In a significant cultural and administrative move, Pakistan has restored the historical names of nine prominent locations in Lahore, marking what many are calling a revival of the city’s pre-Partition heritage. The Lahore district administration has formally approved the changes, and new signboards bearing the restored names have already begun appearing across the city.
One of the most notable decisions is the renaming of “Islampura” back to its original identity, “Krishna Nagar”. Likewise, “Babri Masjid Chowk” has officially reverted to “Jain Mandir Chowk”, restoring a name that existed before the aftermath of the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition controversy.
Several other landmark locations have also seen historic reversals. “Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Chowk” has once again become “Lakshmi Chowk”, while “Mustafaabad” has reverted to “Dharampura”. Colonial-era names such as “Davis Road”, “Queens Road” and “Lawrence Garden” are also making a return, replacing names adopted in later decades.
Officials say the initiative is part of a broader effort by the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, to reconnect Lahore with its multicultural and historical roots that existed before the 1947 Partition.
The Nine Restored Names
- Islampura → Krishna Nagar
- Babri Masjid Chowk → Jain Mandir Chowk
- Sunnat Nagar → Sant Nagar
- Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Chowk → Lakshmi Chowk
- Mustafaabad → Dharampura
- Sir Aga Khan Road → Davis Road
- Allama Iqbal Road → Jail Road
- Fatima Jinnah Road → Queens Road
- Bagh-e-Jinnah → Lawrence Garden
Former Walled City Director-General Kamran Lashari said the names had never truly disappeared from public memory.
“People still use the original names in daily conversation,” he noted, adding that the restoration reflects Lahore’s shared Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Christian and colonial heritage.
Just 50 kilometres from Amritsar, Lahore was once regarded as one of undivided Punjab’s great cultural centres — famous for its markets, educational institutions, gardens, temples, gurdwaras and shrines.
Following Partition in 1947, many Hindu and Sikh families were displaced, and over time numerous localities associated with Hindu, Sikh and British history were renamed with Islamic or nationalist titles. Yet despite decades of official changes, many Lahoris continued referring to these places by their older names.
For residents of the city, Lakshmi Chowk remained Lakshmi Chowk — no matter what government records or signboards said.
