile, the inner city continues to face severe sewerage issues and broken roads, disrupting business activities.

A separate project was launched to construct a high boundary wall around Circular Garden. Initially approved for four kilometres, the plan has now been revised to about 1.5 after a fresh survey revealed that several buildings in the originally proposed area cannot be relocated.

Among other projects, the Neela Gumbad underground parking plaza, estimated at Rs2.5 billion, is 27 per cent complete, while the Nasir Bagh plaza costing Rs1.7 billion has seen 17% progress.

Tenders have been issued for a pedestrian zone around the Government College, at an estimated cost of Rs780 million, but the work is yet to begin. A local resident, Muhammad Naseer, said continued delays would escalate costs and erode public trust.

Commenting on the matter, Walled City of Lahore Authority Conservation Director Azeem Dad said that out of 25 projects under the programme covering the inner city and Mall Road, tenders for 17 had been issued.