From Babri Masjid Chowk To Jain Mandir, Rehman Gali To Ram Gali: Why Lahore Is Renaming Its Streets

Lahore is witnessing a major identity shift as several roads, neighbourhoods and public landmarks across the city are returning to their pre-Partition names. In a move that has triggered debate across Pakistan, authorities have started replacing names introduced during decades of Islamisation with older Hindu, Sikh, Jain and colonial-era identities.

From Rehman Gali becoming Ram Gali again to Babri Masjid Chowk reverting to Jain Mandir Chowk, the campaign is changing the visual and cultural landscape of Pakistan's cultural capital. Officials say the effort is aimed at reviving Lahore's historic heritage, while critics believe it is also designed to improve Pakistan's global image at a time of economic and diplomatic pressure.

Full List Of Lahore Localities And Roads Being Renamed

Here are the major names that have already been restored or changed under the Lahore Heritage Area Revival (LHAR) project:

• Sunnat Nagar → Sant Nagar
• Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Chowk → Lakshmi Chowk
• Mustafaabad → Dharampura
• Sir Aga Khan Chowk → Davis Road
• Allama Iqbal Road → Jail Road
• Fatima Jinnah Road → Queens Road
• Bagh-e-Jinnah → Lawrence Gardens
• Islampura → Krishan Nagar
• Hameed Nizami Road → Temple Street
• Nishtar Road → Brandreth Road
• Rehman Gali → Ram Gali
• Babri Masjid Chowk → Jain Mandir Chowk
• Ghaziabad → Kumharpura
• Jeelani Road → Outfall Road
• Shahrah-i-Abdul Hameed bin Badees → Empress Road

The changes have already started appearing on official signboards across Lahore, with authorities indicating that more names could soon be restored.

Nawaz Sharif's Heritage Project Behind The Move

The renaming campaign is part of the Lahore Heritage Area Revival project launched by former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in 2025.

The project, estimated to be worth nearly 50 billion PKR, aims to restore Lahore's historical identity and reconnect the city with its multicultural pre-Partition past. Pakistan's Punjab government says the initiative is inspired by how European cities preserve old heritage districts instead of replacing them completely.

Authorities believe restoring old names and heritage sites can boost tourism and help Lahore regain its image as one of South Asia's great cultural centres.

Cricket Grounds And Akharas Also Set For Revival

The restoration plan goes beyond roads and localities. Nawaz Sharif has also proposed reviving three historic cricket grounds and a traditional wrestling arena at Minto Park, now called Greater Iqbal Park.

The proposal carries political significance because Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif faced criticism in 2015, during his tenure as Punjab chief minister, after historic sports grounds and wrestling spaces were demolished as part of redevelopment projects.

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq trained at these cricket clubs. Before Partition, Indian cricket legend Lala Amarnath also played there and revisited the area during India's 1978 tour of Pakistan.

The old wrestling arena once hosted famous wrestlers such as Goonga Pehalwan, Imam Bakhsh and Gama Pehalwan. Before 1947, the same area was also known for large Dussehra celebrations organised by Lahore's Hindu community.

Why Pakistan Is Suddenly Restoring Old Names

The move has attracted international attention because it comes despite Pakistan's long history of Islamisation and repeated criticism over the treatment of minorities, particularly Hindus and Sikhs.

Observers believe the restoration campaign is part of an attempt to present Pakistan as a more tolerant and multicultural country. For years, Pakistan has faced allegations related to forced conversions, attacks on minority religious sites and discrimination against non-Muslim communities.

Analysts also connect the renaming drive to Pakistan's economic concerns. The country has faced scrutiny from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) over terror financing allegations and continues to rely heavily on International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance.

By restoring old Hindu, Sikh and colonial-era names in Lahore, Pakistan appears eager to project itself as a country moving away from radicalism and towards a more moderate global image. Officials also hope the heritage-focused campaign can reassure foreign investors and improve Pakistan's international standing.