Lahore heritage meeting stresses careful restoration, accurate historical record

LAHORE: Lahore Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Muhammad Ali Ejaz said on Friday that the main aim of ongoing heritage work is to restore the city’s original character, structure and historical identity.

He was speaking at a meeting of the Lahore Heritage Areas Revival (LAHR) held at 90 The Mall, where historians, architects, scholars and government officials discussed restoration work, historical naming and preservation of cultural sites.

He said the process of restoring heritage involves detailed study and consultation. “Every matter is discussed in detail before a project is conceptualised,” he said, adding that experts and senior officials take part in these discussions.

He said historians and scholars share their views, while government departments also contribute to the decision-making process. According to him, research is carried out on historical figures, places and events to understand how names and sites originally came into existence.

The deputy commissioner said debates often arise during this process, particularly over historical names of Lahore’s gates, roads and localities. He said discussions have taken place on names such as Delhi Gate and Lahori Gate, as well as Yaki Gate and Zaki Gate, along with several roads and neighbourhoods across the city.

He said the issue of naming gained wider attention over time. “As these discussions progressed, the matter started getting highlighted at a very high level,” he said, adding that both national and international media showed interest in the debate.

He said media coverage and public discussion eventually shifted focus away from physical restoration of heritage buildings towards the question of naming and identity.

Capt. Ejaz said government departments also became involved in the discussions, and the issue was debated not only in Lahore but across the wider region. He said this attention created a situation where naming issues began to dominate the broader heritage restoration agenda.
He said that before making any final decisions, the administration considered it necessary to review available records and consult senior scholars and institutional experts. He said the existing data was limited and required further verification.

“We checked available records and now I want to explain the present situation so that we can further discuss the matter,” he said.

Experts at the meeting also stressed the importance of careful restoration of Lahore’s historic buildings. They said preservation work should focus on long-term sustainability, safety and historical accuracy rather than only improving appearance.

Participants said restoration projects must maintain the original spirit, architecture and cultural value of heritage sites. They also said that conservation should be based on proper planning and research.

One of the speakers said there were already concerns regarding ongoing restoration efforts and future planning. He said authorities should clearly explain what types of structures are being restored, what maintenance systems will be introduced and how safety and preservation issues will be addressed.

The discussion also highlighted the need to involve experts from different fields, including architects, designers and conservation specialists, in heritage projects. Participants said such collaboration is essential for ensuring quality and accuracy in restoration work.
Heritage expert Dr Fauzia Qureshi also spoke during the session and called for a balanced and historically accurate approach to Lahore’s heritage restoration.

She said the city’s history should be understood in chronological order and no historical period should be ignored while discussing its identity.

Dr Qureshi said Lahore existed long before the Mughal era and pointed out that references to the city can also be found in the pre-Mughal period.

She said Lahore served as a capital of the Delhi Sultanate between 1206 and 1210, and several historical names and sites from that period still exist today.

She also referred to the shrine of Qutb-ud-din Aibak, saying its old historical name was “Lakh Bakhsh”. She said this title was given to him due to his generosity.

Dr Qureshi added that many references linked to Sikh-era Lahore and earlier periods can still be found in historical books and records.

She said it is important to understand Lahore’s heritage in a complete historical timeline so that all layers of its past are recognised equally in restoration and documentation work.

The session was attended by Waqar Ahmad, Personal Secretary to Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Mariam Khan, Ali Raza, Babar Ali, Jehangir Nasir, Nayyar Ali Dada, Kamil Khan Mumtaz, Kamran Lashari, Sajida Vandal, Dr Kanwar Khalid, Muneeza Hashmi, Raees Ansari, Zohaib Butt, Saad Zahid, Wasif Nagi, Faheem Ahsan, Iqbal Qaiser, Dr Mehboob Hussain, Dr Fauzia Qureshi, Hafza Ali, Farrukh Sohail Gondal, Salman Rashid, Talha Safiq, Mubbashar Hassan, Mujeeb ur Rehman Shami and Zeeshan Hussain.