From Islampura To Krishan Nagar, Pakistan Is Restoring Pre-Partition Street Names Across Lahore

In an effort to revive the city’s cultural heritage, Lahore is bringing back the colonial-era names of several streets. 79 years after Partition, Pakistan’s Punjab government is restoring Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and colonial-era names to signboards across the city in a bid to reconnect with its pre-partition identity. Scroll on to know more about this initiative.

Reviving Lahore’s Pre-Partition History

Since partition, many streets in Lahore, mostly associated with Hindu and Jain communities, were renamed. They were renamed into more Islamic, Pakistani, or local historical figures. Now, everything is changing. According to India Today, Islampura is once again called Krishan Nagar, Babri Masjid Chowk has been renamed Jain Mandir Chowk, and Sunnat Nagar is back to being Sant Nagar.

The Punjab government in Pakistan has approved a plan to revive Lahore’s pre-partition heritage by restoring several of the city’s old street names. They aim to bring back Lahore’s pre-partition heritage that many believe was slowly erased over the decades.

A Punjab government official told PTI that the Punjab Cabinet, chaired by Maryam Nawaz, recently approved the plan to restore the original historical names of several streets and roads in and around Lahore.

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New Signboards But Old Names

Over the last two months, several parts of Lahore have begun displaying new signboards that restore the city’s older pre-partition names. Areas and roads that were once renamed over the decades are now reclaiming their historical identities. Sunnatnagar is once again being called Sant Nagar, Lakshmi Chowk has replaced Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Chowk, and Mustafaabad has reverted to Dharampura.

Other prominent roads and landmarks have also seen similar changes. Sir Aga Khan Chowk is now back to Davis Road, Allama Iqbal Road is again being referred to as Jail Road, Fatima Jinnah Road has reclaimed its older name, Queens Road, while Bagh-e-Jinnah is once again embracing its colonial-era identity as Lawrence Gardens.

Beyond restoring old street names, Lahore is also working on the revival of churches and Sikh-era structures associated with the empire of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, according to India Today. Authorities at Lahore Fort have also restored a painting of Princess Bamba Sutherland, the last descendant of the Sikh royal family.

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Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/Saad Jamil & X/@MuditJain_IN