PHA to revive historic Lahore park where Nehru raised Swaraj flag

LAHORE: The Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA) will restore Nehru Park, a historic site in the pre-partition Krishan Nagar neighbourhood of Lahore, to its full grandeur, Director General Ahmad Usman Javaid announced Sunday.

Nehru Park marks the site where the Indian National Congress adopted its Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) resolution on Dec. 31, 1929, during its historic Lahore session. The resolution demanded full self-rule for colonial India and a complete break from British rule.

Jawaharlal Nehru, then Congress president, raised the Indian flag at the site to mark the declaration.

The resolution rejected Britain’s offer of dominion status under the 1929 Irwin Declaration, calling instead for outright independence. It went on to drive a nationwide movement that culminated in the Jan. 26, 1930 declaration of independence — later observed as India’s first Independence Day.

Mr Javaid said the restoration will combine horticulture and engineering works. The horticultural wing will use lush green grass and colourful seasonal flowers to give the park a renewed look, while the engineering team will install night lights, sitting benches and children’s swings to make it more family-friendly.

PHA has also repaired the boundary wall, added decorative floral planters inside and outside the park, and installed a cricket pavilion. A number of decorative fountains will be added to further enhance the historic park, Mr Javaid said.

“Nehru Park is not just a public park but a site of historical importance, and it is our responsibility to preserve its character while restoring it as a vibrant green space for citizens,” he said.

The project is part of a broader plan to restore and renovate over 800 smaller community parks under PHA jurisdiction across the city of gardens, Mr Javaid said, adding that students and civil society groups will be involved in the restoration process.

On the horticultural side, he said PHA will improve tree-care monitoring through geo-tagging. A province-wide Geographic Information System (GIS) is also being developed to create a detailed inventory of urban trees, enabling real-time mapping, tracking and monitoring for planning and conservation.

Dedicated tree officers have been appointed in several districts to inspect trees, maintain digital records, process applications, supervise compensatory plantation and enforce regulations.

Separately, PHA will develop and rehabilitate parks in 11 newly added districts to expand green cover and improve urban landscapes. Mr Javaid said improving existing parks and developing new green spaces in these districts remains among the authority’s top priorities for the current financial year, adding that district agencies have been directed to prepare and execute development schemes to enhance public parks and urban green areas.