DEPUTY COMMISSIONER LAHORE

GOVERNMENT OF THE PUNJAB

L DISTRICT

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OFFICE

DISTRICT COURTS, LOWER MALL, LAHORE
Tel: (+92)42-99211003-04 Email: dclahore01@[Link]

&

Sang-e-Meel Publications
 954.9143 Deputy Commissioner Office Lahore
Gazetteer of the Lahore District
2022 / Lahore: Deputy Commissioner
Office & Sang-e-Meel Pubilcations, 2022.
324pp
1. History 2. Lahore
I. Punjab Governmment

Copyright © 2022
All rights reserved.

No part of this book can be reproduced in any form or by written, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, or by any information retrieval system without written permission by the author.
All attempts have been made to provide accurate and updated information, and to credit sources referenced
(with the exception of those in the public domain or provided to the office for the purpose of the Gazetteer).

2022
Published by
Afzaal Ahmad
Sang-e-Meel Publications, Lahore.

Editors
Atiyab Sultan
&
Sara Zubair

ISBN-10: 969-35-3445-X
ISBN-13: 978-969-35-3445-0

Sang-e-Meel Publications
25-Lower Mall, Lahore 54000, Pakistan.
smp@[Link]
[Link]
 Table of Contents
Message from the Commissioner, Lahore Division .......................................................................v
Message from the Deputy Commissioner, Lahore ....................................................................... vi
Preface & Acknowledgments ................................................................................................... vii
Contributors’ Notes ................................................................................................................. ix
Part A ........................................................................................................................ ...............1
History ....................................................................................................................... ............. 4
Ancient History .................................................................................................................................... 4
Sultanate Period (1014-1625) .............................................................................................................. 4
Mughal Period (1525-1658) ................................................................................................................ 7
Late Mughal Period (1658-1760)........................................................................................................ 8
1947 Onwards ..................................................................................................................................... 13
Architectural Heritage ........................................................................................................... 16
Lahore Fort ......................................................................................................................................... 16
Shalimar Bagh ..................................................................................................................................... 17
UNESCO World Heritage Sites....................................................................................................... 18
Walled City of Lahore ........................................................................................................................ 22
Maryam Zamani Masjid ..................................................................................................................... 25
Wazir Khan Masjid............................................................................................................................. 26
Badshahi Masjid .................................................................................................................................. 27
Chauburji ............................................................................................................................................. 27
Jahangir’s Tomb ................................................................................................................................. 31
Lahore Railway Station ...................................................................................................................... 31
Lahore City Heritage Museum (Old Tollinton Market) ............................................................... 32
General Post Office (GPO) .............................................................................................................. 33
Lahore Museum .................................................................................................................................. 34
Fakir Khana Museum ........................................................................................................................ 39
National History Museum................................................................................................................. 40
Minar-e-Pakistan ................................................................................................................................. 41
Art Deco Architecture ....................................................................................................................... 41
Data Darbar Complex ....................................................................................................................... 43
Jain Mandir .......................................................................................................................................... 43
Churches and Cathedrals................................................................................................................... 44
Gurudwaras ......................................................................................................................................... 45
Historical Monuments ....................................................................................................................... 47
Cultural Heritage .................................................................................................................. 54
Culture and Society .............................................................................................................................54
Festivals ................................................................................................................................................55
Languages .............................................................................................................................................60
Literature ..............................................................................................................................................61
The Arts of Lahore .............................................................................................................................66
Cuisine ..................................................................................................................................................79
Sports ....................................................................................................................................................85
Part B......................................................................................................................... ............ 97
Geography ..................................................................................................................... ...... 100
Location ............................................................................................................................................ 100
Historical Geography ...................................................................................................................... 100
Present Day Lahore ......................................................................................................................... 100
River Ravi and Drainage Systems .................................................................................................. 101
Transport Networks ........................................................................................................................ 101
Climate............................................................................................................................................... 103
Flora & Fauna ..................................................................................................................... 106
Fauna of Lahore ............................................................................................................................... 106
Lahore Zoo ....................................................................................................................................... 111
Flora of Lahore ................................................................................................................................ 114
Forest Department .......................................................................................................................... 119
Parks and Horticulture .................................................................................................................... 122
Graveyards ........................................................................................................................................ 129
Environment .................................................................................................................................... 132
Disaster Management ...................................................................................................................... 137
Demography ....................................................................................................................... 140
Socioeconomic Indicators .............................................................................................................. 140
Population Structure........................................................................................................................ 141
Urbanisation ..................................................................................................................................... 144
Lahore’s Master Plan ....................................................................................................................... 148
Education ..................................................................................................................... ....... 156
District Education Authority (DEA) Lahore .............................................................................. 162
Directorate of Education, Colleges ............................................................................................... 164
Special Education............................................................................................................................. 167
Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) ....................................... 168
Health and Social Welfare .................................................................................................. 172
 Health ................................................................................................................................................. 172
Rescue 1122....................................................................................................................................... 184
Social Welfare.................................................................................................................................... 187
Part C ........................................................................................................................ ........... 195
Economy ....................................................................................................................... ....... 198
Markets and Bazaars of Lahore ...................................................................................................... 200
Lahore’s Major Industrial Clusters & Estates .............................................................................. 209
Infrastructure ....................................................................................................................... 212
Roads .................................................................................................................................................. 212
Lahore Mass Transit System ........................................................................................................... 218
Lahore Junction Railway Station .................................................................................................... 220
Allama Iqbal International Airport ................................................................................................ 221
Punjab Mass Transit Authority ...................................................................................................... 222
Part D ...................................................................................................................................223
District Administration........................................................................................................ 226
Office of the Deputy Commissioner.............................................................................................226
Administrative Units of District Lahore .......................................................................................228
Tehsils of Lahore District ............................................................................................................... 228
Revenue Administration .................................................................................................................. 243
Local Government & Municipal Services ........................................................................... 252
Metropolitan Corporation Lahore ................................................................................................. 252
Local Government & Community Development Department................................................. 257
Lahore Development Authority (LDA) ........................................................................................ 258
Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) ................................................................................ 259
Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) ......................................................................................... 261
Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) ......................................................................... 266
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) ........................................................................... 270
National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) ........................................................ 272
Law and Order ................................................................................................................. ....276
District Police ................................................................................................................................... 276
City Traffic Police ............................................................................................................................ 281
Civil Defence Department .............................................................................................................. 282
Prisons................................................................................................................................................ 284
Courts and Judiciary ......................................................................................................................... 287
National Judicial Policy for District Courts..................................................................................300
Political & Administrative Challenges ................................................................................ 304
Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Protection and Utilisation of State Land ...................................................................................... 304

Liaison with Departments .............................................................................................................. 304
Waste Management ......................................................................................................................... 304
Rapid Urbanisation of the City. ..................................................................................................... 305
Deteriorating Environment ............................................................................................................ 305
Recovery of Government Dues..................................................................................................... 305
Appendix A..................................................................................................................... ..... 308
Appendix B .................................................................................................................... ..... 310
Deputy Commissioners of Lahore ................................................................................................ 310
MESSAGE FROM THE COMMISSIONER, LAHORE DIVISION
Much has been written about the

great city of Lahore, its rich cultural

heritage, its architectural monuments, its

history and demography in recent decades.

Official literature of the district, written

from the perspective of administrators,

was a tradition but has been discontinued

for various reasons for a long time. The

2022 Gazetteer of Lahore District is

therefore a laudable achievement of the

Deputy Commissioner Office Lahore, in

attempting to not only revive this tradition

but also provide official, authentic

information about the district. The effort

was led by Dr Atiyab Sultan, Additional

Deputy Commissioner (Headquarters), Lahore who undertook it with a seriousness of purpose and

academic rigour, steering it through to publication. Here I must also mention the support that the

Board of Revenue has provided in reviving the tradition of publishing district gazetteers.

I am also pleased to note that while conscientious emphasis has been placed on making the

gazetteer citizen-centric, it also provides the reader with useful information on public services and

their access. I congratulate the team on finishing this important piece of work, and hope that the

reader will find both joy and utility in perusing the contents.

Captain (R) Muhammad Usman Younis

Commissioner Lahore Division

v
MESSAGE FROM THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, LAHORE
It was once a celebrated
tradition of Deputy
Commissioners in the colonial era
to write and compile district
gazetteers, which not only served
as sources of reliable information
on a district but were also a
cherished legacy of their tenure.
In more recent decades, with the
fast pace of work and heavy
burden of responsibilities, this tradition has been gradually lost. The last gazetteer of Lahore was
compiled in 1915-16 and so attempting to do so in 2022 was a major challenge that we have attempted
to overcome as best as we could. Fundamentally, we have tried to make it a citizen-centric document,
providing details of government initiatives, departments and services for the benefit of a Lahori. At
the same time we have catalogued the history, architecture, cultural heritage, flora and fauna,
demography and geographical features of the district.

I am grateful to Mr Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Senior Member, Board of Revenue, for his interest
and continued support of the project. I must also appreciate the team at Deputy Commissioner Office
Lahore including all Additional Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners, especially
Additional Deputy Commissioner (HQ) Dr Atiyab Sultan and Ms Fatima Arshad, Assistant
Commissioner (UT) Lahore who worked tirelessly in collecting and compiling data from various
government departments. I am also thankful to the team of experts that rendered their assistance
generously to this endeavour. I hope the reader will find the end product useful and informative.

Muhammad Umer Sher Chattha

Deputy Commissioner Lahore

vi
PREFACE & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
During the colonial rule of the Punjab, the district gazetteer served as a comprehensive
repository of authentic information on a district, and the first gazetteer of Lahore was published in
1883-84. The gazetteer continued to be published and updated in the colonial era, especially as it
served imperial aims of understanding and dominating a foreign context. The last Gazetteer of Lahore
was written in 1916, when Kasur and Sharaqpur were still its Tehsils, and the population was 1.03
million. In 2022, while the land area has shrunk with the creation of new districts, the population
exceeds 10 million, and the city is extremely complex in terms of its administrative needs and
challenges. Compiling a gazetteer of Lahore district in 2022 was therefore a Herculean task as the city
has transformed significantly in the last several decades.
We began the task of compiling this gazetteer with trips to the bookstores and a relentless
knocking on the doors of administrative departments to gather the required information. In most
cases, we had to ask again, and again, and again. In a city rushing towards the future at a breakneck
speed of ‘development’, very few want to stop and take stock of what was and what happened. I am
grateful to Fatima Arshad, Assistant Commissioner (Under Training) Lahore who embraced the
project wholeheartedly since its inception and literally worked day and night on it, bringing it to
fruition.
As we engaged local historians and experts in the compilation of information, we still felt
adrift putting together in administrative terms what is essentially a multifaceted district about which
however much is written will remain partial and insufficient. Dr Sara Zubair very kindly assisted us
in selecting the most important developments, in writing, editing, drafting and re-drafting the
manuscript, in keeping us on track and ensuring that it sees the light of day. It is no exaggeration that
the output is in large part a blend of the combined efforts of Ms Arshad and Dr Zubair, supplemented
by the contributions of various experts and departments.
From the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, I am grateful to the Deputy Commissioner, M.
Umer Sher Chattha who supported the project fully and monitored its development closely. My
colleagues, Touqeer Ilyas Cheema (Additional Deputy Commissioner - Revenue), Dr Mujtaba Arfat
Khan (Additional Deputy Commissioner- General) and Shahid Abbas Kathia (Additional Deputy
Commissioner- Finance & Planning), ably filled many lacunae and ensured the timely and accurate
provision of information. Assistant Commissioners of the Lahore district, Sonia Sadaf, Zeeshan
Nadeem, Sufyan Dilawar, Qurat ul Ain Zafar, Adnan Rashid, Mian Hamid Rashid, Asif Hussain,
Laraib Aslam and Izhar ul Haq Bajwa provided us with the required information and supported the
project whenever needed. Anwer Sajid, Office Superintendent, Imran Maqbool, Public Relations
Officer, Syed Ali Murtaza, System Network Administrator, Saul Yousaf and Rana Salman from my
office, Farooq Khan, DC Office Photographer, Atif Aslam, PA to ADCR, all worked tirelessly on
this project.
vii
Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

A number of experts helped us with the gazetteer including Dr Ali Usman Qasmi, LUMS,
who guided us with the materials on the city and also linked us with a local historian, Faizan Abbas
Naqvi who has made immeasurable contributions to the project. Prof. Ayesha Jalal, Tufts University,
kindly shared her advice and allowed us to use exquisite paintings of her late brother, Shahid Jalal, on
Lahore. Abdul Majid Sheikh generously allowed us to reproduce material from his prolific work on
the city. Dr Nadine Zubair graciously assisted us with the historical research on Lahore. Ms Saman
Rai helped us with the research on the cultural heritage of the district. I am grateful to Omar Hayat
Gondal for the sections on Badami Bagh and the economy of Lahore.
After the first draft was ready, Mr Abdullah Khan Sumbal, Additional Chief Secretary Punjab,
and Capt. Muhammad Usman Younis, Commissioner Lahore Division, gave us precious feedback
and suggestions for improvement. I am grateful to both for their time and valuable input.
I know what we have achieved is a partial success. What we write will never be a complete
account of Lahore; anyone who lives in the city only glimpses shades and partial views and perhaps
encompassing its full reality is no longer possible. Where possible, we have tried to give details of
public services being provided by the administration and the ways to access the same. Unlike the
colonial gazetteers that served as an instrument of governance, we intend it to be primarily a
handbook and guide for the citizen. Foremost, this is an attempt to engage, to document and to
understand the transitions this city is going through, put together with as much dedication as we could
muster. Had we searched for perfection, we would have been working forever, therefore I shall rest
the pen and humbly say: whatever good we have achieved here is from God, the errors remain my
own.
Dr Atiyab Sultan
Additional Deputy Commissioner HQ Lahore

viii
CONTRIBUTORS’ NOTES
I

There is a certain audacity in attempting to write a city. Not just any city, but Lahore, the City
district. There will always be others who are infinitely more knowledgeable, nuanced or eloquent;
others with a greater claim to the city. Yet a cursory glance at its history (or histories) will reveal
countless claimants, and those are only the loud, the visible, or the powerful: there are millions of
others that have made and remade the city, and continue to do so without acknowledgement. To
therefore have had the opportunity to learn more and say something about this city that I have called
home, is an honour. To assume that any justice has been done to the sheer kaleidoscope that it is,
and the multitudes that share it, would be hubris.
This process has revealed just how little one truly knows – not just about the temporal and
spatial entity that is Lahore, but also the intangible and ephemeral. The writers, artists, photographers,
chroniclers, and administrators, whose work fills these pages have done their part to reveal facets of
the city to us. I am truly grateful to those whose names have been referenced as well as to the
numerous anonymous, uncredited others – including unsuspecting, un-named passers-by who just
happened to get captured in photographs. While a great deal of research has gone into this
publication, the gazetteer’s purpose is something other than a conventional understanding of
research, and certain liberties have been taken. Some texts have been quoted verbatim, and it is
important to clarify that the purpose is not to take credit for the authors’ work, but to present the
authors’ work as their own rather than tamper with it. At the same time, many important personalities,
places, perspectives, and events have also been left out, for which an apology must be made, although
it is abysmally insufficient.
Ultimately, I hope that readers find the gazetteer informative and interesting, and that any
gaps therein serve as inspiration to extend our understanding of Lahore further.

Sara Zubair
Educationist, Writer, Flâneuse

ix
Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

II
Lahore’s origins reach into antiquity and its rich history has been penned down by many. But
the last time such an effort was conducted by the District Administration was in the pre-partition era.
Hence, it was a matter of great pride that the opportunity of compiling the Gazetteer came during
my Training period at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Lahore. The pioneering effort to inscribe
and illustrate Lahore’s blend of historical culture and its transformation into a metropolitan city was
not without its challenges. Data collection from government departments, book stores and any
authentic sources available was an arduous task. In a compressed timeframe, under the able patronage
of Umer Sher Chattha, Deputy Commissioner Lahore, and constant guidance of Dr. Atiyab Sultan,
Additional Deputy Commissioner Headquarters, we put together the Gazetteer. This is a humble
effort of amalgamating administrative and citizen-centric perspectives.
The entire exercise has taught me that I barely know anything about the city I was raised in.
New information kept unfolding as compilation progressed. Lahore is not just a city, it is a world
unto itself with its rich history and culture that absorbs a reader into its alleys, leaving them wanting
more. So what we have put together is a modest endeavour that I hope will be a source of information
for the citizens of Lahore, who will enjoy reading it as they use it for looking up administration of
Lahore as it exists today.
Fatima Arshad
Assistant Commissioner (Under-Training), Lahore

x
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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

History
“I have purchased Lahore with my life. By giving my Life for Lahore, I have actually purchased another
Paradise.”– Empress Nur Jahan
To condense the history of Lahore, with its shifting contours and distinct and sometimes
contradictory perspectives, into a succinct summary that is both objective and fair, is not possible.
Iterations emerge from particular vantage points in time, and are thus viewed through the lens of
their historical juncture; so it is with the 2022 Gazetteer of the Lahore District. Rather than attempting
to reframe perspectives – given that one source is written exactly a century before the others – this
section retains the styles and language of its original authors where possible.i

ANCIENT HISTORY
The 1916 Gazetteer of Lahore has this to say about Lahore’s early history:
The history of the Lahore District is that of its chief towns Lahore and Kasur, and their story
is the story of the Punjab. Of the condition prior to the Muhammadan invasion of the territory
round Lahore now comprised in the Lahore District very little is known. The princes and
people of Lahore however played an important part in the long continued struggle between
Muhammadanism and Hinduism which marks the introduction of the former into India.
Though legend attributes the founding of Lahore or Loháwa-rána to Lava, the son of Ráma,
it is not probable that Lahore was founded before the first century A. D., as we neither find
it mentioned in connection with Alexander, nor is it described by Strabo or Pliny. On the
other hand, it may possibly be the Labokla of Ptolemy, as Amakatis, which is mentioned by
that author as near Labokla has been identified by Cunningham with the ruins of Ambi Kápi,
about 25 miles from Lahore. The first certain historical record of Lahore is, however, that of
Hiuen Tsiang, who mentions it as a large Brahmanical city visited by him in A. D. 630 on his
way to Jullundhur. About this time it is probable that the capital of the kingdom of Lahore
was transferred to Sialkot, as Alberúni speaks of Lahore as a province whose capital was
Mandhúkúr, and it is noticeable that Al Masúdi makes no mention of Lahore.

Archaeological data available from two small trenches sunk inside Lahore Fort and one inside
Haveli Dhayan Singh in Bazaar Said Mitha in the Walled City hardly helps us to take the earliest
history of Lahore beyond 6th or 5th Century A.D. By the time the Alexandrian geographer Claudius
Ptolemy wrote his 'Geography', between 139 - 161 A.D there appears to have grown a little settlement
on the right bank of River Hydraotes (Irawati, now Ravi) by the name of Labo-Kla or Lavo Kala i.e.
Lov-Kala the city of Lov. This small settlement, according to Ptolemy, was situated between the Indus
and Pataliputra (modern Patna) on the Ganges. This is the earliest possible datable reference to be
traced for this city. The only other datable reference belonging to the 7th Century is in Fatuh al-
Buldan whose author talks about advances of a Muslim general, Muhallab ibn-i-Sufra, in 664 A.D. as
far east as the cities of Banna (Bannu) and Alahwar or Lahore. Both these cities were then situated
between Kabul and Multan.

SULTANATE PERIOD (1014-1625)

At the end of the tenth century the kingdom of Lahore was in the hands of a line of Brahman
kings, and in A. D. 989 Jai Pál, the reigning monarch, was decisively beaten by Sabuktagin.
Mahmud did not visit Lahore for more than twenty years after his first invasion of the Punjab,
though he defeated Jai Pál in 1001 and Anand Pál in 1008. Lahore City was not at this time a
place of great importance. In 1034 Lahore was seized by Nialtigin, the revolted governor of
Multán. He, however, was expelled, and in 1036 Lahore was made the capital of the Ghaznivid
dominions east of the Indus. A final insurrection by the Hindus at Lahore in 1042 was quelled
by Maudud, and the city was left in charge of Malik Ayaz, whom Muhammadan tradition
regards as the founder. During the reign of the first eight Ghaznivid princes Lahore was
governed by viceroys as the head-quarters of a province, but during the reign of Masúd III

4
 History

(1099-1114), it was made the seat of government of the empire. After Masúd's death
Muhammad Bahlim, governor of Lahore, rebelled against Bahram Shah in 1119 but was
defeated; and in 1153 Khusro Shah again transferred the seat of government to Lahore, where
it remained till 1193. The city was put to ransom by Muhammad of Ghor in 1181 and taken
in 1186. From this time onwards Lahore was the centre of the opposition to the authorities
at Delhi while subject to the constant incursions of the turbulent Khokhars who devastated
the country round 1205. On the deaths of Muhammad of Ghor in 1206 Kutab-ud-din Aibak
was crowned at Lahore; his lieutenant Kubácha lost the city to Taj-ud-din Yalduz in 1206,
but it was recovered by Kutb-ud-din in the same year. From the death of Aram Shah in 1211
the province of Lahore became the bone of contention between Altamash at Delhi, Nasir-
ud-din Kubácha at Multán and Taj-ud-din Yalduz at Ghazni. Yalduz in 1215 took Lahore
from Nasir-ud-din; but Altamash defeated him in the following year, and made himself master
of the city in 1217. On the death of Altamash in 1236, Malik Alá-ud-din Jani of Lahore broke
out in revolt; and after he had been defeated and killed, Kabi-Khán-i-Ayaz of Lahore likewise
rebelled in 1238 but submitted later.
The anonymous author of a book Hudud al-Alam, who wrote in 982 A.D, describes 'Lahore'
as a shehr full of infidels and big enough as to be divided into numerous districts, markets, idol
temples and fruit gardens of pine-trees, almond-trees and coconuts. Two limited excavations were
conducted in 1959 at two places - inside Lahore Fort and in the Walled City. A large trench, measuring
180' x 60', was sunk in front of Diwan-i-Aam of Lahore Fort and was taken down to the virgin soil
some 51 feet from the top. In all, twenty stratified cultural layers representing four distinct periods
were encountered.
The fourth or earliest period was marked by a thick deposit accumulated against a 7 feet high
wall of mud bricks. The finds from these pre-Muslim levels are all of Hindu origin. The third level
period i.e. pre-Mughal strata is marked by a few structural remains. An outstanding find from these
levels at a depth of 25 feet was a gold coin of Sultan Mahmud, struck at his capital city of Ghazni in
the 1025 A.D. during the reign of the Abbasid Caliph al-Qadir Billah. Besides the gold coin, there
were discovered five more silver bilingual dirhams/tankas of Mahmud of Ghazna and two silver
bilingual issues, one each belonging to Maudud (1042 -1049 A.D.) and Ibrahim (1059-1099 A.D.) of
the same dynasty issued from the mint of Mahmudpur i.e. Lahore. This is the first archaeological
proof of Ghaznavid presence at Lahore and of their issuing coins from a local mint – probably the
first mint established in Lahore.
Excavations in the Walled City were conducted up to a depth of 30 feet revealing a well-
stratified accumulation indicating a prolonged occupation from the pre-Muslim to the Sikh period.
Out of this the upper 20 feet represented cultural deposits from Sikh to pre-Mughal period. Twenty-
four feet below the top started the pre-Muslim period. Cultural material from these strata is similar
to the one found in pre-Muslim levels of Lahore Fort. There is a possibility of finding several similar,
smaller and contemporary settlements at a few other promising archaeological sites in their immediate
vicinity such as Pani Wala Talab, Mozang, Miani Sahib and Ichhra. The last site is also believed to be
the original settlement of pre-Muslim Lahore because it houses the oldest Hindu temples of Lahore.

Silver Jital minted in Lahore in 1208 under Mahmud of Ghazna; bilingual with Arabic and Sanskrit

5
Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Tomb of Qutbuddin Aibak

It was during this period that Abul Han Ali al-Hujweri became the most famous resident of
Ghazni to settle in Lahore, Popularly known as Data Ganj Bakhsh (The Master Who Bestows
Treasures), he is today revered as Pakistan's most famous Sufi state. His mausoleum, built after his
death in 1077, is the most frequented Sufi shrine in the city. Hujweri had travelled widely like many
Sufi saints, visiting Baghdad, Basra, Bukhara, Damascus, Bayt-al-Jinn (in Syria) and Khurasan, before
settling in Lahore, where he established a khanqah which now adjoins his tomb. Travelling dervishes
were frequent visitors to the khanqah and carried with them to other parts of the Islamic world
accounts of the generosity they received. Later Sufi saints such as Moinuddin Chishti (1141-1236)
visited the Data Ganj Bakhsh shrine in Lahore on their arrival in the subcontinent. Indeed, it is
reported that it was there Moinuddin Chishti received spiritual illumination and was directed settle in
Ajmer. Data Ganj Ba displayed great scholarship which bore fruit in the important tree on Sufism in
Persian, Kashful Mahjub ('Revelation of the Veiled’).
The tomb of Hazrat Miran Shah Hussain Zanjani (d. 1039 AD) is venerated in Chah Miran in
Northern Lahore, while that of another contemporary Sufi saint, Hazrat Ishaq Ghazruni, is located
in a subterranean chamber of the courtyard of Mosque Wazir Khan.

Then follows a century during which Lahore lay at the mercy of incessant Mongol raids. It
was taken by the Mongols in 1241, and put to ransom in 1246. The city was rebuilt by Balban
in 1270; but in 1285 the Mongols returned, and Balban's son, prince Muhammad, was slain
in an encounter on the banks of the Ravi, the poet Amir Khusri being captured at the same
time. Muhammad's son, Kai Khusru, was appointed governor of the Punjab in his stead, but
was murdered in 1287. The suburb of Mughalpura was founded about this time by Mongol
settlers, and Dua the Chaghatai made a raid on Lahore in 1301. Under Ala-ud-din Khilji,
Ghazi Malik, afterwards the emperor Tughlak Shah, received charge of the territories of
Dipalpur and Lahore as a warden of the march against the Mongols, an office he seems to
have discharged with some success. However, the Khokhars took Lahore in 1312, and again
in 1394, when it was recovered by Sárang Khan. In 1398 Lahore was taken by a detachment
of Timur's army, and seems to have lain desolate till it was rebuilt by Mubárak Shah in 1422.
Jasrath Khokhar attacked Lahore in the same year, and again in 1431 and 1432, but without
success; but in 1433 Shaikh Ali took the city, which however he had almost immediately to
surrender. In 1441 Bahlol Khán Lodi was appointed to the fiefs of Lahore and Dipalpur and
seized the opportunity of turning against his master Muhammad Shah. Lahore seems to have
enjoyed a period of peace under the Pathans; but in the reign of Ibrahim Lodi, Daulat Khán
Lodi, governor of Lahore, revolted and called in the aid of Babar, Lahore was plundered by

6
 History

Babar's troops in 1524, but in his final invasion in the next year he passed to the north through
Sialkot

Unfortunately, not enough has been saved from the entire Sultanate period. Of the remnants
of the period of the last dynasty, namely Lodhis (1448-1525), we have only two buildings still
surviving. One is the so called Niwin Masjid in the Walled City and the other, the mausoleum of Musa
Ahangar near the Railway Station. The floor level of the Mosque is about one storey below the
surrounding street level whereas the mausoleum has the distinction of having glazed tiles applied to
its exterior surface, showing that this architectural craft had already been introduced in Lahore before
the Mughals arrived.

MUGHAL PERIOD (1525-1658)

The period of the Moghal rule was the golden time of the history of Lahore, which again
became a place of royal residence and grew to be, in the language of Abul Fazl, “the grand
resort of people of all nations”. On the accession of Humáyún, Kámrán, his younger brother,
took possession of Lahore and obtained the Punjab together with Kabul and Kandahar. In
the struggle between Humáyún and Sher Shah, Lahore was the military head-quarters of the
Mughals, and narrowly escaped destructions on their temporary defeat. Humáyún entered
Lahore triumphantly, in 1554, being received with every expression of joy; but after Akbar
had come to the throne, the place was seized in 1563 by his younger brother Hakim, who,
though expelled, made another assault in 1581, from which he was repelled by Akbar in
person. Akbar held his court at Lahore from 1584 to 1598, where he was visited by some
Portuguese missionaries, and by the Englishmen Fitch, Newberry, Leeds, and Storey. Some
time after Jahangir's succession in 1605, prince Khusru escaped from Agra, seized the suburbs
of Lahore, and besieged the citadel; but he was quickly defeated and his followers put to death
with great barbarity. Guru Arjun was implicated in this rebellion and died in captivity, or, as
the Sikh tradition has it, disappeared miraculously beneath the waters of the Rávi. His shrine
still stands between the Moghal palace and the mausoleum of Ranjit Singh. Jahangir fixed his
court at Lahore in 1622, and, when he died at Rajaur in Kashmir A. D. 1627, he was interred,
in accordance with his express wish, in the garden of Núrjehán, his wife, who erected to his
memory the mausoleum at Shahdara. Lahore was the scene of the struggles between the rival
claimants to the throne which ensued on the deaths of Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahán,
though between A. D. 1628 and 1657 the city enjoyed an interval of peace and prosperity
under the munificent rule of Al Mardán Khan and Hakim Ali-ud-din, who is more commonly
known by his title of WazÍr Khán.

A centre of activities of scholars, saints, students and sophists as well as of merchants and
traders, Lahore’s population, wealth and prestige increased. Akbar decided to make it his capital in
1584 where he stayed for 14 years. For
the first time, the city was enclosed
with a burnt-brick wall and numerous
magnificent gates. Akbar also attended
to the growing needs of the city by
extending the city eastward beyond
Rang Mahal and Shah Almi. The only
monument of Akbar's period east of
Shah Almi and Rang Mahal is the
commercial area called Akbari Mandi.
During the Mughal period, the Walled
City developed and expanded
southeast from its base point at the
fort.
Maryam Zamani Mosque

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Lahore was not only the birth place of Shah Jahan but also the place where he won his battle
for succession to the throne, and where he was finally crowned in 1628 to be the Emperor of the
whole of India. Shah Jahan paid at least six visits to the city after becoming Emperor and during each
visit, found ways to bestow on this city magnificent buildings, gardens, palaces, hammams, sarais and
the like. Lahore Fort was especially adapted to the tastes of Shah Jahan. Here, he built afresh the
northern wall and part of the western wall, covering it with 8000 square yards of glazed surface with
an endless array of colourful panels depicting scenes of courtly and folk life of the time. Next to the
wall, several buildings were added such as
Musamman Burj (Shish Mahal), Shah Burj
and Naulakha Pavilion in 1631, Khawab
Gah-i-Shah Jahani, Hammam-i-Shahi and
Khilwat Khana in 1633 and Diwan-i-Khas
in 1645.
What Shah Jahan did for Lahore
Fort, his courtiers did for the city in
particular, and its suburbs in general. The
area between Rang Mahal and Delhi
Darwaza got more attention than any other
part of the city during this period. In 1634,
for example, Hakim Ilmud Din, surnamed
Wazir Khan, built one of the most
magnificent mosques in the centre of the
newly-inhabited area and saw that all the
arterial routes passed through Chowk Wazir
Khan on the east of his mosque. Close by,
he also built 'Katra Wazir Khan', a Sarai and
a public hammam, thus setting an example
for others to see where they should look for
the centre of the city. That this area really
became the central point of the Walled City
is confirmed by the fact that Shah Jahan's
son, Prince Dara Shikoh, built his palace
outside Delhi Gate in Mohalla Dara Shikoh
that was named after him. Asif Khan, father-
in law of Shah Jahan and his Prime Minister,
selected a point for his lofty palace east of
the older Nakhas Mandi. Today, this site can Passing of Shah Jahan - A R Chughtai.
Image credit: [Link]
be identified, almost with certainty, as the
haveli of Jamadar Khush-hal Singh, now converted into a girls' degree college. Placing Asif Khan's
palace close to the eastern gate of the Fort was indicative of his own status as Prime Minister as well
as his relation to two successive queens of the Mughal Empire – his sister Nur Jahan and his daughter
Mumtaz Mahal, the – Lady of the Taj. Nur Jahan preferred to spend 16 years of her widowhood in
this city that she loved most.

LATE MUGHAL PERIOD (1658-1760)

During the reign of Aurangzeb, Lahore had but little connection with the political events of
the time, as the attention of the emperor was chiefly directed to quelling the ruling power of
the Marathas in the Deccan and the rebellion of the tribes of Rájpútána. From the death of
Aurangzeb (A. D. 1707) to the accession of Ranjit Singh the fate of Lahore was singularly
unfortunate. As the capital of an outlying province, it was naturally the first to suffer from
the weakness of the decaying Moghal Empire. Ruled over by governors inadequately
supported, it became the point d'appui of Sikh insurrections. With the invasions of Ahmad
Shah, Lahore became an outpost of the Durrani Empire, but the hold upon it of the Kábul

8
 History

Kingdom was never overstrong, and its history henceforth derives its chief interest from the
rise of the Sikhs.
Aurangzeb gave this city the Badshahi Mosque, completed in 1673 by his foster brother Fidai
Khan Koka within the north western corner of the walled city and adjacent to the Lahore Fort. He
re-orientated the western wall of the fort to bring it in conformity with the layout of this great mosque.
With the passing away of Aurangzeb in 1707, the saga of the great Mughals also came to an end.
Although shadowy Mughal emperors continued to rule from Delhi, the allegiance of the Lahore
government to the Delhi throne was more or less nominal.

SIKH PERIOD (1760-1849)

Sikhism, which was destined to re-establish Hindu supremacy in Lahore, received by the
martyrdom, in connection with the struggles inaugurating the succession of Jahangir in A. D.
1605, of Guru Arjan, the fourth successor of Nának and compiler of the Adi Granth, the
stimulus that transferred it from a peaceful to a warlike religion. Almost immediately after the
death of Aurangzeb, the Sikhs, who had been kept in subjection under his energetic rule,
broke out into insurrection under a leader named Banda, and at length seriously threatened
Lahore. The emperor Bahadur Shah, son and successor of Aurangzeb (A. D. 1712) marched
to Lahore, with a view of crushing the rebellion but died before he could achieve any decisive
success. A conflict ensued outside the walls of Lahore between his son Jahándar and Azim-
ush-shan, in which the latter was defeated and drowned in the Ravi. Under Farukh Siyar the
Governor of Lahore was defeated by the Sikhs. He was succeeded by Abdus Samad Khan
who defeated the rebels and took Banda prisoner; and under his son Zakariya Khan the
province had peace for twenty-one years (1717-38). He, however, found it prudent to submit
to Nadir Shah, who accepted a ransom in lieu of plundering the city. Ahmad Shah Darrani
occupied Lahore in 1748, and again in his second invasion, after some resistance from Mir
Mannu (Muin ul-mulk), the new governor. Mir Mannu was succeeded by his widow, and her
abduction by the Wazir was the pretext for Ahmad Shah's fourth invasion (1755).
Lahore was occupied and placed under prince Timur, from whom, however, it was taken by
the Sikhs under Jassa Singh. They were expelled by the Marathas in 1758, who installed Adina
Beg as Governor. He died a few months later and the Maratha power, was broken by Ahmad
Shah's victory at Panipat in 1761, while the Sikhs, who again besieged Lahore, were defeated
in the following year with great slaughter at Barnála, Kabuli Mal being left as Governor of
Lahore. The Sikh cavalry ravaged the country round, and after Ahmad Shah's seventh
invasion Kabuli Mal was ejected and the Sikhs again became masters of Lahore. For the thirty
years following Ahmad Shah's final departure (1767-97) the Sikhs ruled in Lahore unmolested;
then in 1797 Shah Zamán appeared before the city and put it to ransom. The next year he
appeared again, and on this occasion Ranjit Singh received from him on his retirement a
formal grant of the chieftainship of Lahore. The rise of Ranjit Singh's power made Lahore
once more the centre of a flourishing though ephemeral kingdom. … In December 1816, the
Council of Regency was established, and the British Resident became the real central authority
at Lahore. On March 29th, 1849, at the conclusion of the second Sikh war, the young Mahirája
Dalip Singh resigned the Government to the British.
Lahore, which had suffered the depredations of a series of invaders from the Persian ruler
Nadir Shah (1688-1747) onwards, recovered some of its old prosperity, although few new monuments
were constructed. European travellers such as the Parisian botanist Victor Jacquemont (1801-32) and
the Austrian fellow botanist and adventurer Baron Karl Alexander von Hügel (1795-1870) left
important accounts of this period. They were by no means the only Europeans at the Lahore court.
Dr Johannn Honigberger (1795-1869), who pioneered the treatment of cholera, was the court
physician. In November 1841, he invited the Budapest artist August Theodor Schoefft (1809-88),
who had acquired a reputation for portrait painting in Calcutta, to Lahore to paint the court of
Maharajah Sher Singh (1807-43). His massive oil canvas provides a vivid portrayal of the Lahore court
in the final years of Sikh power in the Punjab.

9
Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Ranjit Singh, 'a miniature version of Napoleon Bonaparte', as Jacquemont termed him,
employed a number of ex-officers from Napoleon's army in the early 1820s to modernise his military.
These included Jean-François Allard (1785–1839), who hailed from St Tropez and had been awarded
the Légion d'Honneur, and Jean-Baptiste Ventura (1794-1858). A Sikh painting from 1838 portrays
Allard at ease with his Kashmiri wife and children. It clearly shows him wearing the Bright Star of
Punjab honour devised by Ranjit Singh, just above his Légion d'Honneur. Paolo Avitabile (1791–
1850), who had already spent six years training the Persian army after serving as an artillery officer,
also took on an important administrative role as Governor of Peshawar (1837–43).
Ranjit Singh's kingdom also provided opportunities for administrators and soldiers from
elsewhere in India. The Kashmiri Pandit Dina Nath (1795-1857) was invited to Lahore in 1815 to
work in the department of military accounts
and rose to become finance minister within two
decades. His residence (Haveli Dina Nath) is
still standing inside Delhi Gate. Another court
official, Diwan Kirpa Ram (d. 1843) from
Kunjah in Gujrat, built magnificent mansions
inside Mochi Gate. The current settlement of
Sultanpur occupies part of the site of a mansion
and garden that he also constructed.
The most influential migrants were
three Hindu Dogra brothers from Jammu,
namely Gulab Singh (1792-1857), Dhian Singh
(1796-1843) and Suchet Singh (1801-44). They
first came to Ranjit Singh's attention as military
commanders and then became the most
powerful and influential courtiers in his
kingdom. Dhian Singh became prime minister
of the Sikh Empire in 1828 and was awarded
the title ‘Raja of Rajas'. Gulab Singh, a close
friend and confidant of Ranjit Singh, was
recognised as ruler of Jammu. He also
established links with the East India Company
Haveli Nau Nihal Singh (1840s) Former grand home of Nau Nihal as the kingdom slipped into chaos following its
Singh, the Maharaja of the Punjab founder's death. Gulab Singh was ultimately to
acquire Jammu and Kashmir from the British in
a sale worth Rs7.5 million and to establish the Dogra monarchy. His brothers, however, ended up on
the wrong side of the faction fighting which convulsed the darbar. Dhian Singh was assassinated in
1843, followed by his brother a year later.
The negative portrayal of the period of Sikh rule, initiated by British writers and perpetuated
by Pakistan authors, obscures the city's continued architectural development, trade connections and
political importance. The migrants to the city built havelis and laid out gardens although many did
not survive the British expansion of the city. Members of the Sikh ruling family also architecturally
embellished the city. Ranjit Singh created the Hazuri Bagh in 1818 with a marble pavilion in its centre
near the eastern gateway of the Badshahi Mosque. During the colonial era it was repaired and used
as a students' boarding house. His grandson, Prince Nau Nihal Singh (1821-40), constructed a
magnificent haveli as his private residence which the British subsequently converted into a public
school for girls (Victoria Girls High School). Moreover, it would be wrong to view the Sikh heartland
as closed to commerce, despite the tolls exacted on the established camel caravans from Afghanistan
and the absence of long distance river traffic. The Kashmir shawl industry experienced increased
production and exports during the period of Sikh rule (1819_46). During Hari Singh Nalwa's
administration (1819-21) the number of shawl manufacturing outlets rose from 6,000 to 16,000.
Kashmiri and Punjabi traders replaced Afghans’ control of the external trade. Amritsar grew in wealth
and trade increased between it and its neighbour.

10
 History

COLONIAL PERIOD (1849-1947)

The 1916 Gazetteer offers this perspective on the events of 1857:
An extract, succinctly describing the events at Lahore and in the district of 1857, from the
Punjab Mutiny Report, is given at pages 42 to 4 of the 1893-94 Gazetteer. The disarming of
the troops at Mian Mir on May 13th frustrated a plot for the simultaneous seizure of the fort
with the treasury and arsenal and the outbreak of the troops in cantonments, and the
Ferozepore arsenal was thus indirectly saved. But for this, as the official report says, "the
North-West Provinces and the Punjab must have been for the time irrevocably lost, the lives
of all Europeans in these regions sacrificed, Delhi could not have been taken, and India must
have been ab initio reconquered." Throughout the rebellion Lahore continued in a disturbed
state. In July the 26th Native Infantry Regiment mutinied at Mián Mir, and, after murdering
some of their officers, succeeded in effecting their escape under cover of a dust-storm. They
were however overtaken on the banks of the Ravi and destroyed by a force under Mr. Cooper,
Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar. The strictest precautions were adopted in and around the
city, until the fall of Delhi removed all further cause of apprehension. The subsequent history
of the district is more social than political, and the period from the Mutiny to the present day
bas been one of steady economic and social development.
The collapse of the Sikh Kingdom in the succession struggles which followed Ranjit Singh's
death on 27th June 1839 has been extensively documented. There are also numerous works on the
Anglo-Sikh Wars which culminated in the British annexation of the Punjab a decade later. With the
assumption of power in the Punjab, the last Province to fall to the British in 1849, a new phase of
urbanisation of the city of Lahore began.
The British pulled down numerous historical buildings in order to accommodate their own.
Except for the fortification wall, its ditch and city gates, the walled area remained unaffected. Among
the city gates, only the innermost of the two gates – both called Roshnai Gate, remained intact. The
rest, on account of their being too old, or to demilitarise the walled city, were pulled down. A few of
them were reconstructed in European fashion, Delhi Gate for example. Only Lahori Gate was re-
erected in 1864 according to the original plan. Most of the buildings inside the Fort were repurposed
for their own requirements for a church, a hospital, a winery, and sports. Even Badshahi Mosque was
converted into a military cantonment.
After buildings from the Mughal and Sikh period were initially used for administrative,
religious and residential purposes, the plain outside the walls filled up with the new administrative
and residential areas of the Civil Station. The early residential development in the Lower Mall area
was known as Donald Town after Donald McLeod (Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab (1865-70]).
A new commercial area emerged outside Lohari Gate with the Anarkali Bazaar stretching for nearly
a mile up to Nila Gumbad. Hindus owned virtually all of the shops. The Central Mall area saw the
development of the Cathedral Church of the Resurrection, the High Court Buildings, which were
completed in 1889, and the Lahore Museum and Tollinton market. The Upper Mall was both an
administrative and recreational area with the Government House and the Lawrence Gardens in which
the Lahore Gymkhana Club was located. The imposing buildings of Chiefs College stood to the east.
The Central Mall area was known as Charing Cross: for half a century, until its removal to
Lahore Museum in 1951, it was dominated by a bronze statue of Queen Victoria. The marble pavilion
protecting the statue was designed by Bhai Ram Singh (b. 1858) of the Mayo School of Arts. Bhai
Ram Singh had studied carpentry at the Mission School of Amritsar before travelling to Lahore to
join the Mayo School of Arts where his career was spent as a student, assistant master and ultimately
as its first Indian principal. Bhai Ram Singh designed many of Lahore's most iconic buildings,
including the multi-tier domed Lahore Museum, the Punjab University Hall and Library, the Mayo
School of Arts at the Central Mall and Aitchison College on its north side. They were actually
constructed by Sir Ganga Ram whose period as executive engineer was termed Lahore's 'Ganga Ram'
architectural period.' Ganga Ram, like Dyal Singh, was a migrant to the city whose philanthropic
contributions to Lahore are still evident today. His most famous gift to the city was the hospital which
was constructed in his name in 1921 in the Wachhowali area. He also built a medical college nearby.

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Other charitable activities included the establishment of girls' high schools and a Hindu Widows'
Home and school. These enterprises were managed by the Sir Ganga Ram Trust.
The British took pride in the new provincial capital, with its wide thoroughfares, gardens and
mix of Classical, Gothic and Indo-Saracenic buildings, Charles Dilke, who visited the city as a young
man in 1867, recorded that Lahore 'is far more English than Bombay.’ A generation later, Lahore's
Englishness was still being commented on in the 1916 Gazetteer.
The clock tower was an architectural feature of the colonial state's modernity and middle-class
regularity throughout India. The wealthy Indian timber contractor Bawa Dinga Singh (d. 1939)
constructed an imposing domed three-storey clock tower on the Mall in 1927 which housed one of
the city's earliest electric lifts. Just a year earlier, Dinga's company (Spedding, Dinga Singh and
Company) had signed a five-year contract with the ruler of Swat to fell the state's Deodar forests.
Some six miles east of the city lay the Mian Mir Cantonment with its rectilinear roads, oval
park, Church of St Mary Magdelene, West End Cinema and tennis courts. The whole Cantonment
area covered over 1,300 square miles. British troops had been moved here from the barracks in
Anarkali at the end of the 1850s to try to counteract
the threat of cholera. Spatial segregation from the
'unhealthy' environs of the walled city failed,
however, to prevent nearly a quarter of the troops
dying in a cholera epidemic in 1861. Thereafter a
secure piped water supply was constructed and the
surrounding villages were extensively surveyed to
uncover health threats. Many migrant labourers
were employed in the Cantonment's construction.
Lahore also expanded in a southerly
direction with the creation of the Krishan Nagar
and Sant Nagar suburbs in the early 1930s. Their
roads, unlike those in the city, were wide enough
for vehicle access. The concrete houses were
constructed in a modern style. The streets radiated
from a commercial thoroughfare and were arranged
in rectangular blocks, Krishan Nagar and Sant
Nagar were initiatives which followed on from the
1922 Punjab Town Improvement Act. They were
exclusively Hindu and Sikh localities. The Gowal
Mandi area between the Nisbet and Chamberlain
Roads was another Hindu dominated locality.
The Muslim suburbs included such areas as Statue of A C Woolner, who served as the Vice Chancellor of the
New Mozang and Mohammad Nagar. The Model University of Punjab from 1928 - 1936.
Town development four miles to the south-west of
the city was the most celebrated late colonial-era suburban development. It was not conceived as
exclusive to any community, but wealthy Hindu capitalists owned about two-thirds of its properties.
N. Varma planned Model Town's architectural layout in 1920, but it was another five years before
the first home was completed. When finished, the Model Town scheme really took off as a result of
the efforts of a lawyer, Diwan Khem Chand. Rabbits, jackals and deer initially shared 2.000-acre tract
of forest at Rakh Kot Lakhpat. Snakes were so great menace that the Model Town Society, which
looked after the residents' needs, paid anyone who deposited snakeskins at its office.
During the colonial era Lahore's importance stretched well beyond its walls whether as a
nursery of the game of cricket in South Asia, or as the driving force for the modernisation of Urdu
literature. Entertainments which today are seen as being uniquely linked to the city such as poetry
symposia or wrestling matches were transformed by the growing communications and transport links.
The city also attracted tourists, paradoxically drawn by notions of its uniqueness and
‘boundedness’, which reflected not only the realities of inner city life, but also Orientalist stereotypes.
These were communicated to a western audience through the fiction of Kipling and the growing

12
 History

number of tourist guidebooks which repeated the narrative of Lahore constructed in official literature.
While Mughal monuments were the greatest attraction, colonial Lahore, especially around the Mall,
featured on the tourist trails eased by road and railway links and hotel development.

1947 ONWARDS
The British departure from India violently ended the colonial chapter in Lahore's long history.
From the resignation of the cross-community Unionist government in March 1947, the city was beset
with bomb blasts, arson attacks and random stabbings. Normal life cease amidst night-time curfews
and communities retreated behind barricades. The national leaders' acceptance of the 3rd June
Partition Plan brought a temporary lull. Within a matter of days, however, Lahore's future was being
simultaneously fought out on the streets and debated before the Boundary Commission that sought
to draw up the new international boundary that would run through the Punjab. The conflagration
which destroyed the Shah Almi Hindu heartland of the city on 21 June signalled a victory for a future
Muslim-dominated city, although the publication of the Boundary Award, which delivered Lahore to
Pakistan was delayed until after the British had packed their bags. The remaining Hindus and Sikhs
in the city had to run the gauntlet to make good their escape.
Lahore's railway station resembled a charnel house. Trainloads of Muslim corpses arrived
from India, while angry crowds butchered Hindu and Sikh travellers on its platforms and approaches.
The famous Grand Trunk Road leading to the new border had 'a pile of dead bodies on both sides ...
that stretched for miles'. Thousands of its houses, shops and factories had been destroyed. The
damage to the latter, along with the loss of skilled labour, meant that even three years after
independence, output was still below the 1946 figure.
[T]he post-colonial city experienced rapid population increase despite an insecure border
setting. International links were symbolised by new landmarks such the slender 155-foot marble minar
adjacent to the Punjab Assembly building. This was designed by the Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay
(1927–91) and commemorates the holding of the Organisation of Islamic Conference summit in the
city in late February 1974. By bringing together on same platform Yasser Arafat, King Faisal of Saudi
Arabia, Coloma Qaddafi and Presidents Assad, Sadat and Boumediene, the country’s …prime
minister [at the time], Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto ensured that the world spotlight shone on Pakistan. Lahore,
with its historical splendours and special place in the Pakistan movement, formed the perfect
backdrop. The Mughal-style Gaddafi Cricket Stadium and the Allama Iqbal International Airport
similarly reflect the city's post-independence global linkages.

13
Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

View of Lahore with Maharajah Ranjit Singh — a woodcut of about 1870 by an

unknown artist, Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Image credit: Victoria & Albert Museum, London. Source: [Link]

14
$5&+,7(&785$/+(5,7$*(
Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Architectural Heritage
Uchay burj Lahore dey
Jithe vasde char mishal
Aithay Mian Mir di basti
Aithey Shah Jamaal
Ik pasey da Daata malik
Ik da Madho Laal

The architecture of Lahore bears witness to history as well as its artists’ and craftsperson’s
skills and ingenuity. Historical monuments stand as proud sentinels that mark moments in the many
centuries of its existence. Present day architecture of Lahore is an amalgam of influences and
preferences. Equally, it serves as a symbolic statement – whether of modernity or traditional values,
looking back or look forward, pride in lineage or pride in being ‘self-made’. Glass-fronted high-rise
commercial and apartment buildings, and homes (big or small) that emphasise built area with little to
no garden space are presently quite the norm. Despite its urban sprawl, the city always seem to be
short on space to accommodate its millions.
Lahore is peculiar as landmarks in the city have been granted protection arbitrarily. The
Metropolitan Corporation of Lahore (MCL) has declared The Mall a protected heritage zone. In
addition to this, there are some buildings on the road that have heritage status granted by the
provincial [Link] It is also peculiar in that its residential and commercial areas merge and blend
at will: homes become offices, and eventually nudge nearby residents out to other parts of the city,
and high-rise buildings suffocate smaller structures like trees competing for sunlight in a concrete
forest.
As with most other aspects of the city, attempting to chronicle its architecture is a seemingly
impossible task. Many remarkable exemplars of architecture, aesthetics and historical import are
therefore left unmentioned, including haveliyaan, educational institutions, and government buildings,
among others. This gazetteer will focus on just a few significant monuments that still stand as
emblems of its remarkable history.

LAHORE FORT
The origins of the citadel of Lahore are shrouded in mystery, but it is mentioned in the record
of invasions of Muhammad Gh ri in the years 1180, 84, and 86. Ruined by the Mongols in 1241, and
rebuilt by Ghiyath-al-Din Balban in 1267, it was destroyed once more in 1398, this time by the armies
of Timur. It was rebuilt in 1421 by Sultan Mubarak Shah; this version of sun-dried mud bricks was
demolished by Akbar who had a new structure built out of bricks and solid masonry.
The fort is built such that everything is level internally, however the surrounding ground is
much lower, especially on its north-western side. Additions over the years have added to the materials
used for its construction: buildings erected by Akbar are mostly in brick and red sandstone, with the
addition of marble in the structures built during the period of Jahangir. Buildings constructed during
Shah Jahan’s time show considerable use of marble and abri (variegated) stone, with brick and chuna
or qalai (lime plaster) work; they are lavishly decorated with inlay (pietra-dura), stone carvings, and
reflective mirrors inlaid in plaster bases. The only addition in Aurangzeb’s time is the small Moti
Masjid of purest white marbleiii.
Of the many different forms of decoration used in this remarkable monument, the great mural
of the western wall merits particular mention. Made of glazed tile work, it extends from the Hathi Pul
to the extreme north corner of the wall – a surface 1,450 feet long with an average height of 50 ft –
and is divided into rectangles and squares with mihrabi niches and adorned with chini [Link]

16
 Architectural Heritage

Lahore Fort (1556-1839): The largest complex of buildings in Lahore, built by successive rulers.

SHALIMAR BAGH
Shalimar Bagh
(sometimes spelled Shalamar)
stands out as one of the most
magnificent in all the gardens
of the subcontinent. It is
fortified and internally divided
into three terraces that ascend
from north to south. The
central terrace is the smallest
but most elaborate, with a
central tank, waterfalls,
fountains, cascades (known as
saavan bhaadon), a royal seat
or takht, and a central platform
(mehtabi) for musicians and
Shalimar Bagh (1640s): Paradise gardens built by Shah Jahan.
dancers. A Turkish Bath or royal
hamaam was once attached to
this terrace. The garden was watered via a canal brought feom the Ravi some 100 miles away, while
the numerous fountains were fed by freshwater from a large well.
Of the different crafts and styles employed in its construction and ornamentation, some are:
Glazed tile mosaic
Stone carving
Chini khanay, or carved niches
Chadars, or carved water chutes
Marble throne with jali work
Fountains
Pietra-dura, or parcheen kari (now destroyed)
Fresco painting
Tarseem bandi – a type of wooden ceiling of Kashmiri and Central Asian origin
Painted doors
Brick floor parterrev

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES

A 2018 reportvi by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre outlines the value of Lahore Fort
and Shalimar Gardens, and proposes recommendations for their preservation. The following is part
of the report’s discussion in this context.
The Fort and Shalimar Gardens in Lahore, Pakistan, was inscribed on the World Heritage List
in 1981 at the 5th session of the World Heritage Committee. The property was originally submitted
by Pakistan as two separate nominations – one for Lahore Fort and the other for the Shalimar
Gardens.
At the time, ICOMOS recommended that Lahore Fort to be inscribed under criteria (i), (ii)
and (iii) and the Shalimar Gardens under criteria (iii), while also recommending that Shalimar Gardens
be included on the List of World Heritage in Danger at the same time. However, the Committee
decided to inscribe both Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens jointly under criteria (i), (ii) and (iii).
The property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2000 at the 24th
session of the World Heritage Committee, after complete demolition of two and the partial
demolition of the third hydraulic work belonging to Shalimar Gardens, in 1999.
The property was removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2012 at the 36th
session of the World Heritage Committee, following the significant efforts of the State Party to
implement the corrective measures and after the Desired state of conservation had been met. The
retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value was adopted by the World Heritage
Committee in June 2011.
Statement of Outstanding Universal Value
Brief Synthesis
The inscribed property includes two distinct royal complexes, the Lahore Fort and the
Shalimar Gardens, both located in the City of Lahore, at a distance of 7 km. from each other. The
two complexes – one characterized by monumental structures and the other by extensive water
gardens – are outstanding examples of Mughal artistic expression at its height, as it evolved during
the 16th and 17th centuries. The Mughal civilisation, a fusion of Islamic, Persian, Hindu and Mongol
sources (from whence the name Mughal derives) dominated the Indian subcontinent for several
centuries and strongly influenced its subsequent development.
The Lahore Fort, situated in the north-west corner of the Walled City of Lahore, occupies a
site which has been occupied for several millennia. Assuming its present configuration during the
11th century, the Fort was destroyed and rebuilt several times by the early Mughals during the 13th
to the 15th centuries. The 21 monuments which survive within its boundaries comprise an outstanding
repertory of the forms of Mughal architecture from the reign of Akbar (1542-1605), characterized by
standardized masonry of baked brick and red sandstone courses relieved by Hindu motifs including
zoomorphic corbels, through that of Shah Jahan (1627-58), characterized by the use of luxurious
marbles, inlays of precious materials and mosaics, set within exuberant decorative motifs of Persian
origins.
Akbar’s efforts are exemplified in the Masjidi Gate flanked by two bastions and the Khana-e-
Khas-o-Am (Public and Private Audience Hall). Akbar’s successor, Jahangir, finished the large north
court (1617-18) begun by Akbar and, in 1624-25, decorated the north and north-west walls of the
Fort. Shah Jahan added a fairy tale-like complex of buildings surrounding the Court of Shah Jahan
(Diwane-Kas, Lal Burj, Khwabgah-e-Jahangiri, and the Shish Mahal, 1631-32, one of the most
beautiful palaces in the world, sparkling with mosaics of glass, gilt, semi-precious stones and marble
screening).

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Lahore Fort: Haathi Paer - Elephant Path

The Shalimar Gardens, constructed by Shah Jahan in 1641-2 is a Mughal garden, layering
Persian influences over medieval Islamic garden traditions, and bearing witness to the apogee of
Mughal artistic expression. The Mughal garden is characterized by enclosing walls, a rectilinear layout
of paths and features, and large expanses of flowing water. The Shalimar Gardens cover 16 hectares,
and is arranged in three terraces descending from the south to the north. The regular plan, enclosed
by a crenelated wall of red sandstone, disposes square beds on the upper and lower terraces and
elongated blocks on the narrower, intermediate terrace; within, elegant pavilions balance
harmoniously arranged poplar and cypress trees, reflected in the vast basins of water.
Criterion (i): The 21 monuments preserved within the boundaries of Lahore Fort comprise an
outstanding repertory of the forms of Mughal architecture at its artistic and aesthetic height, from the
reign of Akbar (1542-1605) through the reign of Shah Jahan (1627-58). Equally the Shalimar Gardens,
laid out by Shah Jahan in 1641-2 embodies Mughal garden design at the apogee of its development.
Both complexes together may be understood to constitute a masterpiece of human creative genius.
Criterion (ii): The Mughal forms, motifs and designs developed at Lahore Fort and Shalimar
Gardens have been influenced by design innovations in other royal Mughal enclaves but have also
exerted great influence in subsequent centuries on the development of artistic and aesthetic
expression throughout the Indian subcontinent.
Criterion (iii): The design of the monuments of Lahore Fort and the features of the Shalimar
Gardens bears a unique and exceptional testimony to the Mughal civilisation at the height of its artistic
and aesthetic accomplishments, in the 16th and 17th centuries.

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Shalimar Bagh

Integrity
The inclusion by the World Heritage Committee of the originally separate Lahore Fort and
the Shalimar Gardens nominations in a single inscribed property in 1981 broadened the range of
design expressions - from monumental structures to water gardens - representing Mughal artistic and
aesthetic achievements included in the property, and enhanced the overall integrity of the property.
Both of the complexes in the inscription as they survive today are complete in and of
themselves; the Lahore Fort complex includes all 21 surviving monuments within the defined Fort
boundaries, and the Shalimar Gardens includes all of the various water terraces and pavilions within
its enclosing wall.
However missions to the property (2003, 2005, 2009) have noted that the Badshahi Masjid
(Royal Mosque) and the Tomb of Ranjit Singh, although located outside the Fort proper form an
integral part of its physical and historical context, and suggested their inclusion within the inscribed
property would enhance its integrity.
However the accidental destruction of 2 of the 3 hydraulic works and related walls of the
Shalimar Gardens in 1999 for widening the Grand Trunk Road from Lahore to Mugha significantly
marred the integrity of the Gardens, and the property was placed on the List of World Heritage List
in Danger in 2000. Detailed analysis at the time also revealed considerable deterioration of some
constituent monuments and serious urban encroachments affecting some structures. While remedial
conservation efforts since 2000 have progressively addressed repair needs of individual monuments,
these have not focused on reinstatement of hydraulic systems or components.
Measures to improve property integrity have been identified which include consolidation and
protection of damaged water tanks, protection of external walls for both complexes, major
investment in upgrading of monuments and features within both complexes, extension of the
property and buffer zones to better protect the Outstanding Universal Value of the two complexes
and their settings, consideration of inclusion of adjacent monuments within the property , and
removal of the urban encroachments and improved control of urban pressures (including tourist bus
parking).
Authenticity
The property in general maintains the authentic layout, forms, design and substance of both
complexes and the constituent layouts, elements and features associated with the Mughal artistic and
aesthetic expressions of the 16th and 17th century. Maintaining authenticity of workmanship
necessitates that contemporary repair and conservation work use and revive traditional techniques
and materials.
However authenticity of function and of setting has been eroded over time: the original
function of these royal complexes has been replaced by public visitation and tourism, and the larger

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setting of both complexes now accommodates the traffic circulation and functional needs of the
contemporary city of Lahore.
Protection and management requirements
The World Heritage property is protected under the Antiquities Act (1975), administered until
2005 by the Department of Archaeology, Pakistan. At that time, management responsibility for the
property was delegated from the national level to the provincial level; and the Directorate General of
Archaeology, Punjab (DGoA,P) took on overall responsibility for property management. The
DGoA,P is working within the guidelines laid down in the two Master Plans established for Lahore
Fort and the Shalimar Gardens, and with project financing made available by the Government of
Punjab in a “Five Year Programme for Preservation and Restoration of Lahore Fort” and a “Five
Year Programme for the Preservation and Restoration of Shalimar Gardens” launched in 2006-2007.
The DGoA, P is also being supported in its management efforts by a Steering Committee to guide
implementation of planned projects, a Technical Committee to supervise conservation activities and
to develop a “conservation plan” on the basis of priorities established in the Master Plans, and a
Punjab Heritage Foundation to attempt to provide a permanent source of funding.
The placing of this property on the World Heritage List in Danger highlighted many threats
to the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, and its integrity and authenticity. These include
ongoing degradation of the tangible features of the property, insufficient ability to monitor and
control urban encroachments on and adjacent to the property, and insufficient ability to control the
actions of other agencies which could impact on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property.
The key components of the management response to sustain and protect its Outstanding
Universal Value, integrity and authenticity, and to address the above threats include efforts to extend
the boundaries of the inscribed area and its buffer zone, to complete and implement the Master Plans
for Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens, to strengthen local community and institutional awareness of
the values of the property and the primary sources of its vulnerability, and to improve co-ordination
mechanisms among all stakeholders whose actions could affect the Outstanding Universal Value of
the property, in particular national and local authorities involved in carrying out public works and
promoting and managing tourism on the property.

Shalimar Bagh

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Hazuri Bagh and Baradari (late 18th, early 19th century): Garden and pavilion between Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque.

General Recommendations
Lahore is a historic city with 12 million residents. While the crucial need for public transport
and its overall benefit to the population and the environment are duly acknowledged, there is no
doubt that the actual location of the elevated viaduct girders near the Shalimar Gardens component
site impacts negatively on the OUV of the property.
During the past decades, Lahore has witnessed rapid social and economic development in
Pakistan, and will be facing even more and more challenges in terms of conservation and
management. It appears that further improvements are required, in particular in terms of setting a
broader vision for the protection and management of the property within a living heritage city, or
even a historic urban landscape. Efforts must be made to integrate tangible and intangible heritage
values, including elements that foster local cultural identity and history, are sources of pride for the
communities, and link to symbolic, educational or spiritual aspects of cultural heritage. Improvements
are also required to better coordinate the enforcement of different rules and regulations governing
urban and rural planning, land use, tourism development and heritage conservation.
In Lahore city, one of the primary issues in years to come will be urban and rural regeneration
and expansion. In this regard, it is essential to establish an active and more dynamic interaction
between conservation and development. This includes processes of community consultation and
public participation, which should be integrated into the conservation and management systems.
In the near future, if Lahore is a well-managed living heritage city, it will have strong
competitive power to attract not only tourists, but also residents of Pakistan. From the historic values
of built heritage and the increasing associative intangible heritage values to local cultural identity and
community pride, the links with religious leaders and community members, educational values, the
symbolic role and spiritual dimension of cultural heritage (and notably Islamic heritage), these aspects
and associative cultural products constitute crucial ‘cultural capital’ towards the development
programme for Lahore.

WALLED CITY OF LAHORE

The old city of Lahore has been written about, mapped and altered over the centuries. It was
described by Thornton as:
[A]n irregular trapezium with its longest side looking northward. Its extreme length is one
mile and a quarter; its extreme breadth, including the citadel, a little more than three quarters
of a mile. The south, west, and east sides are surrounded by a brick wall, which was formerly
30 feet high, but which has been reduced to about 15 feet for sanitary purposes. The north
side, looking over the Ravi towards Shahdara, is occupied by the palace, the Jama Masjid,

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Ranjit Singh’s tomb [samadhi], and adjoining buildings. …Outside the wall was formerly a
deep moat, but since the extension of the Bari Doab Canal to Lahore, the moat, which had
outlived its military purpose and was merely an offensive ditch, has been filled in, and, with
the aid of a branch-cutting from the canal, the space reclaimed has been laid out as a garden
by the [Link]

Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA)

The Walled City of Lahore is a living cultural hub of Pakistan with Asia’s largest markets,
World Heritage Sites, landmark monuments, traditional bazaars, enticing food, havelis and museums.
As a living heritage site and one of the last bastions of Lahore’s traditional culture, its value is
immeasurable.
To save the disappearing heritage and culture of the walled city of Lahore, the World Bank
launched a project with the Government of Punjab entitled “Sustainable Development of Walled City
Lahore Project” in 2006. The Aga Khan Trust for Culture was brought on board in 2007 for its
execution and technical assistance. The legal framework for an authority was part of the project and
legislation was formed as the Walled City of Lahore Authority Act. This Act was approved by the
provincial cabinet and was published in the gazette on 18th April 2012.
The Walled City of Lahore Authority, an autonomous body, was established in 2012 by the
Government of Punjab, to work for the preservation, conservation and administration of the old city.
Objectives of WCLA
To provide a comprehensive, integrated legal framework and specialised institutional arrangement for the
conservation of the heritage and tangible and intangible culture of the Walled City of Lahore
To streamline the conduct of business, commercial activity and to enhance quality of life of the people
To promote tourism and market the uniqueness of the Walled City of Lahore

To achieve these objectives WCLA has set up an institutional and legal framework to preserve
and promote cultural heritage. WCLA also formulated the Building Bylaws, Heritage Rules and
Master Conservation and Re-Development Plan. WCLA has taken up projects to preserve and
rehabilitate historic buildings, monuments and open areas within the Walled City. Initiatives to
promote the intangible heritage of the region have also been taken up by the [Link]

Map of Old Lahore

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

The Old City – Androon Sheher

The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) aims to highlight the influence that artisans
have had on the city. Old Lahore was a place where people were identified with their skills and places
still bear the names of the artisans who worked there, like the Bow-makers Street. The WCLA has
offered leases to designated shopkeepers to sell local crafts along Food Street, a prominent avenue
near the crimson walls of the Badshahi Mosque. It has been giving free day tours for visitors around
the Walled City and the Lahore Fort since 2012, and has also begun night tours. Passing areas such
as the Lohari Davarza (Blacksmiths’ Gate), the walks navigate places where the Lahore’s craft history
lives on today.

A WCLA Event in the Old City

Over the past decade, the WCLA has partnered with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) to
conserve some of Lahore’s most remarkable buildings. Initially, AKTC restored the walls and
mashrabiya of the old haveliyaan along the Shahi Guzargah, the Royal Trail. Processions of Mughal
Emperors coming from Delhi would follow this road, entering Lahore via the Delhi Gate and
travelling on to the Lahore Fort. Craftspeople under AKTC have also conserved the last remaining
Mughal-era bathhouse, the Shahi Hammam, as well as the walls, minarets and façade of the Wazir
Khan mosque. Both structures were built in the 17th century.
AKTC’s most ambitious project is the restoration of the 450 metre-long and 16-metre high
Mughal-era ‘Picture Wall’ in the Lahore Fort. Constructed in the early 17th century, it was exquisitely
decorated by hundreds of artisans under Shah Jahan. The result was an artistic triumph; a monumental
screen of over 110 panels comprising glazed tiles, faience mosaics and frescoes. Some of these depict
figurative images, such as angels and dragons. These motifs, now brought back into focus through

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the AKTC restoration, reveal what was an outward-looking Empire, receptive to eastern and western
ideas.
These days, walls are rarely the subject of unanimous praise, nor do they elicit a sense of
pluralism. But this one inverts the idea. Dozens of young female and male architects, fresco painters,
chemists, digital conservators and historians are collaborating on this assignment. The project may
take several years, but the conservators are enthusiastic. They discuss the wall’s Persian, Italian and
Chinese influences. The older master craftsmen, busy restoring tiles, filigree and brickwork, are
equally excited.
Of course, restoring Lahore’s historic monuments will not tackle the structural economic
factors threatening the city’s artisans. But these projects are employing artisans in numbers not seen
in decades. These artisans are reviving Mughal techniques, while also working with a diverse
community of practitioners trained in the latest methods. The results will attract more visitors to
Lahore, generating income that can be reinvested into further restoration work. The project may even
awaken a demand for craftsmanship among affluent residents of Lahore looking to embellish their
homes.
Yet the restoration work is really about something deeper. If the Picture Wall displays Lahore’s
cosmopolitan past, the way it is being restored suggests a pluralistic present rarely found in
contemporary narratives of Pakistan. The multidisciplinary team of artisans and conservators, from
different generations, gender and ethnic origin are, in their small way, embodying the ‘can do’ spirit
that animated the city four centuries ago.

MARYAM ZAMANI MASJID

Maryam Zamani Masjid

This mosque was built in 1614 by Maryam Zamani, or Jodha Bhai, the Hindu wife of Akbar,
and Jahangir’s mother. It was constructed just across the road from the eastern gate of the Lahore
Fort and used by both residents of the fort and inhabitants of the city. Its style has been described as
transitional between that of the Pathans and the Mughals. The mosque has been badly encroached
upon on all sides except the west. Of its original three inscriptions, two are no longer legible. Once
profusely decorated with frescos that are technically different from those in other monuments, they
are now in utter [Link]

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

WAZIR KHAN MASJID

Courtyard of Wazir Khan Masjid

‘No monument in the old inner city encapsulates all the elements of the spirit and the talent
of Lahore as uniquely as does the Mosque of Wazir Khan. Founded in 1634 through a bequest by
Nawab Ilmuddin Khan (a grandee of Shah Jahan’s, and also known as Wazir Khan), the mosque
represents not only his viceregal largesse but the generosity of every anonymous artisan who
contributed his skill – whether it was construction, tile making and design, or wall painting – to make
the mosque a spiritual and an aesthetic experience.’x
When constructed, it was the largest Jamia Masjid of the city, and remains the largest in the
Walled City. Among its unique features is a series of hujray (rooms) on two of its flanks that were
leased out to calligraphers, book-binders and scholars free of charge. Another is a vestibule on its
eastern flank. The vestibule has access from three sides, with the fourth opening into the mosque
courtyard. It also has a spacious chowk (square) in front of it with shops along the eastern face of the
vestibule and the northern wall of the mosque. While the shops were rented out, the chowk was used
as an open mandi (market) for all kinds of merchandise from Lahore and beyond.

Entrance to Wazir Khan Masjid

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 Architectural Heritage

BADSHAHI MASJID
The Badshahi Masjid is a majestic monument built by Aurangzeb in the year 1674 through his
foster brother Muzaffar Hussain alias Fidai Khan Koka, the Governor of Lahore. It was completed
at a cost of 600,000 rupees. Standing west of the Alamgiri Gate of the Lahore Fort, it matches the
latter in dignity and majesty. The mosque is built on a raised platform some 22 steps higher than the
surrounding level and has a square plan with each side measuring 567 ft. The entrance, which is a
double storey edifice, is elaborately decorated with framed and carved panelling on all its facades. Its
impressive courtyard measures 530 sq. ft. internally, with a 50 x 50 ft. ablution tank at its centre.
Four octagonal minarets stand at its four corners, each 176 ft. high with a circumference of
67 ft. Four smaller minarets, also octagonal, are attached to the corners of the prayer chamber. The
huge prayer chamber is 275 x 85 ft. and is surmounted by three grand, bulbous domes, of which the
central dome rises 63 ft. from the floor of the prayer chamber. The entire mosque, excluding its three
domes and cupolas of the minarets, is built with a veneer of red sandstone. The domes and minaret
cupolas are made of white marble.

Badshahi Mosque (built 1672-74): Emperor Aurangzeb's singular architectural achievement.

The interior of the prayer chamber is covered with pucca qali (white glazed plaster) and
embellished with subdued painting. Its floor has a repeated pattern of a prayer mat created with large
slaps of marble with borders of hard black stone. Marble inlay work in the central high arch of the
façade of the prayer chamber is bold and in high relief unlike any other building in [Link]

CHAUBURJI
Chauburji Bagh Gateway stands in splendid isolation at the junction of Multan Road and
Mozang Road, its name derived from the four, architecturally unique burj or minarets on its corners.
This gateway was once attached to a spacious garden on the left bank of the River Ravi – the only
gateway to a Mughal garden in the city to have four minarets. A fragment of inscription on its eastern
façade records that the garden was made in 1056 AH/ 1646 AD by Sahib-e-Zebinda, Begum-e-
Dauran, believed to be the elder daughter of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan; it was bestowed upon one
Mian Bai Fakhrunnisa. The Ayat-ul-Kursi is inscribed in blue enamelled calligraphy on the panel
above the main [Link]

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022
Chauburji through the Ages
Chauburji (1646): An enormous gate to a vanished garden stands alone in a grassy roundabout
at the intersection of Multan Road and Bhawalpur Road.

18801 19102

1950s3

1 Chauburji, Lahore. [1880s Pic] Posted on June 18, 2011 by Raza Rumi. Image credit: [Link]
2 Lahore. Char Boorji. D., Macropolo & [Link], c. 1910. Image credit: [Link]
3 Image credit: [Link]

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1950s & 60s4

4 Image credit: [Link]; facebook/[Link]; Project Lahore

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

1980s & 90s5

20146 - 2015

2018

5 Image credit: [Link]; facebook/[Link]; Project Lahore

6 10 desolate monuments of Lahore, Posted on October 8, 2014 by omaidusmalik. Image credit:
[Link]

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JAHANGIR’S TOMB
The royal tomb of the fourth Mughal emperor, Jahangir (1569-1627) lies in Dilkusha Bagh
built by Nur Jahan in Shahdara, along the right bank of the River Ravi. The structure was set within
a classic Persian chaharbaghxiii style, large garden comprising 16 plots. The tomb stands in an immense
garden of 64 acres, and took ten years to complete.
Jahangir’s brother-in-law, Asif Khan (d. 1641) built his tomb and funerary garden during his
lifetime and this was added to the west of Jahangir’s compound. The tomb of Jahangir’s wife, Nur
Jahan (d. 1645) was also constructed within close proximity, transforming the pleasure gardens into
royal funerary gardens.

Jahangir's Tomb

It is an outstanding example of Mughal architecture, but has suffered greatly over the years.
Looted initially by Sikhs after the collapse of the Mughal Empire, it damaged further by the British
when the railway was built, cutting off Nur Jehan’s tomb from the rest of the garden. The Akbari
sara’i was used as a railway depot and tracks were laid across the garden.
Like other such Mughal complexes, the tomb and garden were conceived as an imitation of
the gardens of the Quranic heaven. Although the water channels, which are an essential part of this
reference, are now dry, the gardens still retain a sense of peace – a quality not only created for the
spirits of the departed but also for the living who visit this historical [Link]

LAHORE RAILWAY STATION

Initially named the Great Indian Peninsular Railway Station, this was the first purpose-built
British building in Lahore. Its foundation stone was laid by John Lawrence in 1859, just two years
after the 1857 War of Independence. The railway station was commissioned by the British
Government and first contracted to Mian Mohammad Sultan Chughtai, a former prince of the
Mughal Empire. The front was not approved and had to be rebuilt. Built rather like a fortress, its
design was also intended for the “refuge of the Railway staff and others in any time of danger.”

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Lahore Railway Station

The first train ran to Amritsar from this station in 1860. The station has been pivotal in
Lahore’s history; the most dramatic being human history’s biggest migration when thousands of
people travelled from and to the newly-created Pakistan in 1947. At present the Lahore Railway
Station is owned by the Ministry of Railways and is the location of Pakistan Railway Headquarters.
Its 11 platforms serve 11 different lines, with Platform 1 serving the international line linking Pakistan
and India through the Samjhauta Express (presently suspended after India revoked the autonomous
status of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir by nullifying Article 370 of its constitution on 5th
August 2019).

LAHORE CITY HERITAGE MUSEUM (OLD TOLLINTON MARKET)

Tollinton Market c.1900

Tollinton Market was one of the first buildings constructed during the British Raj and remains
an iconic landmark of Lahore. Designed by architect par excellence, Bhai Ram Singh, it was hastily
constructed for the Exhibition of Arts & Industry that opened in 1864. The cost of the Exhibition,
including money spent on the building, was in the region of 100,000 rupees. Originally intended as a
temporary structure, it remained in use as the Lahore Museum until 1890. After the transfer of the
museum collection, the building was handed over to the Lahore Municipal Committee.

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In the 1920s, the building was remodelled as a market by Sir Ganga Ram and was known as
Tollinton Market for many decades thereafter. The market closed down in 2006; its interior was
renovated and the exterior restored. As the Lahore City Heritage Museum it comes under the Lahore
Museum. It has only been open to the public a few times since, such as for seminars, and photography
and art exhibitions. There are plans to set up a ‘Hall of Fame’ featuring renowned residents of Lahore,
including the two eminent personalities involved in its design and repurposing: Bhai Ram Singh
(1858-1916) and Sir Ganga Ram (1851-1927).

Lahore Heritage Museum (Old Tollinton Market)

GENERAL POST OFFICE (GPO)

The imposing red-brick building of the General Post Office (GPO) stands at the corner where
the old Nabha Road intersects the Mall Road at a sharp angle. It was constructed in 1887 to
commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria and replaced the telegraph office of Anarkali
bazaar, however the gazetteer of 1916 mentions its year of construction as 1905, completion in 1906,
after which it was occupied by the post office department.
Designed by architect and engineer Sir Ganga Ram, its layout is an unusual trapezoidal ‘V’
form. Four corner towers rise above double-storeyed linear wings and are capped with cupolas; while
the main clock tower is located at the junction of two wings and rises well above the corner towers
like a battlement. Repetitive Roman arches are used in its arcade while the ground floor arches have
deep grooves dividing masonry into sections. Cut red brickwork has also been used for its
ornamentation. One of Lahore’s first British-era buildings to be restored (by Yasmeen Lari &
Associates), it underscores the need for continued documentation and conservation of Lahore’s
historic [Link]

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

General Post Office

LAHORE MUSEUM

The foundation stone of the present building of Lahore Museum was laid by Prince Albert
Victor (grandson of Queen Victoria), on the 3rd February, 1890. It was in 1894 that the Museum
building was eventually opened to the public. The Lahore Museum’s majestic red-brick building
stands on Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, also known as the Mall Road. It is constructed in the Indo-
Saracenic style of architecture, which is a blend of Mughal and British Colonial Architecture.
A detailed description of its structure and contents was given in the 1916 Gazetteer:
‘The general plan of the building resembles a letter E with the entrance porch in the
centre of the back face. The centre gallery is devoted first to a few fine specimens of carved
Mughal doorways and woodwork and secondly to a fairly representative collection of Indian
paintings dating from the Indo-Persian, Mughal, Sikh and Kangra schools up to a few
examples of Modern Indian paintings of the new Calcutta School; the cataloguing and
arranging of this collection is now complete.’
Lionel Heath, as Curator, had written in his report on the museum for 1913-14 that ‘Mr S.N.
Gupta has classified and arranged the collection of pictures in the Museum. He has written descriptive
notes and labels which are now affixed to each picture. When his catalogue of this section is complete,
it will be of great artistic interest and add much to the educational value of the exhibition’. Gupta’s
catalogue was published in 1922xvi – exactly 100 years ago!
Today, Lahore Museum is a world-renowned educational and cultural institution with a
mission to promote research, preservation, training and projection of national heritage through its
publications, displays, exhibitions and media. It has international repute and draws visitors from all
kinds of professional and academic avenues around the world, as well as high ranking state
delegations. It also facilitates students, researchers and scholars in their research for postgraduate and
doctoral studies. Lahore Museum possesses a collection of about 60,000 objects, whose sources are
excavation, donation and acquisition.

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Interior of Lahore Museum, designed in part by John Lockwood Kiplingxvii

Galleries at the Lahore Museum

Indus Valley Civilisation
The Indus Valley Civilization Gallery represents various stages of pre and proto history.
Objects include Stone Age tools from Soan Valley – among the earliest objects produced by humans.
The oldest in the gallery is from 500,000 years ago. The beginnings of civilisation are represented by
objects from Mehrgarh, a Neolithic period site in Balochistan famous for its continuous occupation
by humans from 7000 to 2500 BC. The rest of the gallery exhibits objects from two large Indus Valley
sites - Harappa and Mohenjodaro (3500 – 1500 BC), first excavated in 1920 by teams led by British
archaeologists. The objects include: wheel-turned pottery, jewellery of terracotta, paste and semi-

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precious beads, measuring weights, toys, gaming objects, various other items of daily use made of clay
and bronze, and bronze arrow heads and implements.
Gandhara
The Gandhara Gallery presents a number of friezes, panels and statues depicting the life story
of the Buddha, from his previous incarnations, birth, youth, enlightenment, preaching of the law
(Dharma) and death (Mahaparinirvana). Along the other walls of the gallery are the statues of the
Buddha and the Bodhisattavas, panels and pieces showing foreign influence, architectural fragments,
stucco and terra-cotta sculptures. Among the masterpieces are the famous Fasting Buddha, the
Miracle of Saravasti (now usually identified as Sukhavati Heaven), a small Buddha head with traces of
original gilding, and the standing figure of Athena. The friezes and other pieces of a reconstructed
Stupa (in the centre of the gallery) are from Sikri near Jamal Garhi, District Mardan. In two display
cases are toilette trays, metal and stone objects, pottery and terra-cotta figurines, reliquaries and more,
belonging to the Greek, Parthian, Scythian and Kushan periods. Placed next to them are a number
of beautiful stucco heads from Rokhri in district Mianwali and terra-cotta heads from Akhnur in
Jammu.
Arms and Armour
The Arms and Armaments gallery presents an array of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and early British
period arms and armoury. It features arrows, Khandas (the straight bladed daggers of the Rajputs),
sacrificial dahs (sword), elephant goads and more. Weapons from the Muslim period include spears,
curved swords with steel blades soaked in black crystal water with plain and engraved hilts, inlaid and
enamelled shields, mail coats and helmets, breast plates, and arm and leg-guards. Sikh period weapons
include knives, daggers, spears and lances. At one end of the Gallery is a gun barrel mounted on
wooden pedestal, belonging to a Sikh, Sardar Fateh Singh and dated Samvat 1855 Bikrami / 1798
A.D. It was found in a village near Pattoki, Punjab. During the British period, a shift in the weaponry
of the region took place, with the introduction of match-lock and flint-lock pistols, and guns and
cannons.
Contemporary Paintings
The Museum has a unique collection of modern Pakistani paintings by well-known artists of
the country and a number of Bengal School paintings. It also has the only ceiling mural ever made in
Pakistan, by Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi. Comprising of 44 panels, each 8' x 5.6", this mural spans
96'x24', and symbolises Pakistan's cultural and artistic heritage.
Miniature Paintings
The Lahore Museum has one of the largest and most representative collection of miniature
paintings in the subcontinent. The collection was built in the early part of the 20th Century. It includes
over a thousand paintings, ranging from early 16th Century to the 20th Century. These include leaves
of Jaina manuscripts; significant examples of Persian, Imperial Mughal, Provincial Mughal and Bazar
Mughal paintings; Rajput miniatures from Rajasthan, and miniatures from the Punjab hill states, such
as Guler, Basohli, Kangra, and Nurpur. Specimens of Sikh portraiture and miniatures on ivory are
also interesting parts of this collection.
Coins
The Coin Collection, with 40,000 pieces, is one of the largest in the subcontinent. It includes
the earliest examples of punch-marked coins issued in the seventh/sixth century BC during the time
of the Achaemenian Empire. This collection represents almost all the ruling families of the region
like Graeco-Bactrian, Indo-Greek, Mauryan, Indo-Parthian, Kushan, Indo-Scythian, Huns, Hindu
Shahia, Arabs, Ghaznavids, the Sultans, the Mughals, the Durranis, the Sikhs, the British and the
modern coins of Pakistan.
Examples of coins belonging to the Umayyads, Abbasids and various other Muslim rulers of
Central Asia, Africa and different states of the subcontinent are also a part of this collection. The
collection includes the first coins issued by Mahmood of Ghazna at Lahore bearing the legend of
Mahmoodpur, the new name given by Mahmood to Lahore, and the beautiful Zodiac coins issued by
the Emperor Jahangir.

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Hindu, Buddhist and Jaina

These have four sections - Nepalese, Tibetan, Burmese and subcontinent. Most objects belong
to the late 19th and early 20th century, however, a few pieces date back to 8th-10th centuries. The
Hindu art collection in the Museum contains a number of sculptures, images, statues and other
objects made of stone, marble, wood, ivory and other materials. Various architectural pieces depicting
outstanding artistic achievement are also part of the collection. Some of the highlights of the
collection include a large lingam with the head of Shiva discovered from a site near Jhelum, a
beautifully carved figure of Vishnu, a stone piece with sculpted figures of Shiv and Parvati dating
from 7-8th Century found from a site in Lahore, and a large sculpted architectural piece depicting
Durga as Mahishasuramardini (slayer of the buffalo demon).
There are several architectural pieces from ‘Murti’ a Jaina temple in Salt Range in this
collection. The gallery has a collection from Nepal - woodcarvings, painted tankas, papier-mâché
objects, metal work, jewellery, statues of gilded bronze predominantly representing the Tantric cult.
These objects date from the 16th to the 20th centuries. Tibetan art in this gallery’s collection
comprises sculptures, paintings and jewellery while the Burmese collection contains lacquer work
objects, woodcraft and a beautiful gilded Buddha sitting on a throne under three umbrellas.
Manuscripts
Approached through a magnificent carved wood doorway from Jhang, the Manuscripts
Gallery has sections comprising Quranic, Persian and miscellaneous manuscripts such as of Hadeeth,
history, geography, encyclopaedia, guides, biography and literature. Quranic manuscripts are in Kufic,
Magharabi, Naskh and Bahar styles of Arabic scripts. Most of the manuscripts have been scribed
either in Naskh and Nasta’aleeq or some variants of the two. Manuscripts are illuminated, decorated
and illustrated.
Islamic Art
The advent of Islam in the beginning of 8th century from the South and 11th century from
the North ushered in a distinct era for the arts and crafts of the subcontinent, a selection of which is
presented in the Museum's Islamic Arts Gallery. Calligraphy of the Sura Yasin from the Holy Quran
by the famous artist Sadequain runs all along the top of showcases in this gallery over a length of 269
feet.
Pakistan Freedom Movement
The Freedom Movement Gallery narrates, with the help of paintings, photographs and
newspaper cuttings, the story of the struggle for freedom, from 1757 to the creation of Pakistan in
1947.
Postage Stamps
The question of introducing Pakistan postage stamps on the day of the birth of Pakistan (14th
August, 1947) was examined even before its independence. Due to complications accompanying the
designing and printing of new postage stamps and the limited period then available, it was decided
that the postage stamps and postal stationery to be used by the Government of Pakistan should, in
the first instance, be distinguished by printing the word “Pakistan” over Indian postage stamps and
stationery. The printers considered even this to be a rather huge task; hence it was decided to
introduce Indian postage stamps and stationery with “Pakistan” over them with effect from 1st
October, 1947. These were printed by the Government of India Security Press in Nashik, and later
by Government presses in Pakistan. These over-printed Indian Postage Stamps became very popular
with philatelists over the world, as rubber stamping or hand stamping is never allowed, hence postage
stamps bearing rubber over-prints are considered unauthorised. These invaluable stamps are part of
the museum’s impressive [Link]

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Other galleries and collections

include the general and ethnological
galleries, as well as the Sikh and
Chinese collections.
The Lahore Museum is an
autonomous body under the
administrative control of the Tourism
Department, Government of the
Punjab. Its affairs are run through its
Board of Governors and its
Regulations entitled “Lahore
Museum Regulations-1987”. At
present, visitors to the Lahore
Museum may avail the following
facilities:

Information Desk
Free guided tours (four times
daily)
Lahore Museum An increased number of
exhibitions/collections on display
Exhibition of rare books
Information leaflets for visitors
Free umbrella service
Wheelchair

The Museum also offers an on-site Internship Programme and a Membership Plan. Online activities
are available on its social media platforms, in addition to 22 online exhibitions and online lectures via
Zoom and Facebook. For visitors with particular concerns, a complaint and contact channel has been
created. This is as follows:
Public Information Officer
Feedback register
Complaint register

Visitors’ feedback on social media is also recorded and uploaded.

While the Lahore Museum building is exceptional, it has stood a long time and requires attention. An
ADP scheme entitled “Rehabilitation of Lahore Museum Building for the year 2021-22” has now
been approved for the building’s repair and development.
Message from the Head of Department
Foundation stone of Lahore Museum was laid by Prince Albert Victor (Grandson of Queen
Victoria), on the event of Jubilee celebration of Queen Victoria in 1890. Lahore Museum
possesses more than 60,000 artefacts belonging to different cultures and civilizations. Lahore
Museum provides free guided tours to visitors and tourists.
Lahore Museum is promoting cultural heritage of different regions through temporary and
permanent exhibitions of artefacts. Lahore Museum is also playing its significant role in
educating the community through lectures, seminars, exhibitions, cultural events and
workshops etc.
Government is keen to promote cultural and religious tourism to develop the soft image of
Pakistan all over the world and Lahore Museum is doing its best in this regard.

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FAKIR KHANA MUSEUM

Fakir Khana (The House of The Humble Ones) is one of the biggest private museums in
Pakistan, and has been open to the public since 1901. The building originally belonged to Raja Todar
Mal, Finance Minister of Akbar’s darbar (court) of the Mughal Empire. It was later renovated in the
20th century as a mansion housing almost two centuries of history of the eventful life of some of the
greatest personalities of the region. Fakir Khana Museum is a house turned inside out in the sense
that what is actually ‘private’ in the house, has been made ‘public’. Access to all parts of the building
is unhindered.

Interior of the Fakir Khana Museum

The Fakir Khana Museum is now being run by the 6th generation of the Fakir family. It is
situated barely five minutes from Bhatti Gate, one of the famous gates of the walled city of Lahore.
It is the only privately owned museum recognised by the Government of Pakistan. The history of the
museum can be traced back to that of the Fakir family that settled in Lahore in 1730, where it
established and ran a publishing house. Over the years, the family has acquired a collection of ten
thousand manuscripts. The Fakir Khana Museum currently houses over twenty thousand specimens
of art and artefacts encompassing three centuries, from the 18th to the 20th.
The Miniature Hall is the most impressive, with exhibits maintained for three quarters of a
century. The hall represents a large room of a well-to-do family from a time when western influences
had started penetrating the established ways of living in Lahore. Its principal charm is the large
collection of 160 miniature paintings – all framed and glazed. These are either on paper or ivory, and
belong to various schools: Irani, Mughal, Kangra, Rajput and Pahari. The Museum's masterpiece is a
19th century miniature, a portrait of Nawab Mumtaz Ali, which is approximately 12 inches tall and 6
inches wide. The artist took 15 years to complete this painting, making it with a brush of a single hair.
A section of the museum is dedicated to the Buddhist Art of the Gandhara civilisation.
Reaching its peak between the 1st and 5th centuries, this ancient civilisation spread over the area of
what is today North West Pakistan and part of Afghanistan. The sculptures of Gandhara reflect a
strong influence of Greek art. Gandhara is also famous for producing the first known representation
of Buddha in sculpture and spreading the Mahayana school of Buddhism across South Asia.
Calligraphy is considered an elevated form of art in Islam. Initially used for writing Quran and Hadith,
the earliest form of Islamic Calligraphy was done in the Kufic script. The earliest work of calligraphy
in Fakir Khana is the handwritten Quran written in Kufic Script
The textile collection of the museum belongs almost entirely to the 19th century Sikh period.
Highlights include a fine Kashmiri shawl believed to have been owned by Maharani Jindan, the

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youngest wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, ruler of Punjab. The Hall of Carpets is originally the sitting
room (Gol Kamra) of Fakir Khana Museum. In all there are 18 carpets, shawls and other embroideries
preserved in the museum. Some of these are exhibited in this hall while others can be seen in the Hall
of Miniature Paintings and the room of [Link]

NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM

The National History Museum is Pakistan's first digital museum, located in Greater Iqbal Park
in Lahore. A project of the Parks and Horticulture Authority Lahore (under the Government of
Punjab), it was inaugurated on 17th April 2018 and curated by the Citizens Archives Pakistan, a not-
for-profit organisation. The museum consists of five sections, displaying various aspects of the
Pakistan Movement, cinema, music, and sports of Pakistan. It aims to create immersive experiences
for visitors with features like virtual reality, a cinema, hologram display, and an [Link]

Interior of the National History Museum

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 Architectural Heritage

MINAR-E-PAKISTAN

Minar-e-Pakistan - Exterior and interior views

The monument known as Minar-e-Pakistan was erected at the site of the passing of Lahore
Resolution. Lahore Resolution was passed on 23 March 1940 by the All India Muslim League at
Minto Park, Lahore. It called for separate state(s) in the Muslim majority areas of the Indian
subcontinent. This monument was designed by Nasreddin Murat-Khan (1904-1970), who donated
his architect's fee to its construction. Previously, a design competition had been arranged by the
Government of Pakistan calling for plans for a Pakistan Day Memorial. However, it was not
successful and Nasreddin Murat-Khan took up this project.
The project started in 1959 and was completed in 1968. A popular myth suggests that Ayub
Khan, the then President of Pakistan placed a pen on the table and asked Nasreddin Murat-Khan to
construct a structure resembling the pen standing on the table. Nasreddin Murat-Khan presented
three models for the Monument, of which one is the monument that is known today as the Minar-e-
Pakistan and stands in Iqbal Park, formerly known as Minto Park, Lahore. In the model, the top had
a point to signify the never ending growth of the country. However, it was changed to a dome by the
committee to bring it closer to Islamic architecture. Of its design, Murat-Khan wrote:

“There might be objection that the appearance of the memorial is not traditional, contrary to
the spirit of Islam and so on. To keep to tradition does not mean to imitate old forms without
thinking of the ideas underlying them, i.e. to use the elements of tradition in a manner suited
to the occasion. It would for instance, be very unfortunate to give this memorial the traditional
shape of a tomb, since it most certainly is a momento [sic] of life. Nor could it for obvious
reasons be given the shape of a palace and nobody would disagree that a mosque only should
look like a mosque.

Pakistan is a bold and new experiment in the world of Islam. Let then, adorned with the
tranquel beauty of Moghul ornamentation, the memorial be a bold and a new one.”

Nasreddin Murat-Khan was awarded the President's Pride of Performance Award, Tamgha-
e-Imtiaz in 1963. This was awarded for his contribution to the architecture in Pakistan, chiefly
designing and building the iconic Minar-e-Pakistan. This is the highest civilian award in Pakistan.
Nasreddin Murat-Khan not only designed the iconic Minar-e-Pakistan, his work also includes the
Nishtar Medical College, Fortress Stadium, Qaddafi Stadium, and various Water and Power
Development Authority (WAPDA) flats and housing [Link]

ART DECO ARCHITECTURE

In addition to its remarkable historical monuments from the Mughal, Sikh and British eras,
Lahore is also home to some beautiful exemplars of art deco architecture.

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E. Plomer & Co. - Mall Roadxxii

Art deco as a movement in the decorative arts and architecture began in the 1920s and
progressed in style in the west in the 30s. Architectural features of buildings included rounded corners
and horizontal lines. The interior of the buildings had bold and colourful patterns on walls and
ceilings. Geometric patterns, murals, marble and grand lobbies are some features of this style, which
was used for cinemas and office buildings.
The era in which these buildings were constructed, saw architects, artists, painters and
designers working together. In Lahore, surviving art deco buildings, both commercial and residential,
can be found on Mall Road, Rewaz Garden, Abbot Road, Model Town, Gulberg and Lakshmi
Chowk. Capri Cinema is a good example of art deco architecture, while Plaza Cinema (recently
demolished) also had art deco features. As homes and offices are renovated and modernised, fewer
and fewer examples remain.

Lakshmi Building, Lakshmi Chowk

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DATA DARBAR COMPLEX

Data Darbar

The Data Darbar Complex is perhaps one of the most costly non-commercial construction
projects undertaken in Lahore after 1947 that is not privately owned. It took about 20 years to
complete (1978-99) and its cost was jointly met by the Federal and Punjab Governments. General
Zia-ul-Haq laid its foundation stone in 1978 and the Complex was inaugurated by Nawaz Sharif, then
Prime Minister of Pakistan, on 31st May 1999. The Complex represents a range of ornamentation
including calligraphy, tile work, stained glass, and gold leaf cones to top its minarets. These were
acquired from the United Kingdom, excluding the calligraphic design and execution, which was by
local artists of the Pakistan Calligraphy Artists [Link]

JAIN MANDIR
The city’s historic Jain Mandir is located at a busy intersection of the same name near Anarkali.
According to Punjabi author Iqbal Qaiser, it was constructed by a woman with her own resources in
1940. The author’s research on Jain heritage in Pakistan describes more than 20 important temples in
Pakistan in his book, titled Ujray Daran De Darshan (A Peek into Deserted Doors - 2018). One of
merely a handful of Jain temples in town, it was attacked and damaged in 1992 – along with many
other temples – a couple of days after the 16th Century Babri Mosque was razed to the ground by
right-wing Hindu activists in Ayodhya, India.
Jain Mandir’s canopy was the only piece of the original structure that survived. Its ruins lay
neglected for more than two decades until 2016, when it was enclosed behind a boundary wall and
the remaining site given over to the Orange Line Metro Train. In December 2021, the Chief Justice
of Pakistan at the time, Gulzar Ahmed, ordered immediate restoration of the temple, as well as one
in Neela Gumbad. It is set to reopen in 2022 after rehabilitation and considerable [Link]

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Jain Mandir: Past and Present

CHURCHES AND CATHEDRALS

Lahore is home to a large Christian and Catholic population. It has several churches and
cathedrals, a few of which are Sacred Heart Cathedral, Lawrence Road (1907), St. Andrew's
Presbyterian Church, Nabha Road (1872), St. Anthony's Church, Empress Road (1899), St. Joseph's
Church, Sarfraz Rafiqui Road (1842), St. Mary's Church, Gulberg (1961), Cathedral Church of
Resurrection or Lahore Cathedral (1887), Good Samaritan
Church, Ferozepur Road (2009), and Pentecostal Church,
Kot Lakhpat (n.d.).
Lahore Cathedral is a United Protestant cathedral
built in 1887 opposite the Lahore High Court on The Mall.
The seat of the Diocese of Lahore of the Church of
Pakistan, its building is in the Neo-Gothic style of
architecture. The cathedral was originally built out of pink
sandstone by architect John Oldrid Scott (son of George
Gilbert Scott). In 1898, two towers with tall steeples were
added to the building, but the steeples were taken down after
the earthquake of 1911. It is perhaps quintessentially Lahore
that the sublime and mundane coexist; thus the Cathedral is
commonly referred to as Kukar Girja ('girja' being a
Hindi/Urdu word meaning 'church' originating from the
Portuguese ‘igreja’, and kukar meaning rooster) because of a
weathervane shaped like a cockerel that was mounted on
Lahore Cathedral
one of its highest points.
Sacred Heart Cathedral is the seat of the Roman
Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore. Built at the behest of bishop Godefroid Pelckmans (Bishop of
Lahore, 1893-1904) with Belgian aid and materials, the cathedral was consecrated by Bishop Fabian
Eestermans, then Bishop of Lahore, on 19th November 1907. This Cathedral had a Roman
Byzantine-style, designed by Belgian architect Edouard Dobbeleers of Antwerp.

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 Architectural Heritage

Mayo School of Art: Artists making a model of the Sacred Heart Cathedral Lahore in 1910

The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) has started work on preservation and
conservation of eight shrines, a temple and six churches in parts of Punjab after completing the initial
phase of documentation and mapping. The Punjab government has assigned the projects to the
authority through the Auqaf Department and Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Department. The
following churches in Lahore are marked for conservation: Presbyterian Church on Nicolson Road,
Sacred Heart Cathedral and Cathedral Church of The Resurrection [Link]

GURUDWARAS
The following Gurudwaras are located in and around Lahore District: Gurudwara Dera Sahib
Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Gurudwara Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das, Gurudwara Shahid Ganj Singh
Singhania, Gurudwara Chhevin Pathshahi, Gurudwara Bhai Taru Singh, Gurudwara Diwan Khana
Sahib, Gurudwara Bhai Budhu da Awa, Gurudwara Pehli Pathshahi, Gurudwara Baoli Sahib Guru
Arjan Dev Ji (Dabbi Bazaar), Gurudwara Lal Khoohi, and Gurudwara Chowmala Sahib Bhatti
Darwaza.
In the Walled City of Lahore, in Kotwali Wala Bazar near Chuna Mandi, is the well maintained
and partly functional Gurudwara Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das. The Gurudwara commemorates the
birthplace and childhood home of the fourth Guru Sri Ram Das, born 24th September 1534, who
spent the first seven years of his life here.
Guru Hargobind assumed the leadership of the Sikh community in June 1606 after the
martyrdom of his father, Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Gurudwara Dera Sahib in Lahore commemorates the
spot where the fifth guru of Sikhism, Guru Arjan Dev, was martyred in 1606. The Gurudwara is
located just outside of the Walled City of Lahore, and is part of an ensemble of monuments which
includes the Lahore Fort, Samadhi of Ranjit Singh, Hazuri Bagh quadrangle, Roshnai Gate, and the
Badshahi Mosque.
It is a functioning gurudwara where religious service is still performed daily for the small
congregation that remains; the Chhevin Pathshahi Gurudwara, by contrast, comes alive only
sporadically during the annual visit of Sikh pilgrims from India. Located above street level atop a
small flight of stairs, the Gurudwara was built in British colonial style in 1926.

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Gurudwara Dera Sahib Gurudwara Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das

The Gurudwara Shahid Ganj Singh Singhania, also known as Gurudwara Shaheedganj Singh
Singhnian, is in Naulakha Bazaar and marks the site where over 100,000 Sikh men and women lost
their lives in the 18th Century. It is located opposite Gurudwara Bhai Taru Singh. Bhai Mani Singh
was martyred at this site on 14 June 1738.
Gurudwara Bhai Budhu da Awa belonged to a Sikh of Sri Guru Arjan Sahib Ji named Bhai
Budhu Shah. Bhai Budhu is widely known for not only his tomb but also his famous 'Awa', a term
used in Punjabi and Persian to refer to a kiln where the potters bake earthen pottery and [Link]

Gurudwara Pehli Pathshahi, Manak, Lahore District

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HISTORICAL MONUMENTS
Of Lahore’s countless historical monuments, below are some images of monuments, past and
present. These are followed by images of additional monuments of significance, some of which may
be mentioned in different sections of the gazetteer, particularly in the History section.

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 Architectural Heritage

A white marble pavilion, designed by Bhai Ram Singh, was constructed at Charing Cross in 1901 to mark
Queen Victoria's jubilee as the first Empress of India. A bronze statue of Victoria, cast in London in 1900, stood at the
site in the pavilion until it was replaced by a model of the Holy Quran.7

7 Image credit for present day pictures: Shoaib Raza.

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Other Monuments of Historical Significance

Akbari Serai (built 1640s) and Mosque: These Serai Anarkali’s Tomb (built 1615): Traditionally, the tomb of
are the forecourt to the tombs of Emperor Jahangir and Emperor Jahangir's beloved.
an official, Asaf Khan

Nur Jahan’s Tomb (1640s): Tomb of Nur Jahan, the wife of Shahi Hammam Bathhouse (1634): Bathhouse adjacent to
Emperor Jahangir. Delhi Gate built by Ilmuddin Ansari

Wazir Khan’s Baradari (1635): The centrepiece of a former Samadhi of Ranjit Singh (Completed in 1848): Samadhis of
pleasure garden, converted to a library Ranjit Singh, Kharak Singh and NauNihal Singh are
located here

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Kamran's Baradari Gate (1520s or mid-17th c.): Ostensibly the Ali Mardan Khan’s Tomb (built 1657): Tomb of a high official
earliest Mughal monument in Lahore (with excessive repair) under Shah Jahan who also provided guidance on canal
construction of Shalimar Gardens.

Asaf Khan’s Tomb (built 1642): Tomb of Asaf Khan, brother of Cypress Tomb (Saruwala Maqbara) (built mid-18th century):
Nur Jahan, father of Mumtaz Mahal and Governor of Lahore The 'Cypress Tomb' (Saruwala Maqbara) holds the body of
(1625-1627). Sharfun Nisa Begum, the sister of Nawab Zakaria Khan.

Buddu’s Tomb and Kiln (Bhai Buddhu da Awa) Zeb-un-Nisa’s Tomb (built late 17th century): Tomb of Aurangzeb's
(built mid-17th-century) daughter or a contemporary

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Dai Anga’s Tomb (built 1671): Tomb of Shah Jahan's wet Hazrat Mian Mir’s Tomb (1630s): Tomb of the Sufi saint
nurse. remains popular with Muslims and Sikhs even today

Neela Gumbad Mausoleum (late 17th century): Monument to

Sheikh Abdul Razzaq, now encroached by commercial Sunehri Masjid (1753): A small mosque built in the waning
buildings years of the Mughal era.

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Cultural Heritage
Much of what is written on Lahore attempts to capture memories before the city becomes
unrecognisable; it looks back fondly at what was, often laments what is, and what, perhaps, it is
becoming. Yet Lahore has been made and remade from as far back as the beginnings of recorded
history, with each successive conqueror and ruler seeking to frame it according to their vision.
Given the multitudes that form its sociocultural identity, there is no comprehensive
compendium that can do justice to the sheer magnitude and variety that is Lahore’s culture. For the
people of Lahore, its uniqueness is captured best by the phrase “L’hore l’hore ey” or "Lahore is Lahore".
This particular attempt is therefore to be taken as a series of vignettes that, when combined, create a
sense of what this indefinable city is. With a rich and diverse regional identity forged through its
extensive, elaborate history, this attempt cannot help but barely skim the surface.
Additionally, we live in an age where information abounds, and the exercise of sifting what is
accurate, relevant, and relatively objective, from mountains of chaff is no small feat. It is therefore
necessary to apologise in advance for any inaccuracy that may have slipped through, and any omission
of what might be considered vital. All lists must be seen as inherently incomplete for the same reason.
CULTURE AND SOCIETY
The culture and heritage of Lahore, tangible and intangible, is an amalgamation of the lifestyle,
festivals, literature, music, language, politics, cuisine and socioeconomic lives of its people. For many,
the north-west of Lahore – Old Lahore – contains the heart of the city and its quintessential culture.
In some ways, it has perhaps withstood the relentless force of modernity better than the rest of the
city, but that may well be because the rest of the city moved on without it.
The Old City is encircled with almost thirteen gates known as darwaza. Every gate has
significant value in terms of anthropology, traditions, cultural patterns and ways of living. These gates
can tell stories of their glorious past as well as of the decline of the present. They are: Raushanai gate,
Kashmiri gate, Masti gate, Khizri or Sheranwala gate, Yakki gate, Delhi gate, Akbari gate, Mochi gate,
Shah Alami gate, Lohari or Lahori gate, Bhati gate, Taxali gate and an opening used for drainage
known as Mori gate. There was once a ferry station for transportation as Delhi gate and Khizri gate
were connected by a ferry service.
There are many important sites near these gates, which have always attracted visitors. These
include the Lahore Fort, Badshahi Masjid, Data Darbar, Gawalmandi, Lunda Bazar, Do Moria Pull,
Anarkali, and Minar-e-Pakistan. The constricted streets of the Old City present a specific style of
architecture with tall narrow buildings that only allow patches of sunlight through to the streets
[Link] The love of food persists, as do social gatherings around it, regardless of the time of day.
This particular aspect of Lahore’s culture persists across the city.
Marriages are celebrated across all socioeconomic brackets with traditional Punjabi verve. All
national building and shopping centres along with some main public spaces are illuminated to mark
significant days, such as Eid ul Fitr, Eid al Adha, Eid e Milaad un Nabi, and Independence Day on
14th August. People spend time in public spaces including parks and main road green spaces to enjoy
the festive atmosphere. In essence, the people of Lahore are considered gregarious and most are
happy to strike up conversations with strangers. As with all urban areas around the world, it is always
wise to be alert to scams or crime.
Social organisation revolves around kinship, and the baradari stands out as an important social
institution. Endogamy is widely practiced, often to a degree that would be considered inappropriate
in Western society; the preferred marriage for a man within many Pakistani communities is to his
father’s brother’s daughter, and among many other groups, marriages are invariably within the
baradari. Society is stratified by social and economic levels, with a vast distance between either ends
of the spectrum. This disparity is starkly visible in the city where large vehicles are approached by
mendicants at traffic signals. A measure of the city’s growing middle class might be the sheer numbers
of motorcycles weaving their way through vehicular traffic, their riders quick to put their helmets on
when a traffic policeman is spotted.
While the predominant religion is Islam, religious minorities mark their special occasions with
cautious restraint. Of these, Christmas is often celebrated with decorations in public spaces. In 2020-

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21, the Government of the Punjab in Lahore allocated PKR 60 Million of the economic package to
minorities for the celebration of their festivals: 50M to Christians, 7M to Hindus and 3M to Sikhs.
PKR 10,000 were also given per family on the eve of Christmas, Holi and birthday or Jayanti of Baba
Guru Nanak Ji.

FESTIVALS
A folk story tells of a villager who once came to visit the city of Lahore, but did not return.
When his relatives came looking and finally found him, they urged him to return to his home. He
assured them that he would certainly do so, but after he had finished seeing all the festivals in the city.
When asked when that would be, he famously replied:
Sat din te atth melay
Ghar jaavaan kehrray velay
(Seven days and eight festivals
Who’s to say when I can go home)
Once the city of festivals, there are now fewer and their nature has changed. Nonetheless,
those that survive are unforgettable and timeless in their nature.
Mela Chiraghaan
Mela Chiraghaan is a three-day annual festival to mark the urs (death anniversary) of the
Punjabi poet and Sufi saint Shah Hussain (1538-1599) who lived in Lahore in the 16th century. It
takes place at the shrine of Shah Hussain in Baghbanpura, on the outskirts of Lahore, adjacent to the
Shalimar Gardens.

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Urs
The great saint Syed Ali Abul Hasan bin Usman Hajveri, popularly known as Hazrat Data
Ganj Bakhsh (RA), was an 11th-century Persian Islamic scholar, theologian and writer. He composed
the Kashf al-Mahjub, the earliest formal treatise on Sufism in Persian. Belonging to Ghazna, Ali
Hajveri travelled throughout the Ghaznavid Empire and preached across the Middle East. He moved
to Lahore after living in Baghdad and contributed significantly to the spread of Islam through his
preaching, becoming a renowned Sufi saint in the region. He died in 1072 in Lahore where he is
buried. His mausoleum known as Data Darbar, is a significant pilgrimage site for Sufi devotees and
one of the most frequented shrines in South Asia. His three-day Urs is celebrated anually from the
18th to 20th of the Islamic month of Safar.
Hazrat Syeda Bibi Pak Daman (RA) is the mausoleum of Hazrat Ruqayyah bint Hazrat Ali
(RA) located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Legend has it that it holds the graves of six ladies from the
Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad's (PBUH) household (Ahl-e-Bayt). After the events at Karbala five
Muslim women, led by Syeda Ruqayyah bint Ali (R.A), left Makkah to settle and proselytize in Lahore.
The Darbar of Hazrat Bibi Pak Daman (RA) is located between Garhi Shahu and Railway Station
area in Lahore and the shrine is visited by both Shias and Sunnis. A three-day Urs of Bibi Pak Daman
(RA) is celebrated from the 7th to 9th of the Islamic month of Jumadi-us-Sani.

Baba Shah Jamal also known as Hussaini Syed was a Sufi saint. He lived in Lahore's
neighbourhood of Ichhra at the time of Mughal emperor Akbar and died in 1671. His shrine is located
near Muslim Town in Lahore, opposite to Forman Christian (FC) College. Festivities take place there
every Thursday marked by the playing of dhol. His Urs is marked annually from the 3rd to 5th of the
Islamic month of Rabi-al-Sani and is attended by hundreds of thousands of devotees.
Baba Sain Mir Mohammed Sahib (c. 1550 – 22 August 1635), popularly known as Mian Mir,
was a famous Sufi Muslim saint who resided in Lahore. His tomb is located approximately 3 km west
of Lahore's Walled City and his death anniversary, known as an Urs, is observed there by his devotees
every year.

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National Horse and Cattle Show

National Horse and Cattle Show is held at Fortress Stadium in the third week of November
and lasts 3-5 days. Activities at the event include cattle races, cattle dances, tent pegging, tattoo show,
folk music, dances, bands, cultural floats and folk games. The show began as a modest exhibition
organized by the army to
project the wealth of
livestock in the country in
the early fifties. It has
grown to become a
hugely popular event
attended by families from
across the city. Punjab’s
agricultural legacy is
reflected in this show,
however it also is an
opportunity to showcase
a range of skills like tent-
pegging, gymnastics, and
martial arts.

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Jashn-e-Baharaan
The best known festival is Jashn-e-Baharaan, held annually in February. Celebrating the arrival
of the spring season, it is also called Basant, or the Festival of Kites. This festival was celebrated with
kite flying competitions all over the city especially in the Inner City (also known as the Walled City,
or Old City) area. The festival gained more and more importance over the years and was a huge tourist
attraction for people from all over the world, but has been banned since 2007. The city continues to
celebrate the springtime with elaborate decorations along the Lahore Canal, and flower shows, craft
shows, and food festivals around the city.

Faiz Festival
Established to celebrate one of the most eminent poets of the 20th century, Faiz Festival is
spread over three days and incorporates a variety of themes with experts from literature, film, art,
human rights, politics and poetry. The event is free and open to all, with the exception of a few
ticketed sessions. Multiple parallel sessions take place throughout the day, and between talks, people
can enjoy a variety of food items and visit book stalls.
Lahore Literary Festival (LLF)
LLF was founded by Razi Ahmed in 2012 and features discussions on a variety of subjects
such as fiction and nonfiction writing, music, painting, filmmaking, architecture, politics. It aims to
reclaim and employ Lahore’s rich and varied literary traditions. Its sessions explore the dialogue and

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interface between literature and the arts that shape our cultural, social, economic, and political
frameworks. The LLF draws large crowds and frequently features international writers, or those who
have ties to the city but no longer reside here.
There are many more festivals across the city, some religious and spiritual in nature and others
purely social and entertaining. The indomitable spirit of the city will live on despite the vagaries of
time.

LANGUAGES
“In Lahore, people are going about very busily, using this language here, another there, speaking animatedly
in one language as they are waving papers in another. At the everyday level it is one communication system,
and the different languages all run together.” (Sullivan 2007)xxviii

The main languages spoken in Lahore are Punjabi, Urdu and English. Language functions
differently depending on its domain; the domain of the written word is essentially public and
dominated by Urdu, English, and Arabic. Punjabi is most often the language of the private domain,
but Urdu is gaining here.
According to the 2017 census of Pakistan, the following are identified as the mother tongue:
Urdu 1,403,850
Punjabi 9,000,542
Sindhi 9,393
Pushto 301,636
Balochi 5,236
Kashmiri 23,286
Saraiki 113,603
Hindko 64,802
Brahvi 2,696
Other Language 194,941
The Punjabi language is spoken by the majority of the population of Lahore. A great variety
of Punjabi dialects are spoken by the people of Lahore, many of whom have come from different
districts to live in the city.

Majhi Spoken by the majority and sometimes referred to

as Standard Punjabi
Pahari-Potohari From North and North-Western Punjab, the Sometimes
Hindko Potohar Plateau and Azad Kashmir, as well as collectively known
Dhani Rawalpindi, Jhelum and Attock Divisions as Lahnda/Lahndi
Chhachhi or Western Punjabi
Multani/Saraiki/ From South-Western Punjab by linguists

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Derawali
Shahpuri From Sargodha Division in Western Punjab
Thalochi/Thali A transitional dialect between Saraiki and Shahpuri
Jhangochi/Jatki/ From Khanewal and Jhang through to Gujranwala
Jangli/Rachnavi/ and down to Bahawalnagar
Changvi/Chenavari

Urdu, the national language, is also spoken and understood by most of the population and
primarily used as a second language. Lahore has been central in the historical and cultural context in
which Urdu emerged in the subcontinent. Persian had been used as the language of administration
under the Sikhs and centuries of previous administrations in Lahore. When the British annexed the
Punjab in 1849, they discontinued its use for administration and replaced it with Urdu.
At present, a very large segment of the population considers spoken Urdu a language of status
and it is replacing Punjabi as the language spoken in homes. Urdu, by virtue of being the national
language and the functions related to that designation, is the prestige language and language of culture;
it is also the language of general commerce and is used for communication in midlevel services.
English is understood and spoken by a sizeable segment of the educated population.
Conversational English is the language of the most well-educated and most powerful part of the
community. English remains exclusive because of the cost of an effective education in English. While
many schools claim to offer 'English medium' education, their quality varies widely. For many people
in Lahore, English continues to be part of a system of material success and power.
Minority languages spoken by people of different parts of Pakistan and Afghan refugees living
in Lahore include Pashto, Sindhi, Pahari, Raangrri, Balochi, Brahui, Kashmiri, Shina, Balti,
Khowar/Chitrali, Burushaski, and Dari.

LITERATURE
A most natural progression in discussion is from languages to literary works. Lahore has been
home to countless renowned authors and poets who have written in Punjabi, Urdu and English. It
was designated the 'City of Literature' by UNESCO in 2019, making it part of an international
Creative Cities Network. Literary events like the Lahore Literary Festival and Faiz Festival, among
others, have been organised under the City of Literature banner. To promote literary activities in
educational institutions, the Commissioner’s Office Lahore and Metropolitan Corporation Lahore
have also signed MoUs with different universities.

Poets, Dramatists, Prose Writers

O Ravi, if paradise is to be found, it is you
if there is a kingdom fully equipped, it is you,
water in which is the lofty heaven is you,
a spring in which there are a thousand rivers is you.
Rubaii to the River Ravi by Mas ud Sa d Salmânxxix

The literary giants that Lahore has produced over the centuries are one of the defining
attributes of this part of the subcontinent. Among the first poets of Lahore who made a name was
Masud Sa’d Salman (1046 to 1121), who was born inside the Walled City during the Ghaznavid period
and wrote in Persian. Shah Hussain (1538-1599) lived inside the Walled City in a small house that
centuries later was occupied by another great Punjabi poet, Ustad Daman.
Much later, Lahore was visited by a line of Sufi saints who all used both poetry and prose as
their vehicle of expression, including Ahmad Zanjani and Ali Hasan of Hajver almost nine centuries
ago. Among the Punjabi poets, Bulleh Shah (1680-1757) lived in Lahore for a time to please his
murshid Inayat Qadri at his dargah located at today’s Queen’s Road. The great Waris Shah (1722-
1798) occasionally visited Lahore to get his epic ‘Heer’ published in today’s Urdu Bazaar.

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In the recent past, the poet and philosopher Allama Iqbal wrote in both Urdu and Persian and
created new traditions in both poetry and prose. Lahore was also home to the poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz,
whose remarkable works have been translated into 43 languages. The poets of Lahore are in the
hundreds; a few prominent names (in no particular order) include Sufi Tabassum, Ustad Daman,
Hafiz Jalandhari, Munir Niazi, Ahmad Nadeen Qasmi, Habib Jalib, MD Taseer, Akhtar Shirani, Daud
Rahbar, Saghar Siddiqui, Nasir Kazmi, Ehsan Danish, Ahmed Rahi, Amrita Pritam, Amjad Islam
Amjad, Ahmed Rahi, Anis Nagi, Kishwar Naheed and Kripa Sagar.
The dramatist and poet Agha Hashar Kashmiri wrote his plays in an era where the theatre of
Lahore was carving out its place in history. Kashmiri was deeply inspired and influenced by
Shakespearean plays and Persian theatre and introduced many Urdu adaptations of those plays. Imtiaz
Ali Taj wrote the classic play ‘Anarkali’, among others. More recently Ajoka Theatre (Madeeha
Gauhar and Shahid Nadeem) has produced plays that earned international recognition. Commercial
theatre arrived in Lahore in the early 1980s through the joint efforts of Naheed Khanum, Amanullah,
Mastana and Baboo Baral. Actors improvise dialogue on the spot and performances are based on
comic quips and repartee. There has been a decline in the quality of content, which is considered
lowbrow, vulgar, and has been deemed 'unethical' by some. The initial venue for these plays was
Alhamra, however a ban on commercial theatre is now being implemented there.
Among prose writers of Lahore, many of whom also wrote plays, the names of Sadaat Hasan
Manto and Intizar Hussain stand out. Much earlier, Altaf Hussain Hali wrote his pioneering work of
literary criticism in Urdu, the ‘Muqaddama-i-Sher-o-Shairi’. Many other writers either lived in or
forged strong ties to the city of Lahore, including Abdullah Hussain, Ashfaq Ahmed, and Amjad
Islam Amjad who reinvented television drama with his classic ‘Waris’. The Urdu writer A Hameed
set in trend a totally different tradition, and his drama ‘Ainakwala Jinn’ set a new standard for writing
for children. He followed it with writing 100 novels for children in, what is known as, the ‘Ambar
Naag Maria Series’.
A few women writers among many include Bano Qudsia, Razia Butt, Hajra Masroor, Khadija
Mastoor, and Altaf Fatima. In the English language, Bapsi Sidhwa has achieved international fame.
Other writers in English who have ties to Lahore include Mohsin Hamid, Tariq Ali, and Moni Mohsin,
among numerous others who have written fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and translated works to and
from English. It is no wonder, then, that Lahore has been called the sub-continent’s city of a thousand
poets and [Link]
Literary Movements and Societies
The development of Lahore as a newly created centre
for Urdu literary movements after Partition is often
associated with the migration of prominent Muslim literary
figures to Lahore from North India, especially East Punjab.
Many of these writers and poets found the Upper Mall area
of the city to be a lot like Delhi, something they were familiar
with. Many of these scholars established affiliations with
educational institutions such as the Punjab University,
Government College, Islamia College, and the Dayal Singh
College, all of which were close to each other on the Mall
Road.
Pak Tea House
The site of the famous Pak Tea House was initially
home to the Coffee House, later the India Tea house. After
1947, it was given to a refugee named Siraj who renamed it
Pak Tea House. The initial use of the space as the Coffee
House was sponsored by the Coffee Board set up by the
Indian government in the 1930s. Coincidentally, the Coffee
House had been set up at a time when Communist ideas had
captured the imagination of a new generation of Indian
youth, intellectuals and political workers. Owing to this, the

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space became the meeting place for leftists. The place was central to Lahore’s literary scene, especially
after it became the meeting place of the Progressive Writers’ Association. It was also frequented by
literary figures who did not have a direct link with the Progressive Writers’ Movement.
Progressive Writers' Association (PWA) in Lahore
The Progressive Writers’ Movement was prominent among the literary movements of Lahore
and operated in a doctrinal triangle whose three nodes were pragmatism, Marxism, and a western
orientation. The group was left-oriented, and sought to inspire people through their writings
advocating equality among all humans and attacking social injustice in the society. Its members
included notable literary personalities such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Sibt-e-Hasan, Habib Jalib, Ahmed
Faraz, Ali Sardar Jafri, Sadat Hasan Manto, Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, Hameed Akhtar and Sahir
Ludhianvi. The association had its own publication - a magazine by the name of Nizam. Intizar
Hussain - though he did not share leftist leanings - served as the editor of Nizam in its early years and
writes fondly of the discourse that was prevalent in the publication.
Halqa Arbab-e-Zauq
What began as an informal group for writers soon became an important literary collective and
organization. Bazm-e-Dastangoyan’s name was changed to Halqa Arbab-e-Zauq in September 1939.
Initially, its meetings were held at the residence of its members; in 1944, the group relocated
permanently to the YMCA.
The Halqa had received criticism because it was perceived as a reaction to the Progressive
Writers Movement and due to the literary leanings of some of its members who favoured the notion
of art for art’s sake. This is despite the fact that the Halqa’s annual publication had also promoted
writers such as Josh whose poetry was aimed at social revolution. The Halqa housed and helped many
famous as well as aspiring writers, such as Tabish Siddiqui, Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, Rajinder Singh
Bedi, Kanhaiya Lal Kapur and Qayyum Nazar. The organization is functional [Link]

Lahore in Poetry
Not only has Lahore produced and hosted literary figures, it has inspired countless others.
Milton (1608-74) placed Lahore among the cities which met the eyes of a repentant Adam from the
hill of Paradise:
— from the destined walls of Cambalu, seat of Cathaian Can,
And Samarchand by Oxus, Temir’s throne
To Paquin of Sinaean Kings; and thence
To Agra and Lahor of Great Mogul —
(Paradise Lost Bk. xi-386-392)
Thomas Moore’s (1779-1852) Lalla Rookh featured “the splendid city of Lahore” with
“mausoleums and shrines magnificent and numberless” (161), and claimed that the “brilliant displays
of life and pageantry among the palaces and gilded minarets of Lahore made the city altogether like a
place of enchantment” (355).
It is well-known that Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) adored Lahore. It was here that he passed
his childhood, playing and dreaming around (the cannon) Zam-Zama which is now known better in
the literary circles as Kim’s Gun. (However, the author also depicted the Walled City in his 1891 story,
The City of the Dreadful Night, as a place of “fetid breezes”, lepers and corpses, a city “of Death as
well as Night”.) It was here in Lahore that Kipling started his career as a journalist. There was a
memorial plaque in one of the old buildings, on The Mall, which was the office of The Civil and
Military Gazette saying, “Kipling worked here from 1882-1887.”xxxii
“Kipling was a born flâneur and strolled all around Lahore. While erring through the city and
talking to local inhabitants, he learned many things of which most English people in India
were unaware. Some traits of Kipling‘s personality and his in-depth knowledge of the
psychology and customs of different groups of Indian society were reflected in his favourite
character – the policeman Strickland, a talented scholar of India, an actor who could assume
any guise, and a clever detective. …In all, Kipling lived in Lahore for five years: …it was in

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Lahore that Kipling became a writer and the short stories that made up his first prose
collection Plain Tales from the Hills (1888) were written and published in the newspaper.”xxxiii

In Urdu poetry, the image of Lahore as a city of enchantment appeared as poets and authors
migrated to it in the late 19th century, replacing older centres of culture and literature like Oudh and
Delhi. Akhtar Shirani (1905-1948) describes it thus:

For how long will the brilliance of Oudh’s eve be celebrated,

O drifting moon!
Come turn Lahore’s eve to morn
Gomati has seen the brief splendour of spring
Come turn the Ravi’s surface to a mirror too

How Lahore drew in poets, especially after Partition, from across the sub-continent is
passionately described by Nasir Kazmi (1925-1972) in his unforgettable couplet:

City of Lahore, may you stay ever lively

The breeze of your streets has lured me here

In 20th century Urdu poetry, the river Ravi started appearing as a much-loved river. Allama
Iqbal (1877-1938) wrote Kinar-e-Ravi (On the Bank of Ravi), in which he muses that the silent rhythm
of the river is connected to the songs a human heart sings in loneliness. In this poem, the Ravi appears
as a guardian of Lahore, and symbolises eternity, implying too the eternal enchantment of Lahore.

Lost in its own silent rhythm, the Ravi sings its song.
In its undulating flow I see the reflections in my heart—
The willows, the world, in worship of God
Life flows on this river of eternity
Man is not born this way; doesn’t perish this way
Undefeated, life slips beyond the horizon,
But does not end there.

(Translated by Parizad. N Sidhwa)

Hafeez Jalandhari (1900-1982) expresses the magic of the Ravi in these lines of his poem
Taoba Nama (Of Repentance)

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O! That bank of the Ravi, that darkening sky

Enfolded in the evening, the cast of springtime on foliage
Shades of indigo scarlet on twilight clouds
And in the Ravi’s gilded, silvered waves, a raging battle

This description is no longer fitting, sadly, as the river shrinks further into a sewerage and
industrial waste-bearing drain. Urdu poets have contrasted Lahore’s glorious past with the
despondency that engulfs it in their present. Majeed Amjad (1914-1974) mentions the Ravi in his
famous poem Maqbara-e-Jahangir (Tomb of Jahangir). Its melancholic tone describes the indifference
of visitors to the tomb and its resident.

Carrying the echoes of the dance of ages in the heart’s cupola

This casement which opens to the river Ravi
Asks for refuge from its own derelict loneliness
Asks for smoke-laden fumes from each passing car

The same melancholy seems to be embedded in Tilok Chand Mehroom’s (1887-1966) Nur
Jahan Ka Mazaar (Tomb of Nur Jahan).

There lies a broken dwelling on the banks of the Ravi

Where there is a sense of the darkness of night even in daylight

Where Urdu poets have frequently portrayed the allure, bustle and dazzling energy of Lahore,
they have also remarked on less pleasant aspects. Shohrat Bokhari (1926-2001) wrote:

Once was Lahore the heart of lovers

It is now like the city of Kufa

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Kufa is considered a symbol of treachery and treason in Islamic history. It is concern for the
future of this beloved city that makes poets turn to prayer. In this context Shoaib Bin Aziz (1950 –)
writes:

Glance too at my Lahore

May your Mecca always thrive, O Lordxxxiv

THE ARTS OF LAHORE

The line between the literature and various arts and crafts of Lahore must be arbitrary per
necessity: in reality, poetic verse has frequently made its way into paintings and visual art, as well as
the performing and musical arts. Practitioners, too, have used different media to portray their
expression, so that a writer may also be a painter, and an actor or musician may well be a poet. So,
too, with architects, craftspeople, digital artists and others. Patrons of the arts have also been known
to be keepers of its history and archives, and some have recorded the same in writing – F S Aijazuddin
and Abdul Majid Sheikh, to name but two of a long list. In short, many prominent names from Lahore
who continue to preserve, conserve, record and remember, go unmentioned in this gazetteer, but
their work is invaluable in making the city what it is.

Lahore Arts Council

Alhamra is successor to Pakistan Arts Council founded on December 10, 1949. The modern
complex owes its existence to the efforts and interest of the former Governor Punjab, General
Ghulam Jillani Khan. Its striking architecture, designed by Lahore’s famous architect Nayyar Ali Dada
in 1981, and red brick façade hearkens back to the royal enclave in Granada, Spain.
Subsequent developments include an open-air theatre and two small auditoriums at Ferozepur
Road, Lahore. An Art Museum was also constructed at the Alhamra Cultural Complex, Gaddafi
Stadium Lahore. This is the first Art Museum of its type in Pakistan where works of old masters has
been preserved and put on permanent display. Alhamra has played a pivotal role as the hub of cultural
activities in Lahore.

Cinema, Television and Music

It may be considered a supreme injustice to each of these creative domains to lump them
together, and in terms of Lahore’s history in these domains, it most definitely is. However expediency
demands that we mention less of what was, and more of what is presently pertinent.
Lahore has been home to the Pakistani Urdu and Punjabi language film industry – sometimes
known as Lollywood – since 1947. In the 1960s, Lahore had 82 cinemas that aired films in Urdu,
Punjabi, and English. The relatively easy access to television and arrival of the VCR contributed in

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part to a decline in cinema goers. Additionally, film production in the 70s and 80s veered towards
clan or ‘biradari’ control (the Gujjars and Jatts). In the late 80s and 90s, Punjabi films featuring the
hit screen couple of Sultan Rahi and Anjuman gained prominence.

From 1995-98, Urdu movies resurfaced momentarily, however the trend of clan-related
Punjabi films continued and Lahore’s film industry went into steady decline until the number of local
films was only five per year. With a younger population’s reignited interest in cinema, there is renewed
energy in film production, mostly in Urdu. Many linked with the sector have moved out of the city,
as most production houses have shifted their headquarters to [Link]
Lahore has also relinquished
its grip on television production in
recent years. It currently serves as
the headquarters for some news
channels including City 42, Din
News, Duniya News, GNN, and 24
News HD.
The list of actors, actresses,
producers and directors,
screenwriters, musicians and
composers, and those associated
with the myriad aspects of film and
television production – such as
make-up and wardrobe, sound and Drama Serial 'Waris' - PTV Lahore – Aired 1979-1980
lighting, and so on – who hail from
Lahore is seemingly endless. Countless national and international celebrities have ties to this
inspirational city, and should Lahore choose once again to be a creative epicentre for media, there
would be no dearth of skill and talent.
When Pakistan Television came into being in 1964, headed by Aslam Azhar (1932-2015), it
brought all the great folk and classical music talent into people’s living rooms and gave a platform to
several already recognised voices of radio and the film industry, such as Tufail Niazi, Pathaney Khan,
Shaukat Ali, Reshma, Alam Lohar, Muhammad Jumman, Faiz Baluch, Mai Bhagi, Abida Parveen,
Salamat and Nazakat Ali Khan, Amanat and Fateh Ali Khan, Roshanara Begum, Munni Begum,

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Malika Pukhraj, Noor Jahan, Mehdi Hassan, Sabri Brothers, Aziz Mian Qawwal, Allan Faqir and
many [Link]

Ustad Amanat Ali Khan and Ustad Fateh Ali Khan - Patiala Gharana Jupiters - 1980s to 1995

EMI, the major record label, also played a huge role in sustaining the livelihoods of hundreds
of musicians, while institutions like the Arts Council and Lok Virsa recorded and founded music
libraries. While a strong musical presence continues on the internet, and underground, this creative
pursuit has had a tumultuous history across the country.
Nonetheless, Lahore continues to produce singers and musicians who gain visibility on
platforms like the first ‘pop’ music stage-show to be aired on Pakistan TV, Music 89 (PTV, 1989),
and Coke Studio (launched in 2008, with 14 seasons to date), that combines myriad musical
influences, from traditional classical, folk, Sufi, qawwali, ghazal and bhangra music to contemporary
hip hop, rock and pop music.
The All Pakistan Music Conference (APMC) is a cultural organization/general public service
organization formed in 1959 in Lahore, with the express intention of promoting and perpetuating the
rich tradition of the classical/performing arts in the country. The first festival was held from February
19-23, 1960. APMC promotes music of the classical as well as folk genre. Over the years, hundreds
of live concerts and music festivals have been organized by APMC. Hayat Ahmad Khan (1921-2005)
was the moving spirit behind the APMC; he was not only one of its founding members but also a
long-serving secretary. His legacy is carried forward by his family.

Fine Art
Ustaad Allah Bakhsh (1892-1978) was born in Wazirabad but lived in Lahore and considered
this city as his original abode. His birth year is usually mentioned as 1895; however, according to a
radio interview in 1964, he recalled it as 1892, when his father went to Africa. Allah Bakhsh’s father
sent him to a Madressah to study Arabic and Urdu, which he could never understand as his memory
was designed specifically for visuals and images and not for alphabets. As early as the age of five,
Allah Bakhsh started apprenticeship with Master Abdullah, who was a known artist (Naqash) in the
Mughal Style miniature painting.
In 1913-14, Allah Bakhsh started working for the theatrical company of Agha Hashar
Kashmiri at the Bhati Gate Lahore, and was exposed to scene-painting for the first time and practised
figurative, portraiture, landscape and cityscape patterns. These circumstances inclined Allah Bakhsh
towards theatrical and dramatic visuals based on imagination and memory. He created scenes for
backdrops and publicity of Western plays, famous folktales and mythological anecdotes. After some
years in Bombay, he returned to Lahore and worked as a commercial artist for the Paisa Akhbar in
Urdu Bazaar Lahore until 1922. He explored pastoral life and landscape painting of the fertile lands
of Punjab, and then joined the court of Maharaja Patiala and stayed there until 1937-38. Ustad Allah
Bakhsh established himself as a self-taught master and is considered a pioneer of modern landscape
and figurative painting in Pakistan.

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Heer Ranjha - Ustad Allah Bakhsh

Abdur Rahman Chughtai (1894–1975) stands out as the first prominent modern Indian
Muslim artist. He studied at the Mayo School of Art in Lahore circa 1911 and began painting early in
his life. He forged a distinctive style and grounded his art in the ideas of Urdu writers and poets. By
the 1920s, under the influence of poet Muhammad Iqbal’s pan-Islamic ideas, he started basing his
paintings on consciously Islamic and Mughal aesthetics. His influential publication – Muraqqa’-i
Chughtai (published in 1928) that illustrates the poetry of Mirza Ghalib – marks this shift.
Chughtai was over 50 years old in 1947 but, while he remained an admired figure, he had no
prominent disciples in the newly created Pakistan who would follow in his artistic footsteps. Pakistani
art needed a new formal language that could better express the challenges of mid-century modernity
and decolonisation. For a fully modernist artistic practice to emerge, Pakistan also needed a
restructuring of its art schools and exhibition venues since a large number of art teachers, students
and curators had left for India after Partition.
At the time of its creation, the country faced a difficult landscape for fine arts. Even Lahore
– that at the time had two schools for art instruction, the Mayo School of Art and the Department
of Fine Arts at the Punjab University – was in a poor shape because of the departure of many art
instructors and students. Key institutional developments took place over the next two decades. The
Mayo School of Art was upgraded to the National College of Arts (NCA) in 1958, a move that
facilitated a greater focus on the teaching of modern art.
During the tenure of Shakir Ali (1916–1975) – first as an instructor in painting from 1952 to
1961 and then as principal from 1961 to 1969 – NCA became an incubator of modernism in West
Pakistan. At the Punjab University, expressionist painter Anna Molka Ahmed (1917–1995) became
the head of the Department of Fine Arts and held the post for many years, organising numerous
exhibitions during the 1950s and publishing many catalogues on emerging artists. Artistic societies
and arts councils emerged in many cities, including the Alhamra Arts Council in Lahore.

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Night of Nishapur - Abdur Rehman Chughtai

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Still Life with a Yellow Mug - Shakir Ali

Some early modernists such as Shakir Ali were also leftist political activists. He began his
artistic training in 1937 in Delhi and joined the J. J. School of Art in Bombay in 1938 as a student. By
then he was also contributing progressive Urdu texts to literary journals. He later studied and worked
in London, France and Prague for many years. There he was associated with socialist youth groups.
His mentoring and personality were decisive in inspiring a generation of students and fellow artists
who emerged on the art scene between the 1950s and 1970s. These include figurative cubist painter
Ali Imam (1924–2002), Anwar Jalal Shemza (1929–1985) and Zahoor ul Akhlaq (1941–1999), who
created drawings, paintings and sculpture that have left deep and formative impacts on numerous
artists working today.
During the 1960s and 1970s, calligraphic modernism formed an increasingly influential mode
of expression though Hanif Ramay (1930–2006) had started reformulating calligraphy to express
abstract ideas as early as the 1950s. Iqbal Geoffrey (born in 1939) developed an expressionist
calligraphic practice, while Anwar Jalal Shemza, who was also a noted Urdu writer, also developed an
important body of abstract calligraphic work. Jamil Naqsh (born in 1938 and now based in London)
has also created numerous abstract calligraphic paintings apart from his signature figurative oeuvre.
The greatest practitioner of calligraphic modernism is Pakistan’s most celebrated artist
Sadequain (1930–1987), whose murals may be found in the Lahore Museum and the Punjab
University Library. Sadequain painted the ceiling of the Lahore museum entrance hall, depicting
Evolution of Mankind, and additional nine large panels of calligraphies for the Islamic Gallery. The
ceiling spans approximately 100 x 35 feet (11 m).
Punjab University houses the mural "Quest of Knowledge" in its library, which appropriately
depicts the academic theme commensurate with the institution of learning where it is housed. Young
men and women are shown holding high the key to learning that unleashes riches in their lives. The
mural is mounted high up against the ceiling of the main library. The mural in the Punjab Library
(adjacent to Lahore Museum) is mounted in the library hall located on the main floor. All four sections
of the mural have been disassembled and dismounted because of the damage to the building due to
water seepage.

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Evolution of Mankind - Sadequain

Contemporary artists wanted to address social concerns more directly than was possible with
the languages of modernism. They were also intrigued by the artistic potential of new mediums and
technologies. These motivations are evident in the work of artists who are making increasing forays
into mediums previously marginal to art in Pakistan such as performance and video. A major
contributor to the growth of contemporary art is the evolution of an art school culture that has
proliferated in recent decades. Many innovative contemporary artists today are either former students
of the NCA, the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture (IVS), Karachi, and the Beaconhouse
National University (BNU), Lahore, or they are teachers at these institutions.
During the last few decades, faculty at the NCA has included such accomplished artists and
art teachers as Bashir Ahmad, Naazish Ata-Ullah, Jamil Baloch, Colin David, Salima Hashmi,
Muhammad Atif Khan, Afshar Malik, Iqbal Hussain, Quddus Mirza, R M Naeem, Imran Qureshi,
Qudsia Rahim, Anwar Saeed, Nausheen Saeed and Beate Terfloth. While miniature painting had been
taught at the NCA for decades, by the 1980s under encouragement by Zahoor ul Akhlaq — who was
interested in the miniature’s underlying structure — its pedagogy converged with other aesthetic
frameworks.
The NCA has consequently produced notable New Miniature artists from the 1990s onwards.
These include Waseem Ahmed, Khadim Ali, Ayesha Durrani, Irfan Hasan, Ahsan Jamal, Aisha
Khalid, Hasnat Mehmood, Murad Khan Mumtaz, Imran Qureshi, Nusra Latif Qureshi, Wardha
Shabbir, Madiha Sikander, Shahzia Sikander, Aakif Suri, Saira Wasim and Muhammad Zeeshan. Their
work ranges from meticulously rendered figures and repeated floral and decorative motifs on vasli
paper to unorthodox sculptures and large scale installations.
The other change brought about by the NCA is an expansion of artistic activity beyond the
issues and concerns of big cities and the likes and dislikes of their elites. Being a state institution, it
admits a diverse student body that cuts across rural and urban divides and other distinctions based
on class, province and ethnicity. Many contemporary artists trained by the NCA come from different
parts of Pakistan but they have made Lahore their home. A number of them – Noor Ali Chagani,
Imran Channa, Shakila Haider, Ali Kazim, Waqas Khan, Nadia Khawaja, Rehana Mangi, Usman
Saeed and Mohammad Ali Talpur – employ in their works a rigorous and repetitive mode of
expression pioneered by Zahoor ul Akhlaq and the former NCA teacher Lala Rukh (1948-2017).
While Zahoor ul Akhlaq investigated the tension between geometry and narrative at a structural level,
Lala Rukh was steadfastly committed to her spare, minimalist practice on diverse and unorthodox
materials.

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Composition 166 - Zahoor ul Akhlaq Pottery by Sheherezade Alam 2012

Sheherezade Alam (1948-2022), ceramist and teacher, was a graduate of the National College
of Arts in Lahore, going on to become an artist-in-residence at Yale. She married fellow artist Zahoor
ul Akhlaq in 1971. She moved to Canada following the tragic murder of her husband and their
daughter, Jahan Ara, in 1999. On her return to Pakistan in 2007, she set up the Jahan e Jahanara
Centre for Traditional Arts for Children in memory of her daughter where she kept the art, craft, and
love of pottery alive for the remainder of her years.
The work of many BNU graduates employs innovative conceptual strategies and digital
technologies. Salima Hashmi served as the founding dean of its School of Visual Arts & Design from
2003 till recently, after which Rashid Rana has served in that position. xxxvii
Lahore’s art cannot be discussed without mentioning Ajaz Anwar (1946 – ), son of the late
cartoonist Anwar Ali, popularly known as Nanna, who was one the first fine arts students at
Government College in 1961. His watercolours portray Lahore’s grandeur through its old buildings
and culture. Characters in his paintings are part of daily life; they are faceless, but represent the
common people moving around in bazaars and markets. Kites are a feature of his paintings,
particularly his works on the bygone festival of Basant.
Another artist from Lahore who deserves particular mention is Shahid Jalal (1948-2020). In
her write-up for ‘50 years of Alhamra’xxxviii, Mussarat Hassan (artist, and wife of the artist, Ijaz ul

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Hassan), described him as one of the most outstanding members of the Association who had no art
qualification from any institution and therefore had never been mentioned in their context. “He has
developed a style of his own which is executed with thick impasto brush strokes … to form a subtle
pattern in his patiently executed landscapes”. His mentor was another of Lahore’s renowned
landscape artists, Khalid Iqbal (1929-2014).
Emerging artists continue to find inspiration in the works of old masters, and forge their own
expressive directions. It is hoped that Lahore will continue to produce art that stands the test of time.

Art Galleries
The Alhamra Art Gallery extends over an area of about 11,000 square feet and is used to
exhibit art works for solo and group shows. Ejaz Art Gallery, established in 1998, is the largest private
art gallery space in Pakistan located in central Lahore. It has a display area of more than 14,000 square
feet. The Lahore Biennale Foundation has supported a number of prominent and innovative public
art projects. The inaugural Lahore Biennale was presented in 2018 and is held every two years.
The Shakir Ali Museum in Garden Town, Lahore, is the regional office of the Pakistan
National Council of Arts (PNCA) in Lahore. The museum is not only used to showcase the life of
Shakir Ali but has also become an arts centre where art, music, acting etc. are encouraged and taught.
A research library has also been set up in the basement of the museum containing a wide range of
arts books. The printed collection carries 3,737 books, journals, activity reports and portfolios.

Alhamra Art Gallery8

Shakir Ali Museum

8 Image credit: Lahore Arts Council @LACOfficialPK

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Originally intended to be temporary but open since 1975, the year Muhammad Abdur Rahman
Chughtai died, the Chughtai Museum is just northwest of the intersection of Ferozpur Road and
Gulberg Main Boulevard. Recognised as Pakistan's greatest painter and credited with a single-handed
renaissance in Islamic art here, Chughtai (1897-1975) produced almost 2000 watercolours, thousands
of pencil sketches and nearly 300 etchings and aquatints. He also designed many of Pakistan's stamps
and coins.
Crafts
The distinction between art and craft has shifted and changed over time and while there is
plenty of discussion on the matter, no single stance can be considered definitive. In the context of
this gazetteer, it is important to note that neither one is being presented as higher or lower in status
and/or skill than another.
The first genuine attempt to document the crafts of the Punjab – including Lahore – was in
1864 for the Punjab Exhibition held at the hastily constructed building known later as Tollinton
Market. Since then, much has changed in terms of markets, demand, the population and its shifting
tastes and needs. The city’s ever-expanding urban limits have radically transformed what was rural
Lahore a decade ago into an ultra-modern Lahore, removing all traces of rural craft activities.
For over a thousand years, Lahore thrived by welcoming all sorts; Chinese travellers, Sufi
saints from Ghazni, Portuguese priests, Italian painters and Armenian ironsmiths. Lahore reached
the height of its splendour during the Mughal period, from 16th to 18th centuries. The Emperors of
this time – Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurungzeb – were generous patrons of the arts and crafts.
The most impressive Mughal architecture, such as the Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque, borrowed
from Islamic, Persian and Hindu traditions.
The Walled City became Lahore’s commercial heart: a dense maze of alleyways and markets,
whose karkhana (workshops) thronged with thousands of weavers, ironsmiths, masons, miniaturists,
astrolabe makers, jewellers, cobblers and carpet weavers. Together they sustained imperial trade and
supplied a burgeoning society with their material needs. Lahore was also renowned for its bow makers
for archery, and makers of glazed and enamelled mosaic tiles. Specialist crafts for the sport of pigeon
flying, which is still a passion for many residents of the city, included making tiny silver bells or
ghungroo for pigeons, and jesses (leather straps fastened around the legs of a hawk) for falconers to
retain the bird on their gloved wrists.
Many craftspeople are still present. In the bustling Kasera bazaar, blacksmiths are impossible
to ignore: standing at their workshops which open onto the street, they press blades and other tools
onto sharpening wheels, prompting the shrill, piercing sound of drills and sprays of sparks like
fireworks. Affif Mughal is a blacksmith whose forefathers made swords for the Mughal court and
aristocracy. With the decline of the Sikh Empire in the 19th century, his family switched to knives
and scissors. Today, Affif’s scissors are used by Lahore’s tailors and cobblers. These artisans comprise
an ecosystem, a remnant of former, more prosperous days, when dozens of craft industries were
bound together.
Down a back alley off Moti bazaar, Fazal Durrani has worked as a shoemaker in the Walled
City since 1981. Lahore’s artisans are proud of their heritage, and for Durrani, his work is a
continuation of the tradition of Mughal Emperors who had their own cordwainers (cobblers). One
craft struggling to survive today is hookah production. Near the Wazir Khan mosque, Umer Saleem
is one of the Walled City’s last hookah makers. For him, the history of the hookah, invented by the
Persian physicist, Abu’l-Fath Gilani, in the 16th century is as important as its social value: a way of
bringing people together and taking one’s time. Saleem’s family began making smoking pipes three
generations ago. A 2013 law banned the use of hookahs in cafés and restaurants. Where once there
were 30 workshops, now there are only three. Saleem has suffered a 75 percent decline in sales.
The ‘creative destruction’ of British-led capitalism had already imposed itself upon many of
Lahore’s old trades from the time of the Raj onwards. Lahore’s artisans have faced stiff competition
from market forces, and many fail to adapt to changing tastes. In recent decades, the Chinese have
taken up where the British began. Chinese factories supply everyday items to Lahore’s markets, at
prices that undercut local producers and capture domestic [Link]

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Lahore today offers a substantial market for the sale of crafts mainly brought from other
regions of Punjab and across Pakistan. It draws in craftspeople from other regions to settle and sell
products representative of their respective areas. Partition of the Punjab in 1947 resulted in a loss of
some older generations of craftspeople, but received several new groups from Kashmir and mainland
India, such as Kashmiri artisans from Amritsar and metalworkers from Muradabad and Delhi. More
recently, several families of Muradabad left the congested areas of Lahore and settled near the village
of Kot Abdul Malik on the right bank of River Ravi. This area incidentally falls within the
administrative control of Sheikhupura District but is culturally still a part of the Greater Lahore city.
Such trends can create difficulties in whether or not to categorise something as an indigenous
craft of Lahore.

Kite-Making and Kite-Flying

Kite-making was once the queen of Lahore’s crafts and deserves particular mention. Kite-
flying was enjoyed by all, regardless of class or status. Today it is an endangered craft as it is no longer
permissible to celebrate the festival of Basant it is associated with, and kite-flying has become a
punishable offence.

Basant depicted in a Watercolour by Ajaz Anwar

Kite-making or patang-sazi is a commercial activity for which significant skill is required, while
kite-flying or patang-bazi is a social phenomenon and a sport – both go back many centuries and are
associated with a celebration of the arrival of springtime. Making a good kite is more than a craft; its
secret lies in perfecting the central bamboo beam to keep it strong yet light enough to fly even in very
little wind. Master kite-makers would need to guarantee that the kite would not veer left or right but
remain upright in the sky. Its selection of paper, shape and design is both highly technical and
aesthetic.

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Dore, a specially treated cotton

thread, is an essential accessory of kite-
flying. It is inseparable from the craft of kite-
making, even though the two are made by
different artisans. The well-twisted and
durable thread is rubbed with a mixture of
flour paste and levigated glass until it is
armoured. The memory of yards and yards
of multi-coloured rows of string stretched
along roadsides on misty winter mornings is
forever etched in the minds of many
residents of Lahore. This armoured dore is
wrapped in a circular roll, called a pinnah,
with great skill to ensure that the string flows smoothly as the kite flies.
Kite making is a very technical craft and those made by experts or Ustads are sought after and
highly priced. Among all the crafts practiced in Lahore
this is probably the most organised and a number of
associations of kite-makers, kite-flyers and kite-dealers
look after the interest of this craft from all aspects. The
following associations are well-known:
All Pakistan Kite Flying Association (APKFA)
All Pakistan Kite Flying Sports Association
(APKFSA)
All Pakistan Kite Flying Cultural Association
(APKFCA)
All Pakistan Kite Dealers Association (APKDA)
Lahore Kite Flying Association (LKFA)
Punjab Kite Flying Sports Association (PKFSA)
Friends Kite Club (FKC)

Kite-making, and consequently kite-flying, is a

craft with which the livelihood of hundreds of thousands
families is directly linked. Its sudden closure, therefore,
has directly affected the lives of families of kite-makers,
kite-dealers and several other beneficiaries of the festival
of kite-flying, not least the tourism sector. xl For residents
of Lahore, it is an incalculable loss of one of their most
colourful and joyful annual festivals and of a vital aspect
of their city’s culture.
Basant in Lahore's Old City - Watercolour by Ajaz
Anwar
Metalwork
In the Langa Mandi quarter, metalworker Muhammad Muzamil recognises the impact of
cheaper goods from China but believes hand-made is better. Muzamil’s great-grandfather started their
business in Delhi, but he is not passing his craft onto his children as it is too erratic. The mainstay of
the metal craft industry of Lahore revolves around copper and brass and, to a lesser extent the
stainless steel, used mainly for making of souvenirs for tourists. Items or their parts are usually

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prepared in foundries, and assembled and finished with naqashi or engraved designs and polished.
White metal is also used for manufacturing a limited number of articles for use as tableware.
The raw material for copper and brass
crafts is mostly manufactured in Gunjranwala
but procurable on Brandreth Road, Lahore. The
manufacturing process for making copper and
brass articles passes through different stages
depending upon the shape of the finished
product. At each stage an article is handled by a
different artisan before it reaches the hands of
the craftsman proper: Thathera or Thathiar
(sheet-beater); Dhalayya (metal-caster, also called
Bharaiwala or Filler): Kharadia (lathe-worker);
chitera or Qalmkar also called Naqshi (carver,
engraver or designer) and Palishiya (polisher). Occasionally, the services of a draftsman or designer
and calligrapher (Khattat) and a mould-maker are also secured.
Hafiz Abdul Majid of Muradabadi Colony in Kot Abdul Malik is perhaps an exception who
prepares the entire design of his products including calligraphy all by himself, both for his lakh ka
kam and Muradababi kam also called Ulchai ka kam. Similarly, Abdul Sattar also of Kot Abdul Malik,
prepares models of animals himself. His metal-caster prepares brass casts on which he later engraves
his designs. All craftsmen claim to manufacture their own tools of iron called qalms or chisels, which
have a variety of shapes, sizes and names. Making 100 to 200 chisels seems to be a common practice
of all craftsmen. However, Babbu – master craftsman of Kasera Bazar – claims that he works with
500 to 600 qalms all made by him.
Musical Instruments

The artisans of the Walled City of Lahore include makers of musical instruments. While the
piano and harmonium were brought to the area by the British, drum-making began during the Mughal
period. Tahir has been making musical instruments in Lahnga Mandi inside Taxali Gate for over 70
years. Like many artisans in the Walled City, Tahir’s skills have been passed down the generations,
surviving the turns of history that have ruptured this region. Taxali while still associated with music,
is taken as taboo as the site of the erstwhile red-light area, which has also resulted in the economic
downfall of artisans and musicians.
Stonework
Currently a lot of stonework is done around Lahore, but is mainly plain panels used as flooring,
wall panelling, and veneering of domes and minarets of mosques and mausoleums. Stonework of
great artistic quality in the form of relief, carving, inlay and trellis work is carried out very sparingly.
Artistry can be appreciated in the form of huge calligraphic panels used on historical
monuments like the Tomb of Allama Iqbal, Minar-i-Pakistan, Data Darbar Complex, Masjid-i-
Shuhda or fine jali work around the graves of some great saints, as well as calligraphic writing on
cenotaphs in graveyards of upscale localities. Some excellent stonework has recently been done by
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Riazuddin (alias Raju), son Nannhay Khan, a famous stone carver of Lahore, at the tomb of a
comparatively less known saint near the Mausoleum of Hazarat Shah Hussain in Baghbanpura. The
tomb and its stonework has been designed by Lahore’s renowned architect, Kamil Khan Mumtaz.
In the past, several types of stonework were applied on various, mostly royal buildings of
Lahore. Stone being rare in Punjab, importing it from distant lands and working on it for various
buildings was a royal prerogative. Excellent examples of its kind may be seen in various parts of
Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, Shalamar Garden, Jahangir's Mausoleum and Nur Jahan's
Mausoleum (mostly reconstructed). The categories of stonework done in Lahore, for which some
artisans are still available to repair damaged portions of historical buildings include cut and carved
stonework, pietra-dura or parcheen kari, fretwork/trellis work or jali ka kaam, and marble or stone
intarsia or khatam-sazi.
After 1947, some Muslim stone carvers' families migrated to Lahore from Agra and Delhi and
settled here. Most of the stone carving in the city is still being done by the members of these families
from Agra and [Link]

CUISINE
The general populace of Lahore loves food, whether modern or traditional. Eating is a social
occasion in Lahore – or perhaps it would be more appropriate to say social occasions tend to revolve
around food. Throughout the city, there are restaurants, cafés, shops, carts and all sorts of makeshift
arrangements for a range of food items to cater to any pocket.
Some traditional favourites include Chaney, Haleem, Siri-Paye, Pathoorey, Hareesa, Pulao,
Karahi (chicken or mutton), Takatakk, Daal Chaawal, and PeethiWaley Laddu. Barbeque is another
favourite, whether mutton, beef or chicken. The Tandoor is a multipurpose clay oven found in almost
all markets in the city, serving fresh Roti, Naan, Baqarkhani and [Link] Snacks include the
ubiquitous Samosa, as well as Pakoray, Gol Gappay, Chaat and Dahi Bhallay.
A lavish breakfast has a truly special place in Lahore’s culture, and even though it is now
mainly relegated to the weekend, Halwa Puri and Nihari remain its staples. It is just as unlikely that a
Paratha made with desi ghee would ever offend the Lahori sensibility. In the narrow streets of the
Old City, breakfast is served early and is a time to socialise at the area’s tea stall or khokha. Lassi or
tea accompanies breakfast in all seasons.
The Old City still reigns supreme when it comes to traditional cuisine. Lakshmi Chowk offers
a wide variety of items, including items for those with a sweet tooth, such as Firni in clay saucers
called thoothi. Some areas of the city have been forever connected with the food that was popular
there, such as ice cream from Beadon Road, Grato Jalebi from Hussain Chowk, Bhaiyya Kabab from
Model Town, Khalifa Khatai from Mochi Gate, and so on.
Bakeries and stalls have been producing traditional, Anglo-Indian, and experimental fare for
decades, and these continue to do so. In the middle, and upper socioeconomic circles, food delivery
has become a common feature today, fuelled in part by the pandemic-related closures of 2020-21.
These also led to an increase in entrepreneurial ventures including baked and frozen items, organic,
gluten-free and sugar-free items, as well as specialised meal plans for different types of diets and
dietary requirements.

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 Cultural Heritage

Gulberg’s M M Alam Road has countless restaurants, many of which go on to open branches
in the Defence Housing Society or in one of the
city’s large malls. Similarly, a visitor would be hard-
pressed to find parking in the Gulberg area known
as ‘Mall 1’ because of its perennially crowded
eateries. These areas cater to higher
socioeconomic brackets and cuisines range from
Italian to ‘Pan-Asian’ to local; most menus are
likely to include a mix of cuisines. Fine dining is in
its fledging stages in Lahore, however some
restaurants are beginning to explore that niche as
well.
The Lahori palette has expanded over the years, already influenced as it is by its Mughal, Sikh
and British past, with influences from the many thousands who made this city their home. From
Korma to Saag to Club Sandwiches, and everything in between, Lahore’s cuisine has seen it all.
Present day Lahore retains some of the specialties of its past while embracing fast food chains with
equal gusto. New restaurants continue to come and go, with only a few that have withstood the
discerning but sometimes fickle palette of the city’s residents.

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Punjab Food Authority

The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) started its operations from Lahore in 2012, and gradually
moved to five divisions: Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi and Multan. In 2017, it
expanded its operations across all 36 districts of Punjab. The Authority is working to enforce food
safety and quality standards as described in the Punjab Food Authority Act 2011 and the Pure Food
Rules 2018. Punjab Food Authority has state of the art laboratories working around the clock, which
carry out the food testing for food safety and food adulteration under the supervision of qualified
staff. The following wings of PFA work towards improved levels of service delivery: Operations,
Resource & Licensing, Technical, Headquarters, Vigilance, Public Relations and Administration &
Finance.
Functions of PFA
The Punjab Food Authority Act, 2011 entrusts the following functions and responsibilities to the
Punjab Food Authority:
1. To specify procedures and guidelines for food business in order to ensure compliance by farmers,
manufacturers, distributors, importers and other stakeholders to provide safe food.
2. To formulate standards, procedures, processes and guidelines in relation to any aspect of food
including food business, food labelling, food additives, and specify appropriate enforcement
systems.
3. Setting up and upgradation of food laboratories.
4. To issue licenses, prohibition orders, recall procedures, improvement notices to food operators.
5. To provide scientific advice and technical support to the Government in matters relating to food
safety.
6. To promote general awareness regarding food safety and standards.
7. Surveillance including collection, integration, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of data
related to food and nutrient intakes.
Operations of PFA
Punjab Food Authority has jurisdiction in all the 36 districts of Punjab. Overall 36 districts consist of
112 Food Safety teams that are capable of conducting almost 46,000 inspections per month. Lahore
District consists of 29 Food Safety teams and is divided into nine towns for operations. There are
four categories of food teams; Meat Safety Team, Dairy Safety Team, Food Safety Team and Water
Safety Team.
Procedure of Inspections
Inspection of premises is conducted by a Food Safety team. A team is headed by the Food Safety
Officer and assisted by the Assistant Food Safety Officer. The frequency of inspections of food
premises is based on the duty roster and the schedule of inspection is issued by the Deputy Director
Operations. However, normally each food business is inspected once in a quarter.
Grading of Restaurants
Punjab Food Authority has initiated the Star Rating Programme in 2021, to grade the restaurants on
their compliance level to regulations and SOPs of PFA. It is a model that is used globally to motivate

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and reward restaurants as well as to identify the overall quality and services of restaurants to their
customers. Each restaurant is marked with a star to show its ranking.
Below are the details of the Operations Wing’s activities in Lahore from May 30, 2021 to May 30,
2022.
Campaign Against Adulteration (Lahore)
Total Retailer Wholesaler
Total Inspections 121,427 47,873 73,554
Number of Violations 10,377 5,156 5,221
Number of Units Fined 10,078 5,028 5,050
Amount of Fine (Rupees) 110,943,500 53,066,500 57,877,000
Number of FIRs Lodged 33 19 14
Number of Emergency 290 117 173
Prohibition Orders Served
Number of Samples Taken 3,202 1,383 1,819

Ongoing Projects
One Window Operation: This is intended for Food Business Operators (FBO) so that they can get
themselves registered through the FBO App, which is easily accessible. All types of information about
product registration, labelling and licensing can be accessed by FBOs through this App.
Model Food Stall (Food Carts): Punjab Food Authority has taken this initiative in Lahore as a model
of public-private partnership and has distributed Food Carts to needy people in order to facilitate
ease of doing business. Food Safety teams and a bike squad ensures that all food cart owners are
working according to SOPs prescribed by PFA.
Awareness Raising Sessions: Sessions are held related to different food commodities for food
handlers and FBOs to inform them of food safety and food standards set by Punjab Food Authority.
These are a regular function of the Authority.
Body Cams: Cameras are installed since December 2021 in District Lahore as a pilot project for Food
Safety Teams to foster transparency, maximise efficiency, monitoring and record maintenance.
Capacity Building Wing: A capacity building wing was established in January 2021. Since then, all the
Food Safety Officers and Assistant Food Safety Officers are being trained and offered refresher
courses to improve skills and practical knowledge necessary to enhance their capacity to work
effectively in the field.
Monitoring and Evaluation wing: To ensure the performance evaluation of field teams, a monitoring
and evaluation wing was established in May 2021.
Research and Development: This wing was established since May 2021 and since then it has been
working on the development of a kit to test for milk adulteration, and analysed PFA Water Analysis
reports based on water testing across Lahore.
Training School: Free of cost food training to small and very small scale FBOs is provided through
the training school.
Star Rating Programme: In January 2022, the first phase of PFA’s Star Rating Programme was
completed and 250 restaurants were visited. The programme has now entered its second phase.
E-Challan System: To facilitate FBOs, deployment of Easy Paisa Integration with the Bank
Reconciliation system was introduced in April 2021. The following objectives are being achieved
through this measure:
i. Pending dues/challans can now be paid through the Easy Paisa App
ii. Maintenance of the Easy Paisa Daily Reconciliation Report with PFA’s online system
iii. It serves as payment gateway for the ease of FBOs.
Future Projects
Upgrade of Government Public Analysis Laboratory, Poonch Road Lahore.

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PFA Radio is ready to be launched; it will be the first of its kind in Asia, transmitting food-related
information.
The launch of PFA TV is in process as an ADP scheme worth Rs. 531 Million.
A centralised Call Centre to facilitate FBOs is being set up.
Criminal proceedings against non-licensed FBOs is being initiated.
Assistant Collector power is being given Assistant Directors for the recovery of dues.
E-training App is being developed for PFA employees’ capacity building
Complaint Channels for Citizens
Public and Food Business Operators (FBO) can lodge a complaint through various mediums:
Facebook
Mobile App
Website
Citizens Portal
Toll Free Number (0800-80500)
Written application

The complaint status via all mediums from May 30, 2021 to May 30, 2022 for Lahore was:
Received Complaints Resolved Complaints Pending Complaints

7,542 7,486 56

Gallery

Message from Director General

“Punjab Food Authority has done whatever it takes, to ensure fair
accountability and food safety by all means. Moreover, we assure to continue
this practice more passionately in future.”
Lt. (Retd) Muhammad Shoaib Khan Jadoon (PAS)
Director General Punjab Food Authority

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SPORTS
Lahore offers many opportunities and venues for those interested in sports and fitness. Some of the
sports are:
Individual Sports Partner Sports Team Sports
Archery Badminton Athletics
Athletic Track and Field Golf Basketball
Badminton (singles) Table Tennis Cricket
Body Building Tennis Football/Soccer
Boxing Hockey
Chess Netball
Cycling Polo
Golf Rugby
Horse Riding/Racing Swimming
Mixed Martial Arts Volleyball
Tennis (singles)
Shooting
Snooker
Squash
Swimming
Table Tennis (singles)
Weight Lifting
Wrestling

Gaddafi Stadium
The Gaddafi Stadium is not just a cricket stadium: it has also hosted a number of hockey
matches and the ever-famous wrestling match where Jhara pehlwan defeated Japanese wrestler
Antonio Inoki on 17th June 1979. It is, however, known most in the context of the country’s beloved
sport of cricket.

Gaddafi Stadium, formerly known as Lahore Stadium

End names: Pavilion End, College End

First Test Pakistan v Australia - Nov 21-26, 1959

Last Test Pakistan v Australia - Mar 21-25, 2022
First ODI Pakistan v England - Jan 13, 1978
Last ODI Pakistan v Australia - Apr 2, 2022
First T20I Pakistan v Zimbabwe - May 22, 2015
Last T20I Pakistan v Australia - Apr 5, 2022

The stadium was designed by Nasreddin Murat-Khan, renowned architect and civil engineer
and the man behind Minar-e-Pakistan. Its construction was completed by Mian Abdul Khaliq and
Company. Prior to the stadium’s emergence in 1959, the city of Lahore had four venues: Bagh-e-
Jinnah (previously Lawrence Gardens), Punjab University Ground (Old Campus), Aitchison College
and Minto Park (now Iqbal Parks) that held most of the key cricket matches, including Ranji Trophy
fixtures in the pre-partition days of the British Raj.

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Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium - until 1974 simply the Lahore Stadium - during rebuilding in 1960

Renamed in 1974, Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium was completely renovated during 1995-96 ready
for the 1996 World Cup. This time it was designed by the famous architect Nayyar Ali Dada who
modelled it on the Mughal School of red hand-laid brickwork and arches; the new stadium is
completely covered with plastic seating rather than concrete benches. The lower portion under the
stands has been enclosed and converted to shops, restaurants and offices. This was the first stadium
in Pakistan to be equipped with modern floodlights that have their own standby power generators.
Modern facilities for the media are also provided. There are more than a dozen enclosures in the
stadium mainly named after iconic cricketing figures of Pakistan. The College End was named after
Forman Christian (FC) College, not too far from the stadium.
A change in the stadium's name, if and when it happens, will mean the end for one of the
quirkiest venue names in the cricket world. The stadium was originally named Lahore Olympic
Stadium, then Lahore Stadium, when it was built in 1959. In 1974, when the Libyan leader Col.
Muammar Gaddafi visited Lahore, he gave a speech in favour of Pakistan's right to pursue nuclear
weapons at the Organisation of Islamic Conference. This led to the then prime minister of Pakistan,
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, naming Pakistan's premier cricket stadium after him. Over time, the stadium's
name has evolved beyond the name of the politician that inspired it, and associations between the
stadium and the president have long since been decoupled. The name is now seen more as a snapshot
in time of the political climate in Pakistan of the 1970s rather than an endorsement for any particular
kind of foreign policy.
Pakistan have enjoyed some memorable moments on the ground, including a fifth-wicket
stand of 281 between Javed Miandad and Asif Iqbal against New Zealand in 1976, and an innings and
324 run win against New Zealand in 2002. The stadium hosted the final of the 1996 World Cup,
watched by over 60,000 spectators. However despite the impressive capacity, the ground is often
sparsely attended for Test matches, with sometimes as few as 1000 fans turning up. One-day
internationals, as with the whole of the subcontinent, are more popular; crowds in excess of 20,000
are common. xliii

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Present day Gaddafi Stadium

Gymkhana Cricket Ground

Lahore Gymkhana Cricket Ground ranks as the oldest cricket ground of Pakistan, and the
second oldest in the Indian subcontinent. Located within the scenic location of Bagh-e-Jinnah
(formerly known as Lawrence Gardens), the Gymkhana ground was established in 1880, not long
after Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, in 1864.
The pavilion’s architecture, bearing a striking resemblance to the former Tollinton Market
(now Punjab Heritage Museum), testifies to its historic significance. This log house style wooden
structure, built from imported oak is described as a masterpiece of G. Stone and, by some accounts,
Bhai Ram Singh. In the words of travel writer Salman Rashid (2013):

Clearly a man who did not see eye-to-eye with promoters of the vernacular arts such as
Lockwood Kipling, whose contemporary he was, Stone was a straitjacketed English
traditionalist. The building he completed in 1880 was therefore right out of the English
countryside. The brick and timber structure may have used locally produced bricks but the
timber, all oak, was imported from the home country. Understandably, the gabled porch,
pitched roof of red tiles, dormer windows and a high skylight crowning the top made the
pavilion Stone’s signature creation.

Prior to its construction, in the early 19th century, the Gymkhana ground was used as a balloon
ascent site. In 1880, it was converted into a cricket ground and the pavilion was exclusively erected
for that purpose. In 1882, the first turf wickets were laid with soil imported from Worcestershire,
England. Until 1910, the ground used to host weekly matches of the Governor House staff, located
not far away on the other side of Mall Road.

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Cricket Pavilion, Gymkhana Cricket Ground

The history of cricket matches at this ground goes back to the early 20th century. In 1911, the
British Army and the World-XI played their first official match here – the former team was drawn
from Punjabis, Sikhs, and the King's Regiment, while the latter had most of its players from
Gloucestershire and Lancashire. A first class match between Muslim and Sikh teams took place in
1923, and in 1926, the first international match was played between Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)
and the British Army. In December 1934, in the first season of Ranji Trophy (the oldest Indian
domestic cricket tournament), the North Indian team opened its campaign against the Indian Army.
In 1936, on the same ground, India got its first ever victory in an international test match. Under the
captaincy of Syed Wazir Ali, India’s first Muslim captain, an official match was played against
Australia. In 1945, the last match of the Ranji Trophy was played between northern India and
southern Punjab.
After Partition, to raise funds for the Quaid-e-Azam Relief Fund – a charity for refugees’
rehabilitation – the Punjab and Sindh teams played against each other in December 1947. The ground
also became the first headquarters of the Cricket Control Board of Pakistan, inaugurated in 1948, and
of the Pakistan Eaglet Society in 1951. Formed by Justice A.R. Cornelius, the Eaglets were a squad
of young cricketers sent to England for coaching and playing against clubs and international teams
touring England. This squad later provided a good number of first class cricket players to Pakistan.

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From 1948 to 1951, the ground hosted four unofficial test matches of Pakistan: against the
West Indies in November 1948, the Commonwealth-IX in November 1949, Ceylon (present-day Sri
Lanka) in March 1950, and finally against MCC in November 1951. The ground became the 35th
official test centre of the world in January 1955, and Pakistan played its first official test match against
India here. The second test was between Pakistan and New Zealand in October 1955, and the third
and last test on this ground took place between Pakistan and West Indies in March 1959.

Lahore Cricket Museum

As a historic cricket centre, the Gymkhana ground once contained an enormous collection of
photographs, souvenirs and official records, covering over a century of cricket in this part of the
Indian subcontinent. The central hall of the heritage pavilion was decorated with group photos of
cricketers and British high-ups from the 18th and early 19th century. However during two decades
of decline, most of this invaluable collection was lost to termites, rain, and theft.
In the late 1980s and ‘90s, when this once-remarkable cricket centre was at the peak of its
troubles, the government agreed to provide grants for its renovation. This move helped in improving
the deplorable conditions of the pavilion and ground, although neglect and ruin had claimed the lion’s
share of the archives in this 136-year-old structure.
Najum Latif has been putting in every effort to conserve what is left of this historic ground.
The cricket museum – the only one of its kind in the country – he has passionately established here
accommodates a range of souvenirs, photographs, score records and other objects, collected with
painstaking effort from cricket enthusiasts and private collectors across Pakistan and India. The
museum was formally inaugurated in
2009.
The hall of the pavilion, packed
from wall to wall with objects
documenting the history of
subcontinental cricket, demonstrates
Najum Latif’s tenacity and effort. It is
Latif's pride and joy and is almost
entirely down to him that it exists at all.
When he visited Lahore Gymkhana in
2001, after a decades-long absence, and
asked to see the main hall where the
players used to dine, he was horrified to
find it had effectively become a storage
Mr Latif at the Cricket Museum
area: a large roller sat in the middle of a
cobwebbed room, and practice nets
were strewn on the floor. The memories of the glory days of the room, and the cricketers within it,
moved him and he decided he needed to dedicate it to those memories.
The Gymkhana bureaucratic process was not smooth and two years of proposals were ignored
before Zia Haider Rizvi, a lawyer by profession, was appointed Convener of Sports in the
Gymkhana's then-annual elections. Known to Latif, albeit unconvinced about the idea, he gave him
the green light. His troubles did not end there. After he had put up some pictures of former players,
a few members said only Gymkhana members' pictures deserved a place in the museum. He refused,
asking why on earth anyone would care about the members, or even know who they were; the place
was historic because of the historical figures who played there.
The issue of how to start collecting memorabilia was also complex and people are not easily
willing to part with souvenirs, especially for a new, low-profile project. Latif began by donating most
of the memorabilia he owned, and asking friends who were former cricketers to donate artefacts they
thought would be worthy of a cricket museum. The collection has grown significantly, its piece de
resistance, an autographed cricket ball presented by Sir Donald Bradman to the touring Pakistanis in
1995-96. There is a photograph of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah meeting Nazar Mohammad
(the first Pakistani Test centurion), which is the only picture of Pakistan's founder with a cricketer; a

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piece of turf from Lord's; a pair of Imran Khan's trousers from his victorious 1992 World Cup
campaign; and a Test cap and blazer worn by Dr Jahangir Khan; as well as autographed bats and
handwritten scoreboards from many of the ground's matches.
There is also a picture of Vinoo Mankad leading the Indian team onto the field during the
ground's first official Test. A young boy can be seen keeping pace with the Indian captain, autograph
book in hand. Mankad looks straight ahead, pointedly ignoring the young Latif, proving that his
passion for the sport has truly lasted a lifetime. (As an aside, he was apparently sternly chastised
immediately after by Mankand, who said, ‘This is not the time for autographs, young man. Get lost!’)
Latif’s views on cricket extend beyond archives to what the spirit of the sport ought to be:
“I love Gymkhana's pavilion. The teams’ dressing rooms were right next to each other, and
as soon as you stepped out, you entered the main hall, where both sides would have lunch
and tea together. They were not segregated. Now, when the Pakistan team plays international
opposition, they are pariahs to each other. This isn't what cricket is supposed to be.”xliv

National Hockey Stadium

National Hockey Stadium is a purpose-built field hockey stadium located inside the Nishtar
Park Sports Complex in Lahore. It is the biggest field hockey stadium in the world and has a capacity
of 45,000 spectators. The offices of Sports Board Punjab and Pakistan Hockey Federation are also
located in the stadium compound. It hosted all the matches of the 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup,
where the hosts were defeated 3–1 by the Netherlands in the final. It has also hosted many
international matches and competitions including the inaugural edition of the Champions Trophy
tournament in 1978, and further editions in 1988, 1994, 1998 and 2004. Since its breakthrough in the
1948 Summer Olympics, the Pakistan national field hockey team has won more than 20 official titles.

Traditional Sports
A few of Lahore’s traditional sports include Pehlwani (wrestling), animal-fighting, and pigeon-flying.
Pehlwani
Wrestling once was a favourite pastime among Lahoris. Unlike Western-style sports, the upper
parts of the body are not attacked, however the two opposing wrestlers try to best each other at the
same time. The art of Pehlwani is comprised of stance (‘paintra’), and moves and countermoves (‘daw-
pech’).
Paintra is the art of standing in the akhara or
wrestling ground. It is the point of entry into the act
of wrestling and the prelude to every competitive
wrestling bout (‘dangal’). It is the fixing of the feet on
the ground after having made a move or having
countered an attack. A pehelwan’s stance puts him in
a position to attack or retreat. Although stance is of
pre-eminent importance, the art of Pehlwani also
entails the careful execution of the hundreds of moves
and countermoves called daw-pech, a litany of feints
and parries.
A skilled pehlwan’s objective is to achieve an
economy of effective motion. From his perspective,
every single move, glance, shift of weight and moment
of motionlessness ought to be classifiable into some
aspect of a paintra or daw-pech. He must also be able
to read ahead and anticipate his opponent’s moves by
examining the geometry of his stance. Because every
move can be answered with a whole range of
countermoves, no two bouts are ever the same. No Jhara Pehlwan c.1979
move is predictable or established as inevitable given

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the configuration of previous moves; structured improvisation is the [Link]

The wrestler who is considered victorious is the one that succeeds in pulling down his
opponent until his back touches the ground. This game of wrestling is performed in front of a large
crowd in an open field. When a game is won, the air resounds with enthusiastic shouts and slogans
from the crowd. The winner is carried on the shoulders of members of his group, followed by a
musical band. Walking around the crowd, the wrestler greets spectators with both hands, they give
him garlands of flowers to wear in acknowledgement of his bravery and offer him the money raised
for the same purpose. Maharaja Gaekwad was a great patron of this game; many people migrated
from Lahore to settle in his state of Baroda and were employed as wrestlers on a good salary.

Animal-fighting
Animal fighting is a spectacle in which our ancestors were involved, and people continue to
hold these events for their own entertainment. Fights of roosters, of quails and of rams are held in
open fields and large crowds of people gather on this occasion. People get a lot of enjoyment from
this scene and watch the whole action with excitement. The fighting animals are expensive, and,
ironically, cared for lovingly by their owners. There is much celebration after the fight between
opposing birds or animals.

Pigeon-flying
Bird cages and enthusiasts can be found on rooftops across the country, and especially in
Lahore. Pakistani pigeons and experts have also been taken by Arab royals for tournaments in the
Gulf. Distinct from a test of speed, this sport
of flying pigeons is a test of endurance. For so-
called “high-flying” pigeons, the rules are
simple: at dawn, each team of seven or eleven
pigeons takes off from their perches, spends
the day flying out of sight, and when they
return at nightfall, the flight time of each
pigeon is added up and an average is calculated.
The winning team is the one that has the
longest average flight time after a total of seven
or eleven flights held every two days.
Tournaments are held regularly, and
enthusiasts invest a great deal of time and
resources on this sport and its avian contestants. There is no governing body regulating pigeon
flying/racing. xlvi

Animal-related sports have raised concern among animal lovers as the toll they take on the animal,
no matter how cared for it is between bouts, is considered cruelty. The sports persist nonetheless.

PHA: Development of Recreational Activities

The Parks and Horticultural Authority has developed sports facilities in Lahore. These include:
Table Tennis/Ping Pong Tables
Tennis Courts
Crickets Pitches
Football Grounds
Hockey Grounds
Open Gym
Cycle Tracks
Badminton Courts

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Basketball Courts
Swimming Pool
District Sports Office
The Sports Department plays a vital role for the promotion of sports at the Tehsil, District,
Division, and Provincial & National levels. Through sports they produce and promote national and
international players who act as ambassador for our country in the world. Lahore Sports Department
is playing an important role for the promotion of sports in the District under the supervision of the
Sports & Youth Affairs Department, Government of the Punjab.
Sports Office Lahore was established in 1982 and was situated at the Office of the
Commissioner, Lahore Division, Lahore premises. It was shifted to Iqbal Park Sports Complex,
Lahore in 2010-11 and after development of Iqbal Park Sports Complex, Lahore to Greater Iqbal
Park, Lahore. It is now situated at National Hockey stadium, NPSC, Ferozepur Road, Lahore since
2015-16. The District Sports Office is headed by one District Sports Officer (BS-17), assisted by
Tehsil Sports Officer (BS-16) at all five Tehsil Headquarters.

Sports Facilities in Lahore District

Tehsil Name of Facility Address of Facility Sports & Activities

(2) Cricket Pitches
Playfield At R-II-
R-II-Block Johar Town, Basketball Court
Block Johar Town,
Lahore Badminton Court
Lahore
Jogging Track
Cricket Ground at
Nawab Town, Raiwind Road, Cricket Ground
Raiwind Nawab Town,
Lahore Jogging Track
Raiwind Road, Lahore
Playfield At Haloki
Haloki (Village), Lahore Badminton Court
(Village), Lahore
Pandoki Tehsil Raiwind, Cricket Ground
Playfield Pandoki
Lahore Akhara

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 Cultural Heritage

Jogging Track
Flood Light
Cricket Ground Rakh
Rakh Jhedo / LDA City Cricket Ground
Jhedo / LDA City
Tehsil Raiwind, Lahore Flood Light
Tehsil Raiwind
Cricket Ground
Playfield Saraich Saraich Village, Tehsil Model
Akhara
Tehsil Raiwind Town, Lahore
(2) Cricket Pitches
Jogging Track
Playfield Asal
Asal Suleman Tehsil Raiwind, Akhara
Suleman Tehsil
Lahore Open Gym
Raiwind
(2) Cricket Pitches
Volleyball Court
Playfield Baddoki Baddoki Tehsil Raiwind, Akhara
Tehsil Raiwind Lahore Jogging Track
(2) Cricket Pitches
Playfield Gowala Volleyball Court
Gowala Colony Tehsil
Colony Tehsil Akhara
Raiwind, Lahore
Raiwind Jogging Track
Playfield Near Jamia
Jamia Masjid Chishtia Volleyball Court
Masjid Chishtia
Islampura Tehsil Raiwind, Jogging Track
Islampura Tehsil
Lahore Akhara
Raiwind
Mian Meer Sports
Squash Court
Complex Near Zila Behind Zila Nazim House,
Basketball Court
Nazim House, Upper Upper Mall, Lahore
Jogging Track
Mall, Lahore
Kabaddi Ground
Playfield at Padhana,
Padhana, Lahore Volleyball Court
Lahore
Jogging Track
Lahore Playfield At Rora
Rora Village, Lahore Football Ground
Cantt Village, Lahore
Akhara
Playfield At Kohrian, Jogging Track
Kohrian, Lahore
Lahore Volleyball
Open Gym
Cricket Ground
Playfield Ghawind Ghawind Village, Tehsil Cantt,
Volleyball Court
Tehsil Cantt Lahore
Akhara
Cricket Ground
Playfield Rakh Akhara
Rakh Shadara Forest Karol
Shadara Forest Karol Jogging Track
Ghatti Tehsil City, Lahore
Ghatti Tehsil City (2) Cricket Pitches
Flood Light
Lahore Football Ground
Playfield At Saggian
City Saggian Tool Plaza, Lahore Jogging Track
Tool Plaza, Lahore
Cricket Practice Pitches
Said Mitha Bazar
Said Mitha Bazar Sports Badminton Court
Sports Complex, Said
Complex, Said Mitha Bazar, Table Tennis Hall
Mitha Bazar, Walled
Walled City, Lahore Cricket Practice Pitches
City, Lahore

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Lahore Sports Cricket Stadium

Gaow Shala, Ring Road,
Complex Gaow Shala, Jogging Track
Lahore
Ring Road, Lahore Cricket Practice Pitches
Football Ground
Basketball Court
Playfield At Minhala, Hand Ball Court
Shalamar Minhala, Lahore
Lahore Jogging Track
Open Gym
Cricket Pitch

iPunjab District Gazetteers: Gazetteer. Lahore District 1916. A. 19. Government Printing, 1916.
Talbot, Ian and Tahir Kamran. 2016. Colonial Lahore: A History of the City and Beyond. London: C. Hurst & Co.
(Publishers) Ltd. (References as endnotes in the original text have been removed in the portions cited here. In stark
contrast to the other two sources, Colonial Lahore provides detailed references for the information given.)
Punjab Small Industries Corporation. 2017. Lahore: Architecture, Arts & Crafts. Crafts of Lahore Vol II. Lahore:
Directorate of Creative & Cultural Industries, PSIC.

ii Sami, Usman. Lahore’s art deco heritage has lost a flag bearer. Shehr, The News on Sunday. Published August 16,
2020.
iii Other sources attribute this addition to Shah Jahan in 1645, such as Ahmad Nabi Khan, Development of Mosque

Architecture in Pakistan, Lok Virsa Publishing House, 1991; Tania Qureshi, Moti Masjid — the pearl of Lahore Fort,
Daily Times, Published on 17th September 2018.
iv Adapted from: Punjab Small Industries Corporation. 2017. Lahore: Architecture, Arts & Crafts. Crafts of Lahore Vol II.

Lahore: Directorate of Creative & Cultural Industries, PSIC.

v Ibid.
vi World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS. 2018. Report on the Joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring Mission to

the Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (C 171, Pakistan) 23–29 April 2018. UNESCO Convention Concerning the
Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, World Heritage Committee, Forty-second session, Manama,
Bahrain, 24 June - 4 July 2018: Item 7 of the Provisional Agenda: State of conservation of properties inscribed on the
World Heritage List and/or on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
vii Thornton, T.H. and J.L. Kipling. 1876. Lahore. In F.S. Aijazuddin, 2004, Lahore Recollected: An Album. Lahore:

Sang-e-Meel Publishers.
viii From the official website of the Walled City of Lahore Authority.
ix Adapted from: Punjab Small Industries Corporation. 2017. Crafts of Lahore Vol 1. Crafts and Craftsmen of Punjab Vol

5. Lahore: Handicrafts and Design Directorate, PSIC.

x Aijazuddin, F. S. 2004. Lahore Recollected: An Album. Lahore: Sang-e-Meel Publishers.
xi Adapted from: Punjab Small Industries Corporation. 2017. Crafts of Lahore Vol 1. Crafts and Craftsmen of Punjab Vol

5. Lahore: Handicrafts and Design Directorate, PSIC.

xii Punjab Small Industries Corporation. 2017. Crafts of Lahore Vol 1. Crafts and Craftsmen of Punjab Vol 5. Lahore:

Handicrafts and Design Directorate, PSIC.

xiii The quadrilateral Charbagh or Chaharbagh concept is interpreted as the four gardens of Paradise mentioned in

Chapter (Surah) 55, Ar-Rahman "The Beneficient", in the Qur'an:

And for him, who fears to stand before his Lord, are two gardens. (Chapter 55: Verse 46)
And beside them are two other gardens. (Chapter 55: Verse 62)
One of the hallmarks is the four-part garden laid out with axial paths that intersect at the garden's centre.
xiv Adapted from: Punjab Small Industries Corporation. 2017. Lahore: Architecture, Arts & Crafts. Crafts of Lahore Vol II.

Lahore: Directorate of Creative & Cultural Industries, PSIC.

xv Adapted from: Punjab Small Industries Corporation. 2017. Lahore: Architecture, Arts & Crafts. Crafts of Lahore Vol II.

Lahore: Directorate of Creative & Cultural Industries, PSIC.

xvi Aijazuddin, F. S. 2004. Lahore Recollected: An Album. Lahore: Sang-e-Meel Publishers.
xvii Image credit for Lahore Museum interior: Kennie Ting, [Link]
xviii From the Citizens Archive of Pakistan: [Link]

AICRGk0A4n9Kw
xix From the Citizens Archive of Pakistan: [Link]

museum/DQWRATNd9hEA8A?hl=en
xx Adapted from: 'In pictures: National History Museum prepares to open doors to public'. Dawn News. Published May

12, 2018
xxi From the Citizens Archive of Pakistan: [Link]

the-citizens-archive-of-pakistan/ngUBWZDHovu5Jw?hl=en

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 Appendix B

xxii Image credit for E. Plomer & Co. building: Kennie Ting, [Link]
xxiii Adapted from: Punjab Small Industries Corporation. 2017. Crafts of Lahore Vol 1. Crafts and Craftsmen of Punjab
Vol 5. Lahore: Handicrafts and Design Directorate, PSIC.
xxiv
Rizwan, Sheharyar. Under-reconstruction Jain Mandir in Lahore all set to reopen. Dawn News. Published
April 1, 2022.
Image credit for old picture: Khalid, Haroon. ‘On shaky grounds’, Lahore Nama. Posted on June 24, 2011.
Image credit for picture of renovated mandir: Shiraz Hassan @ShirazHassan
xxv Adapted from: Noor Ur Rehman. Cathedral Church: An Ode to Gothic Architecture. Charcoal + Gravel (online).

Published July 9, 2018. Image credit Lahore Cathedral: ibid.

Adapted from: Ahmed, Shoaib. Walled City of Lahore Authority starts shrines, churches conservation. Dawn News.
Published January 18, 2022
Image credit Mayo School of Art: Project Lahore. Fb/[Link].
xxvi Adapted from: The Hidden Gurdwara of Chuna Mandi. [Link]. Published November 17, 2019.

Image credit: Darshan Dedara Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das Ji. Published July 18, 2019.
[Link]
Kaur, Rajinder. Re-discovering Pakistan’s Abandoned Sikh Temples. Council of American Overseas Research Centers.
Published on July 24, 2020.
Image credit for Gurudwara Dera Sahib: Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab.
Image credit for Gurudwara Pehli Pathshahi, Manak: World Gurudwaras.
xxvii Adapted from: Parvez, Amjad. Old-City Lahore: Popular Culture, Arts and Crafts. Bazyaft. Urdu Department,

Punjab University Lahore. Vol 31 – July-December 2017.

xxviii Sullivan, Celeste. “The Language Culture of Lahore”. Annual of Urdu Studies Vol. 22 (2007).
xxix Sharma, Sunil. 2000. Persian poetry at the Indian frontier: Masұŕud Saұd Salmân of Lahore. New Delhi: Permanent Black.
xxx Adapted from: Sheikh, Majid. “The city of a thousand poets and writers”. DAWN Newspaper. Published January 7,

2018.
xxxi Lahore’s Literary Landscape: Exploring places, personalities and movements that shaped the literary culture of

Lahore between the 1930s and 1970s. Project based on research conducted by students of Lahore University of
Management Sciences for “Walking in the City: Mapping Everyday Life in Lahore.”
[[Link]
xxxii Adapted from: Raza, M. Hanif. 1987. Lahore: Past and Present. Islamabad: Colorpix.
xxxiii Suvurova, Anna. 2011. Lahore: “The City of Dreadful Night”. Chapter from Lahore: Topophilia of Place and Space.

Karachi: Oxford University Press.

xxxiv Adapted from: Nayyar, Nasir A. Lahore in Urdu Poetry. DAWN Newspaper. Published January 7, 2018.
xxxv Adapted from: Awan, M. Saeed. Cinemascope: Pulling the plug on Punjabi films. DAWN Newspaper. Published July

6, 2014.
xxxvi Adapted from: Azhar, Arieb. Pakistan’s Music Industry – A Historical Perspective. First published in Pulse #137,

Summer 2017.
xxxvii Adapted from: Dadi, Iftikhar. A brief history of Pakistani art and the people who shaped it. Herald. September 28,

2017.
xxxviii Ahmad, Nazir Ch. 2003. 50 Years of Lahore Arts Council Alhamra. Lahore: Sang-e-Meel Publications.
xxxix Adapted from: Stone, Harry J. The Artisans of the Walled City of Lahore. Published in the Financial Times, and on

the author’s own website [[Link]] June 24, 2019.

xl Punjab Small Industries Corporation. 2017. Crafts of Lahore Vol 1. Crafts and Craftsmen of Punjab Vol 5. Lahore:

Handicrafts and Design Directorate, PSIC.

xli Ibid.
xlii Adapted from: Parvez, Amjad. Old-City Lahore: Popular Culture, Arts and Crafts. Bazyaft. Urdu Department, Punjab

University Lahore. Vol 31 – July-December 2017.

xliii McGlashan, Andrew. Gaddafi Stadium. ESPN cricinfo.

Rasool, Danyal. Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium set to be rechristened with new sponsor's name. ESPN cricinfo. Published
March 15, 2022
Gaddafi Stadium: Down Memory Lane. Geo News, Sports. Published on March 4, 2017
Parvez, Salim & Cricket World. Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore – A Historic Perspective. Cricket World. Published on
January 23, 2020
Image credit for old stadium: Historic Cricketing Pictures. @PictureSporting
Image credit for new stadium: Sportsmatik. Gaddafi Stadium. Updated on March 17, 2021.
xliv Adapted from: Ali, Aown. The Long Innings of the Gymkhana Cricket Ground. Youlin Magazine. Published on

March 17, 2021. Image credits for archive and museum: ibid.
Rasool, Danyal. In Gaddafi's shadow. The Cricket Monthly. September 2016.
Rashid, Salman. Bowling Stone, Gymkhana Cricket Pavilion, Lahore. Published on February 27, 2013. Image credit for
pavilion: ibid.
xlv Lok Virsa. Pahelwani: A Dying Tradition

Image credit: Gazi Mehr @GaziSikander

xlvi Adapted from: “Where Dreams Take Flight”. Dawn News. Published July 13, 2016.

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

From the 1920s onwards, perhaps since event earlier, Lahore was the most highly cultured
city of north India. From here appeared the largest number of Urdu literary journals, newspapers and
books and two of the best English language dailies. The Mayo School of Arts was flourishing. The
Young Men Christian Association was active and its premises and hall were used by all communities
for literary and social activities. The Government College was a distinguished intellectual centre
whose teachers were respected and students considered to be the best representatives of modern
Western education. The Oriental College was engaged in first class research. The annual plays staged
at Government College and Dyal Singh College were awaited by the city’s elite with high expectations.
Eminent journalists and columnists wrote for newspapers and graced literary gatherings. The city
rang with the echoes of the poetry of Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Noon Meem Rashed, Hafeez Jullunderi and
Akhtar Shirani. The Niazmandan-i-Lahore, the magic circle of A.S. Bokhari, M.D. Taseer, Hafeez
Jullandheri, Sufi tabassum, Syed Imtiaz Ali Taj and Hari Chand Akhtar, created enormous waves in
the world of Urdu literature…The greatest in the land, like Tagore, came and spoke at the SPSK Hall.
Political debates were held at Bradlaugh Hall, Amrita Sher Gill painted and B.C. Sanyal sculpted. The
best British and American films were screened at Regal and Plaza…The radio came a little later and
the literati wallowed in a new channel which immediately enlarged the circulation of what they wrote,
said or composed. With Bokhari’s genius presiding over the radio network, the first generation of
literary broadcasters was in the making.
A glorious physical setting for this pulsating intellectual activity was provided by the Lahore
that the British had built between 1860 and 1935. Impressive edifices adorned the landscape:
Lawrence Hall, Chiefs’ College, Government House, High Court, Masonic Lodge, Legislative
Assembly, General Post Office, Museum, Mayo School of Arts, the University, Government College
and Central Training College. The queen of all roads, the Mall, was bordered by tall trees and wide
footpaths, and boasted a glittering array of expensive shops. The race course and the Lawrence
Gardens were the lungs of the city. No high-rise buildings existed. With no encroachments the roads
looked wider. The bungalows of Davis, Empress, Egerton, Queens and Jail Roads were elegantly built
and located in the middle of green lawns. The skyline was soothing. Nature’s green was the
dominating colour of the city. Breathing was easy, and so was enjoying life.

- From The Coffee House of Lahore- A Memoir 1942-57 by K.K. Aziz

98
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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Geography
LOCATION
Located in the north western part of the subcontinent, the Punjab served as a bridge between
the East, the Middle East, and Central Asia, assigning it considerable regional importance. The region
is enclosed between the Himalayas in the north and the Thar Desert in the south, and its rich alluvial
plain is composed of silt deposited by the five rivers after which it is named: Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab
and Jhelum. Its location is of great geographical and historical significance.
The region is surrounded by lofty mountains on its west, northwest and north. The Pamir
Knot in the extreme northwest is one of the most complex points from where high mountain ranges
branch out in almost all directions. The Hindu Kush lie some distance westwards from the Pamirs,
followed by the hill ranges that merge into the Sulaiman Range between Punjab and northern
Baluchistan. The Kirthar Range lies between Sindh and southern Baluchistan. The Sulaiman range
presents a steep slope to the Indus plains, and the ranges combined form what can be considered an
almost complete mountain rampart. The importance of passes in history thus becomes apparent; it is
from the northwest on the Afghan frontier that the Punjab has been repeatedly invaded, while another
route lies along the Makran coast.
The Himalayas and their subsidiary ranges may be considered the loftiest barrier in the world,
and contribute greatly to the soil, climate and isolation of Punjab. It is said that the key to the region’s
geography lies beyond rather than within its boundaries, even though the main effects are within. The
rapidly eroding mountains of the Himalayas send rich loam to the plains below; rivers bring down silt
to add to and renew the fertility of the soil through annual floods. This alluvium is extremely thick,
and the plain is exceptionally flat on the whole.i
It is within this larger geographical context that Lahore is located. Lying between 31°15 —
31°45 N and 74°01 —74°39 E, Lahore is bounded on the north and west by the Sheikhupura
District, on the east by Wagah, and on the south by Kasur District. The Ravi River flows on the
northern side of Lahore. Lahore city covers a total land area of 1014 km² and is still [Link]
HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY
The name of the city has been written and pronounced differently in the past, such as Lhore,
Lahanor, al-Lahore, al-Ahwar, Lohar, Loher, Lahawor, Lehowa, Lohawar, Rahwar, and even Loh
Kot, Lohar Kot, Loha-rana and Lovpur. The site of the primordial settlement of Lahore has yet to
be settled, however scholars generally agree that Lahore has always been where it is today, that is, the
Walled City and its surroundings. The city of Lahore and the River Ravi, ancient Iravati, Parushni of
the Vedas, or Greek Hydraotes, have always remained inseparable. Even though Ravi has been
changing its course westwards, the nucleus of Lahore has always been on its left bank. Today however,
the boundaries of the District City of Lahore extend over both banks.
PRESENT DAY LAHORE
Today, the name applies to the division, district and the capital city of the Punjab province.
When District Lahore was constituted in in the latter half of the 19th century, it covered an area much
larger than it does today. In pre-Independence days, Lahore Division comprised five districts covering
plains extending between the Ravi in the north and west, and River Sutlej in the east and south. Its
total area was 7091 sq. km.
The present day Lahore Division comprises four districts: Kasur, Lahore, Okara and
Sheikhupura, with a total area of about 16104 sq. km. of which Lahore district covers 1772 sq. km.
Lahore District comprises two levels of land – high land called Manjha on the east and lowland Hethar
(from heth, meaning low) along both sides of the Ravi. On the whole the average elevation is 702 ft.
above sea level.
There is no hill in the entire district, however two artificial mounds in the city have earned the
name of ‘pahari’ (hillock): Simla Pahari on Davis Road, and Pahari Bagh-e-Jinnah (formerly Lawrence
Gardens). There is no natural lake in the entire district; modern parks have made artificial lakes for
recreation. There used to be some cultivated/manmade forests called rakh, but they have not
withstood the relentless expansion of land development.

100
 Geography

Lahore area is underlain by unconsolidated alluvial deposits of Quarternary age. The alluvial
sands constitute the aquifer material. The aquifer is composed of unconsolidated alluvial complex
formed by the contemporaneous filling of a subsiding trough resulting in a huge sedimentary complex
with a thickness of more than 1300 ft. (400 m.). The sediments have been deposited by the present
and ancestral tributaries of the River Indus during the Pleistocene-Recent periods.
In accordance with its mode of deposition by large streams in constantly shifting channels,
the alluvial complex is heterogeneous and individual strata have little lateral or vertical continuity.
However, despite their heterogeneity, the alluvial sediments constitute a large aquifer, which behaves
as a homogenous and highly transmissive aquifer on a regional basis. The groundwater occurs under
water table conditions and the individual lenses of silt and clay do not impede the flow of
groundwater.
Beds of gravel and very coarse sand are not common. Pebbles of siltstone or mudstone are
embedded in silty or clayey sand in places. Concretions of secondary origin, locally known as ‘kankar’
may be found in association with fine sediment.
RIVER RAVI AND DRAINAGE SYSTEMS
Although the Ravi has been the smallest of the five rivers of the Punjab, it has played an
important role in the area’s folklore, particularly that of Lahore. Given the present low levels of water
in the Ravi, it no longer has the charm it once held. While it was never navigable, it was used to float
deodar timber from the Chamba Hill State. The Manjha upland is irrigated in part by the upper Bari-
Doab Canal and partly by its Lahore branch. Together the two form the first line of defense between
Pakistan and India. The latter canal runs through the middle of greater Lahore – from Siphon near
Bhiseen (Jallo) to the border of Kasur District. From Jallo to Mohlanwal runs the ‘signal free’ Canal
Bank Road with numerous underpasses and green belts with trees that citizens have rallied to protect
in the recent past.
Drainage lines occur at intervals in the uplands of this district, called rohi, sukh nala, or sukh
nehr. Most of these run from northeast to southwest. There are 14 drains that flow in the district:
1. Mehmood Booti drain
2. Sukh Nehar
3. Shadbagh drain
4. Gulshan Ravi drain
5. Forest Colony drain
6. Furrakhabad drain
7. Shahdara drain
8. Buda Ravi
9. Main outfall drain
10. Babu Sabu drain
11. Hadiara drain
12. Jaranwala drain
13. Samnabad drain
14. Gojra drain
The largest of these is the Hadiara Nala, which enters Lahore District from District Amritsar
in India near the village of Hadiara. After traversing almost the entire length of Lahore District, it
cuts across Multan Road between Mohlanwal and Maraka and finally joins the Ravi. These drainage
lines had a pleasant effect on the local spring water, however the water is now polluted and [Link]
TRANSPORT NETWORKS
Before British occupation in 1849, there was no permanent bridge on the Ravi;
communications were carried by ferry boats, 18 of whose stations were located in present day Lahore
District. One major crossing (patan) to go northwards was opposite Khizri gate. There was another
crossing near Kamran Baradari to go to Sheikhupura. During the British era, a boat bridge was
constructed at the same site till it was replaced in 1915 with a regular 1469 ft. road bridge close to the

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

1462 ft. railway bridge constructed earlier. Since 1947, three more bridges have been constructed
further south to connect Lahore to the capital city of Islamabad and the entire northern region.
Lahore enjoys air, rail and road connections with rest of the country. The Allama Iqbal
International Airport caters to the needs of Lahore and its adjacent cities, as regular national and
international flights are made from here. Lahore is a major railway junction serving links to major
cities. To the south of Lahore, the National Highway N-5 connects to Multan, on northwest and
north run Motorway M-1 and the National Highway N-5 towards Gujranwala. Lahore is linked to
Faisalabad on the west with a four-lane highway, built on a ‘Build, operate and own’ basis. The historic
Grand Trunk Road, which was a major artery in this region’s history, passes through the [Link]
Motorways/Highways
Lahore - Islamabad Motorway (M2)
Lahore - Sialkot Motorway (M11)
Lahore Multan Motorway (M3)
Ring Road Lahore
Multan Road Lahore
Ferozpur Road Lahore
Grand Trunk Road (G.T Road Lahore)
Railways
Kahna Railway Station
Kot Lakhpat Railway Station
Lahore Cantt. Railway Station
Walton
Mughalpura Railway Station
Shahdara Bagh
Muslimabad Railway Station
Imamia Colony Train Station
Lahore Junction Railways Station
Industriesv
ICI Soda Ash 1
Pakistan Tobacco Company 1
Cement 2
Mari Petroleum 1
OGDCL 1
Brick kilns 80
Flour mills 16

Land Statistics
Particulars Area
Cultivated Area 316815
Irrigated Area 33832
Rain-fed Area 282983
Un-Cultivated Area 541952
Forest 110491
Cultivable Waste 149971
Not available for cultivation 281490
Total Area 858767

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 Geography

CLIMATE
Lahore experiences extremes of climate. The summer season starts in April and continues till
September. The hottest months are May, June and July, when the mean maximum and minimum
temperatures vary between 40.4C and 27.4C. The winter season lasts from November to March. The
coldest months are December, January and February, with minimum temperatures reaching freezing
point. The mean maximum and minimum temperatures for this period are 22C and 5.9C respectively.
The average minimum and maximum temperatures for Lahore City from 1st January 2022 to
14th June 2022vi are as follows:

Monthly
Monthly % Extreme
Month Average Departure Extreme
Mean Departure Date
(1980-2010)
Minimum 8.4 7.4 1.0 13.7% 2.8 4-1986
January
Maximum 16.1 19.2 -3.1 -16.3% 27 28-1991
Minimum 9.9 10.4 -0.5 -5.3% 2.8 21-1982
February
Maximum 21.8 22.3 -0.5 -2.3% 31 16-1993
Minimum 18.5 15.3 3.2 20.6% 6 3-1982
March
Maximum 31.5 27.3 4.2 15.6% 36.2 18-2004
Minimum 23.8 20.6 3.2 15.3% 10.3 7-1994
April
Maximum 39.1 34.2 4.9 14.4% 43.3 30-1999
Minimum 26.7 25 1.7 6.9% 14.8 1-2004
May
Maximum 40.3 38.8 1.5 3.8% 47.4 31-1998
Minimum 29.3 27.4 1.9 6.9% 18.4 5-1999
June
Maximum 43.3 39.4 3.9 9.9% 47.1 9-1995

The summer begins with high temperatures and dust storms, which transitions to a period of
intense humidity, giving way to the rainy season influenced by the Southwest monsoon. Winters are
brief and characterised by dense fog, exacerbated by pollution. The months of March and October
are likely to be pleasant and mild. On average, the month with the highest rainfall is July while the
driest month is November.
Rainfall varies from year to year, and month to month. Maximum rainfall occurs in July and
August when the monsoon depression travels westward. The average annual rainfall in Lahore is
about 629mm with 34 rainy days in a year. The heaviest rainfall recorded during 24 hours over the
last 70 years was in September 1954 with 228mm. Average monthly rainfall is as follows:

Month Average Rainfall (mm)

January 23
February 28.6
March 41.2
April 19.7
May 22.4
June 36.3
July 202.1
August 163.9
September 61.1
October 12.4
November 4.2
December 13.9

Relative humidity throughout the day is higher in winter months than in summer months. May
and June are very hot and dry, during which dust storms occur occasionally. Towards the end of June,
or beginning of July, the monsoon season begins. This is characterised by heavy downpours and

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

humid weather; July, August and September weather becomes practically oppressive. Over the year,
the relative humidity varies considerably:

Month Relative Humidity (%)

5:00 am 5:00 pm
January 86 46
February 80 41
March 76 37
April 63 27
May 54 22
June 60 29
July 80 54
August 86 60
September 82 49
October 80 40
November 85 47
December 87 52

In terms of wind speed and direction, on average, 60% of the days during the year are calm
and wind is negligible. Winter months are mostly still, with an increase in storms from April to July;
the maximum occurrence is recorded in June when low air pressure develops due to high
temperatures. In winter the wind blows primarily from the north-west, while it blows from the
opposite direction in summer, that is, from the south-east, bringing monsoon rains. vii, viii

104
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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Flora & Fauna

There seems to be little in terms of comprehensive studies on the flora and fauna found in
Lahore District. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Pakistan studied the ecology of the habitat
and ecological linkages of Lahore Canal Bank from Mustafaabad Bridge to Thokar Niaz Baig in 2008.
All trees and shrubs in the green belt and along the canal were identified and numbers were counted.
The dominant tree species were Eucalyptus, Poplar, Weeping Willow, Mango and Jaman. The
dominant shrub species were Citrus, Kanair and Marwa.
Total vegetation comprising trees and shrubs on the Lahore Canal Bank was 21,430, of which
only 3,728 trees remain after the cutting of trees on the 24 ft. width of the green belt; 5,299 trees were
to be cut on the 24 ft. width of both green belts due to the Canal Bank Road widening project of
TEPA, City District Government Lahore (CDGL).
Forty-four (44) bird species were identified and observed in the field. Moreover, small
mammals such as stray dogs, feral cats, Small Indian mongoose and Indian Palm squirrel were
observed. Among flying insects, Dragonflies, Damselflies, Fireflies, different types of Butterflies such
as Peacock pansy and Honeybees were also observed along with annelids including earthworms.
Amphibians found in the study area were Tiger frog, Common frog and Indus Valley toads whereas
in reptiles Indian Monitor lizard and Chitra Dhoobi Snake were also observed.
Birds were found ecologically linked to Gul-e-Nashtar, Mulberry and Pipal trees for food.
House crows, Rose-ringed parakeets, Bank Mynas and Common Mynas were ecologically linked to
Poplar, Alstonia, Eucalyptus, Shisham and Beeri Patta trees for roosting. Many cavity nesters such as
Rose-ringed parakeets, Common Mynas, Spotted Owlet and Copper Smith Barbet were observed
nesting on Poplar, Eucalyptus and Pipal trees. Pariah kites mostly prefer this habitat for nesting due
to the presence of tall trees such as Eucalyptus, Poplar and Simal etc. Thirty-one (31) nests of Pariah
kites were observed on the Canal Bank habitat in March 2007.
In the Canal Bank area, trees act as sinks to air pollution especially carbon. Canal Bank is an
ecologically balanced and important area possessing diversity of flora and fauna, with various
socioeconomic activities and trees acting as strong air pollution [Link]

FAUNA OF LAHORE
In terms of fauna of Lahore, there are either very specific studies, such as the one below,
which focuses on the Passeriformes order of birds, or those to do with Pakistan as a whole. Another
studyx gives details of amphibians and reptiles found in four tehsils of Kasur district, with some

106
 Flora & Fauna

overlap with Lahore district, however it does not focus on Lahore. It would not make sense to list
the species found at the Lahore Zoo here, as those are captive and not indigenous.
Urban development does not take local fauna into consideration – whether avian, mammal,
fish, insect, amphibian or reptile. While residents of the area are likely familiar with certain animals
and insects, like rats, feral cats and dogs, bats, frogs, earthworms, houseflies, mosquitos, dragonflies,
moths, and so on, there is a need to record what is left, and how much of it is changing. For example,
many long-time residents of Lahore are sure to remember the presence of jugnoo (fireflies, family
Lampyridae) around green areas of the city, but are far less likely to see them now.
Geckos are one of the most recognised and frequent
household reptiles in the plains of Pakistan. Their special foot
modifications and secretive habits make them perfect for living in
human habitations and other anthropogenic structures, so they are
universally known as house-geckos. Geckos are not welcome in
homes, though they are known beneficial animals as they
exterminate common harmful house insect pests like crickets,
house-flies, ants and [Link] There is no specific study on their
occurrence or diversity in Lahore District.

Bats constitute 28% of mammalian fauna of Pakistan, however, are amongst the least studied;
Scotoecus pallidus (desert yellow house bat) was first collected by Dobson from Mian Mir near Lahore
in 1876, but no specimen has been collected from Lahore sincexii. Lahore has a special breed called
Fruit Bats, often termed Flying Foxes. The Fruit Bat
falls into the category of the Megabat. In Bagh Jinnah
they are only found in the western corner and restricted
to 10 trees. There are large colonies/camps of these
bats and the total number is a little over 1000. When
Fruit Bats roost during the day, they do so high up in
the [Link] Colonies of these Flying Foxes may be seen
in the sky just after sunset as they leave in search of
food, to return before sunrise.
According to a study on Lahore’s avian
(passerine) diversity conducted in 2008, 272 bird
species were found in Lahore, including passerine and
xiv
non-passerine . Out of these 101 were breeding residents (37%), 13 were summer visitors (5%), 101
were winter visitors (37%), 35 were passage visitors (13%) and 22 species were recorded as occasional
(8%). About 71 passerine bird species were present in and around Lahore, out of which 38 were
breeding residents, two were summer visitors, 18 were winter visitors, nine were passage visitors,
two were recorded for possible breeding and
one species was recorded for occasional breeding
and individual records.
The maximum bird count was found in
Jinnah Garden – 1592 birds – while the minimum
population count was observed in Woodland
Wildlife Park, which was 980 birds. The maximum
diversity of passerine bird species was found in
Jinnah Garden and Woodland Wildlife Park,
which was 14 bird species out of 23 observed
passerine bird species, however the least
diversity was found in Shalimar Garden with
seven bird species.

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

It was also found that three species of birds, Crow, House Sparrow and Common Myna, were
very abundant. The Red Vented Bulbul was abundant, as was the Bank Myna. Four species – the
Sand Lark, Plain Sand Martin,
Common Babbler, and Jungle
Babbler – were common. The Asian
Pied Starling, Tree Pipit, Pied Bush-
chat, Indian Robin, White Browed
Fantail, Purple Sunbird, Black
Drongo and Paddyfield Pipit, were
fairly common. Four species – the
Wire Tailed Swallow, Oriental White
Eye, Long Tailed Shrike and Rufous
Tree-pie – were rare, and two species,
Plain Prinia and Indian Cliff Swallow,
were very rare.
Trees offer habitat for birds
and the density of birds is directly related to the presence of suitable habitat. Maximum floral (tree)
species were found in Woodland Wildlife Park because of the presence of a mini forest there, but
older sites like Jinnah Garden have more tree species along with a large number of native species.
Therefore the maximum population count as well as species number of the Passeriformes order was
observed there.
By comparing the percentages of native and exotic trees in older and new sites in and around
Lahore, it was found that there is a little difference in the percentage of native and exotic trees in both
sites. This is because at older sites, when native trees fall, they are replaced by new varieties. For this
reason, 38% of flora of old sites has been replaced by new and exotic varieties, which has a detrimental
effect on avian [Link]
A 2015 studyxvi compared Ichhogil
Canal (or Bambawali-Ravi-Bedian Canal, BRB
for short) and Lahore Canal’s avian population
to argue for the detrimental effects of
urbanisation on the bird population. Lahore
Canal is a heavily urbanised area with a great
deal of vehicular traffic, whereas BRB Canal is
relatively secluded and the area lacks modern
infrastructure. A total of 25 bird species were
identified at the two sites, all of which were
seen at BRB Canal, but only 19 were seen
around Lahore Canal. The number of sightings
for different species was also significantly
higher around BRB Canal.

Name of Bird Local Name BRB Canal Lahore Canal

Black-necked Dove Fakhta
Red Turtledove Ghugi
Wood Pigeon Jungli Kabootar
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Hurryal -
Water Hen Jal-Kukri -
Moorhen Pandopi -
Duck Murghabi -
Crow Kawwa
Eagle/Kite Cheel
Sparrow Chirdia

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Egret Baghla -
Snipes - -
Red Wattled Lapwing Tateeree -
Hummingbird -
Spotted Starling Tilyar -
Myna Maina
Hoopoe (Woodpecker) Hudhud
Kingfisher -
Bulbul Bulbul
Crow Pheasant - -
Cuckoo Koel
Indian Robin -
Indian Parrot Tota
Babbler Lutera
Grey Hornbill -

Animals at Safari Park Lahore

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Image Credits: Taimoor Ahmad 2022

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LAHORE ZOO
The Lahore Zoo, surrounded by the vast Lawrence Garden, now Jinnah Garden, is situated
in the heart of the city. It is the country's oldest and largest zoo established in 1876. Lahore Zoo
started in the 1860s in the form of a menagerie and was properly established as a zoo with the addition
of an aviary donated by Lala Mela Ram in 1872. It is one of the oldest zoos in the world. As it gradually
developed, its animal collection also increased. In 1996, it contained 42 species of mammals, 68 of
birds and 7 of reptiles. Today the Zoo houses about 1183 animals of 104 species; in all there are 389
mammals, 440 birds and 44 reptiles.
It remained under the management of the Lahore Municipal Committee from 1872 to 1921.
Thereafter, its control was transferred to the Deputy Commissioner, Lahore and Commissioner,
Lahore until 1962. Its management was then placed with the West Pakistan Agriculture Department
and afterwards with the Livestock and Dairy Development Department. Finally, the management of
Lahore Zoo was entrusted to the Wildlife and Parks Department in 1982; it was declared as a Zoo
under Section 18-A of Punjab Wildlife Act, 2007 and is governed by the Zoo Management Committee
(ZMC) of Lahore Zoo constituted under rule-3 of Punjab Zoos and Safari Parks Rules, 2012 vide
notification SOP (WL) 12-9/2001-VI, dated 05-04-2013.
During the period from 1872 to 1982, it remained a small entity with very little development.
Since its transfer to the Wildlife Department in 1982, a number of changes have occurred in housing
exhibits, layout of buildings, landscape, and administration, among others. With these
initiatives/developments it has become a self-financing organisation meeting all its expenditures from
its own revenue. Its location in the heart of the city makes it easily accessible to people from all walks
of life.
Vision and Objectives
Ex-situ conservation of Wildlife species with sustainability, providing educational and
recreational facilities.
Conservation
Education
Recreation
Jurisdiction and Facts
Number of species 104
Number of animals and birds 1183
Area 24 Acres
Source: Purchase/transfer from other zoos and wildlife parks under Punjab Wildlife and Parks
Department, birth in zoo stock, rescued animals.

Some facilities on its premises include:

Parking Area at two points

Jungle Café at two points

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Visitor Shelters (20)

Public Toilets (3 Units)
Grassy Lawns (12)
Benches (190)
Electric Water Coolers (5)
Public Address System
Amusement facilities for visitors include a
camel ride, a mechanical elephant ride, a
jumping/bouncy castle, the Kiddy Ride, and pet
photography.
The main animal enclosures are:
Elephant/Rhinoceros/Hippopotamus Houses
Deer Enclosures
Bear House
Leopard Enclosure
Giraffe House
Lion/Tiger Houses
Crocodile Pond
Snake House
Zebra/Llama Enclosures
Monkey House
Ostrich/Emu Enclosures
Aviary/ Bird Section
Aquarium
Waterfowl Lake
The aquarium is a new attraction and has a collection of more than 20 types of fish.

Zoo Education: 30 students were facilitated at Lahore Zoo for their research projects related
to the partial fulfilment of their Bachelors, Masters, and MPhil degrees.
Zoo Internship Programme: 44 students (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Zoology and
Biotechnology) were accommodated in an internship programme during this year as partial fulfilment
of their degrees. Students belonged to the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore,
University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Riphah Veterinary University, Punjab University, Virtual
University, University of Central Punjab and Lahore Garrison University.
Zoo Training Programme: A two-day training programme on Ultrasonography in Wild
Animals was organised under the Green Pakistan Programme for Veterinary Officers of Punjab
Wildlife and Parks Department. Hands on training was given in ultrasonography of small ruminants
and felines.

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The Lahore Zoo has a complaint and contact mechanisms for citizens. This includes in-person
contact with the Duty Officer, who is responsible for addressing complaints, facilitating visitors and
maintaining discipline. A Suggestion Box is placed at the Main Gate Exit. Other channels include:
Email: lahorezoolahore@[Link]
Telephone: +92-42-3631-4684 and +92-42-9920-3396
Facebook: [Link]
Citizen’s Portal

Message from the Director

I have recently joined this prestigious ex-situ conservation facility and feel privileged to be
the Director of Lahore Zoo. Every day, I walk the grounds and see how the Zoo has grown
and I dream of what’s to come. My daily conversations with our dedicated staff highlight the
work we are doing for animal conservation and welfare. I highly acknowledge the services
and collaborations with Universities, Zoos and other conservation organizations to help
advance the care and protection of living beings. I would like to add the conservation
measures we have taken for endangered species, especially black buck, black bear, common
leopard, African Lion, which are threatened by habitat loss, poaching, big cat-human conflict,
and loss of food resources. Lahore Zoo is playing a vital role in ex-situ conservation of
threatened and endangered species, which can help ensure the survival of these majestic
creatures for future generations to come. We all share the responsibility to care for and share
our planet with these wild species, so our future generations may cherish their presence. We
believe in mass awareness of the public to raise awareness of the significance of these wild
beings and hope that our visitors help us in our cause.
Azeem Zafar Buttar,
Director, Lahore Zoo

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FLORA OF LAHORE

Carpet of Lilies on the Mall 2015 - Painting by Shahid Jalal

Lahore’s parks offer versatile vegetation including very old fruit trees and tall ornamental trees
since the time of the Mughals, native trees like mango, almond, acacia, neem, shrubs, herbs and
seasonal flowering plants. According to a studyxvii conducted in six parks of Lahore in 2016 to
compare and measure presence of floral species and families in respected areas, Fabaceae was the
dominant family because of its wide variety in growth forms worldwide. Pakistan lies in the temperate
zone where mostly herbaceous species of Fabaceae are recorded.
Moraceae is the second largest family, of which white mulberry named Modus Alba (weedy)
and paper mulberry named Broussonetia Papyrifera (shrubby) is native to Asia. They are also found
around homes, in disturbed sites and along fence rows. The third largest family is Rosaceae, which
has worldwide distribution range and found almost everywhere. This floral family has economic,
commercial and medicinal importance particularly in the temperate zone. Its wood, fruit and petals
can be used for multiple purposes. About 213 species of Rosaceae family are present in Pakistan.
A total of 94 flora species and 43 families were found in six selected localities of Lahore; out
of these, 78 species were found in Model Town Park, 51 in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, 46 in Shalimar
Garden, 53 in Nawaz Sharif Park, 58 in Nasir Bagh and 71 in Lahore Zoo. Out of 265 observed

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number of flora the significant highest number of trees existed in Lahore Zoo, followed by Model
Town (54), Nasir Bagh (54), Nawaz Sharif Park (53), Gulshan-e-Iqbal (44) and the lowest in Shalimar
Garden (36).
Some Tree Species in Lahore
Local Name Botanical Name Family
Aam Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae
Aaroo/Peach Prunus persica Rosaceae
Akhrot Juglans regia Juglandaceae
Almond Prunus dulcis Rosaceae
Amaltas Cassia fistula Fabaceae
Amla Phyllanthus emblica Euphorbiaceae
Arjun Terminalia arjuna Combretaceae
Ashoka Saraca indica Leguminoceae
Avocado Persea americana Laucerceae
Baid-e-Majnun/Weeping Salix babylonica Salicaceae
Willow
Bakain/Persian lilac Melia azedarach Meliaceae
Bamboo Dendroclamus strictus Poaceae
Banyan Ficus macrophylla Moraceae
Bel Aegle marmelos Rutaceae
Ber Ziziphus jujuba Rhamnaceae
Bhera Terminalia bellirica Combretaceae
Bottle Neck Tree Sterculia rupestris Sterculiaceae
Bottle Brush Callistemon citrinus/Melaleuca citrina Myrtaceae
Buddha Tree Chorisia speciosa Bombaceae
Burghud Ficus benghalensis Moraceae
Burna Crataeva religiosa Capparaceae
Cassia Tree Cassia javanica Fabaceae
Cherry Prunus serotina Rosaceae
Chhiku Achras sapota Sapotaceae
Chinar Platanus orientalis Platanaceae
Chir Pinus roxburghii Pinaceae
Cypress Cupressus funebris Cupressaceae
Derris Derris robusta Fabaceae
Dhaak Butea frondosa Fabaceae
Dheu Artocarpus lakoocha Moraceae
Dhokra Anogeissus acuminate Combretaceae
Ditabark/Devil’s Tree Alstonia scholaris Apocynaceae
Gaub Diospyros peregrina Ebenaceae
Gamhar Trewia nudiflora Euphorbiaceae
Gul Mohr Delonix regia Fabaceae
Gul Nishter Erythrina suberosa Fabaceae
Gul-e-Cheen Plumeria rubra Apocynaceae
Gul-e-Fanoos Kigelia pinnata Bignoniaceae
Gul-e-Must Dillenia indica Dilleniaceae
Gul-e-Neelam Jacaranda mimosifolia Fabaceae
Gulhar Benjamina comosa Moraceae
Imli Tamarindus indica Fabaceae
Jamun Syzygium cumini Myrtaceae
Jand Prosopis spicigera/cineraria Fabaceae
Jungli Badam Terminalia catappa Combretaceae
Kachnar B a uhinia alba Caesalpiniaceae

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Kafoor Cinnamomum camphora Laucerceae

Kaghzi Tut/Paper Mulberry Broussonetia papyrifera Moraceae
Kamila Mallotus philippinensis Euphorbiaceae
Khair Acacia catechu Fabaceae
Kharak Celtis australis Cannabaceae
Kiker Acacia nilotica Fabaceae
Kunak Champa Pterospermum acerifolium Sterculiaceae
Kussum Schleichera oleosa Sapindaceae
Lasura Cordia oblique Boraginaceae
Litchi/Lichee Nephelium litchi Sapindaceae
Loquat Eriobotrya japonica Rosaceae
Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora Magnoliaceae
Mahogany Tree Swietenia mahagoni Meliaceae
Mahwa Bassia latifolia Sapotaceae
Maple Acer negundo Aceraceae
Molsari Mimusops elengi Sapotaceae
Mulberry Morus alba Moraceae
Nag Phali Heterophragma adenophyllum Bignoniaceae
Najor Bursera serrata Burseraceae
Nashpati/Pear Pyrus communis Rosaceae
Neem Azadirachta indica Meliaceae
Oncoba Oncoba spinosa Flacourtiaceae
Palm Trees Arecaceae Arecaceae
Papaya Carica papaya Caricaceae
Paper Bark Melaleuca leucadendron Myrtaceae
Parkinsonia Parkinsonia aculeata Fabaceae
Phulai Acacia modesta Fabaceae
Pilkhan Ficus virens Moraceae
Poplar Populus alba Salicaceae
Putajan Putranjiva roxburghii Euphorbiaceae
Rubber Ficus elastica Moraceae
Rukh-e-Zard Acacia retinodes Fabaceae
Samundar Phal Barringtonia acutangula Lecythidaceae
Shah balut Grevillea robusta Protaceae
Shahtut Morus macroura Moraceae
Shareen Prosopis juliflora Fabaceae
Shisham Dalbergia sissoo Fabaceae
Simal Salmalia malabarica Bombaceae
Sohanjana Moringa oleifera Moringaceae
Sufaida Eucalyptus camaldulensis Myrtaceae
Sumbul Bombax malabaricum Malvaceae
Talwar Phali Oroxylum indicum Bignoniaceae
Taxodium Taxodium mucronatum Taxodiaceae
Teak Tectona grandis Verbenaceae
Toon Cedrela toona Meliaceae
Ulta Ashok Polyalthia longifolia Annonaceae
White Siris Albizia procera Mimosaceae

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The absence of the Peepal tree (Ficus religiosa/Moraceae) is notable in this list, which may
either be due to an oversight or because none of the six parks studied have any remaining specimens
of this iconic tree of Lahore. Additional trees that are suggested for plantation include:
Brachychiton (Brachychiton diversifoli)
Castanospermum austral
Caron (Ceratonia religiosa)
Chukrassia (Chukrasia tabularis)
Trkoli (Dalbergia lanceolaria)
Pandurata (Ficus lyrata)
Maclura (Maclura aurantiaca)
Villayti Shisham (Millettia ovalifolia)
Kaker/Mastic Tree/Kang (Pistacia integerima)
Reetha/Soap Nut Tree (Sapindus trifoliatus)
Shamma (Sophora Secundiflora)
Jungli Badam (Sterculia colorata)
Kamrukh/Kamranga (Averrhoa carambola)

Urban forestry
Urban forestry can be defined as networks or systems comprising all woodlands, groups of
trees, and individual trees located in urban and peri-urban areas; they include, forests, street trees,
trees in parks and gardens, and trees in derelict corners. Urban forests are the backbone of the green
infrastructure, bridging rural and urban areas and ameliorating a city’s environmental footprint. Green
infrastructure is defined as natural vegetation and green technologies designed to support natural
processes. Green infrastructure takes many forms including but not limited to the following: urban
forests, natural areas, greenways, streams and riparian zones, meadows and agricultural lands; green
roofs and green walls; parks, gardens and landscaped areas, community gardens, and other green open
spaces; rain gardens, bioswales, and engineered wetlands. While green infrastructure refers to projects
that draw from nature to achieve desired results, grey infrastructure includes the pipes, pumps,
ditches, and detention ponds engineered by people to manage natural processes.
Urban forestry can contribute to climate-change mitigation, both directly by sequestering
carbon, and indirectly by saving energy and reducing the urban heat island effect. According to the
Census of Manufacturing Industries 2015-16, more than 95% of industrial units are located within 2
km of the major roads and highways in Punjab, i.e. around the urban areas. The top four industrial
districts (Faisalabad, Sialkot, Lahore, and Gujranwala) house 62.42% of Punjab’s overall industry,
thereby multiplying the problems of urban sprawl, environmental degradation and climate change.
Urban forestry can play key roles in making Punjab more resilient to the effects of climate change by
mitigating storm water runoff, improving air quality, storing carbon, decreasing urban energy
consumption by shading and cooling, and reducing the impacts of extreme weather and floods.

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The urban forest can be characterised into following types:

Peri–Urban forests and woodlands: Forests and woodlands surrounding towns and cities that can
provide goods and services such as wood, fibre, fruit, other non-wood forest products, clean
water, recreation and tourism while making sure that environmental benefits and forests’
sustainability is not compromised and continue to benefit within the principle of inter-intra
generation equity.
City parks: Large urban or district parks with a variety of land cover and at least partly equipped
with facilities for leisure and recreation
Small parks and gardens with trees: Small district parks equipped with facilities for
recreation/leisure, and private gardens and green spaces
Trees on streets or in public squares: Linear tree plantation, small groups of trees, and individual
trees in squares, parking lots, streets, etc.
Other green spaces with trees: For example urban agricultural plots, sports grounds, vacant lands,
lawns, river banks, open fields, cemeteries and botanical gardens
Roadside Plantation: The linear rows of trees along the right of way of road network including
median between the roads
Canal-side Plantation: Plantation on the either side of canals running through the urban and peri–
urban areas
Public and private sector premises: All premises including industries, health, education and other
provincial departments, where plantation of trees is carried out
Roof-top plantation: plants or landscaping on top of roofs
Vertical plantation: a garden that grows upwards using some support
Tree diversity within an urban forest landscape provides functional, aesthetic, biological and
ecological advantages. Selection criteria needs to be developed to provide a quantitative and
qualitative basis for the Master List of Street and Park Trees. It is also important to understand that
there is no one type of urban environment. The urban environment is a varied conglomeration of
microclimates and heterogeneous soil conditions. Above-ground or underground site conditions can
change dramatically within the space of a few meters. Climate change and increases in temperatures
will also require consideration when selecting tree species.
Adaptability to urban conditions is a key characteristic of plant tolerances that make a
particular species or cultivar more or less suited to planting in urban landscapes. Thirteen base
selection criterion for adaptability to urban conditions have been identified. They reflect the species’
ability to respond to drought, heat, wind and pollution, and the species’ lifespan, pathogen and pest
susceptibility and manageability, effect on community health and allergies, the degree and quality of
shade cast, maintenance requirements and extent of tree litter produced. The base criteria include:

Drought tolerance Heat tolerance

Wind tolerance Longevity
Pollution tolerance Pathogen, pest susceptibility and manageability
Potential as allergen Shade cast (spreading crown)
Maintenance required Tree litter
Growth rate Height suitability for chosen location
Tree Foliage (evergreen, semi evergreen, deciduous)

Other important factors may be the quantity of water the tree uses, and its impacts on the
available water table level. Trees such as Maple are known for reducing the pollution from air, and
native Chinar or Platanus Orientalis is known for its spreading [Link]

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Orange Simbal Trees - Painting by Shahid Jalal

FOREST DEPARTMENT
The department is actively involved in projects and activities to make Lahore District a greener
and healthier place to live in. Some recent projects include:
Clean and Green Campaign
Climate change is widely considered as the biggest threat to global development. Lahore is
overpopulated and is an industrial district which emits greenhouse gases in large quantity. To reduce
the greenhouse effect carbon sequestration is required. Plants are the major source of carbon
sequestration. Annually, two tree planting campaigns in collaboration with the District administration
and all other departments are launched in Lahore District. One is the Spring Tree Planting Campaign
(from mid of February to June) while the other is the Monsoon Tree Planting Campaign (from mid
of July to December).
Plantation: To reduce the greenhouse effect and reduce the air pollution, about 400,000 plants have
been planted along the canal roadside and Bela Forest of District Lahore during the last two years
under the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami programme.
Forests of Lahore
Anno Bhatti Reserved Forest and Shahdara Reserved Forest are located north of District
Lahore along the River Ravi. The area of Anno Bhatti reserved forest is 272 Acres and Shahdara
reserved forest consists of two parts: Shahdara Forest and Karol Forest. The area of Shahdara Forest
is 678 Acres and Karol Forest is 937 Acres. These forests are located along river Ravi and are known
as Bela Forests.

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Jallo Forest Park

Jallo Park is a Reserve Forest. It is located 20 Km East of Lahore, along Wahga-Amritsar

Railway Line. It was developed during 1978-79. Its total area is 481 Acres. Annually, approximately
2.0 Million visitors visit the park.
Area Statement, Lahore Forest Division (as on 01.07. 2021)

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Area (Acres)
Legal Forest
Name Planted
Status Type Gross Area Uncultivated
Area
Jallo Park Forest Park Jallo Park = 456
Irrigated
(Rakh / Reserve Jallo Resin Factory = 25 272 209
Plantation
Tehra) Forest Total = 481
Riverine 682
Shahdara Reserve
Forest/ 1615 933 Under
Forest
Bela Forest riverbed
Riverine
Kamran Un-classed
Forest/ 21 21 0
Baradari Forest
Bela Forest
Anno Riverine 12
Section 38 272 260
Bhatti Forest Old village
2389 1486 903

PARKS AND HORTICULTURE

The Gate - Painting by Shahid Jalal

Public parks and public green spaces/belts in Lahore fall under the authority of the Parks and
Horticulture Authority Lahore (PHA), which was established in September 1998 under the Punjab
Development of Cities Act 1976. Later on, the status of the entity was established as an Authority
through the Parks and Horticulture Authority Act 2012 (Act XL VII of 2012) passed by the Punjab

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Provincial Assembly in terms of clause (3) of Article 116 of the constitution, published in the Punjab,
Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 30-06-2012. Major functions of the PHA include the following:

Develop an integrated approach to bring about uniformity in the sector of horticulture for the
beautification of Lahore.
Set the foundation stone of new public parks, green belts, playgrounds and open spaces in Lahore
to promote an environment that’s both healthy and happy.
Landscaping, face lifting, illumination and beautification of targeted areas around the city.
Organise festivals and functions to promote culture and entertain the citizens.
Initiate improvement schemes that transform the environment of the city into a healthy one.
Regulate outdoor advertisement activities in City District Lahore.
Over the last three years, PHA has distributed 90,000+ free saplings among the general public,
and planted 1.3+ million trees. From extending green belts throughout the city of Lahore to the
maintenance of parks and playgrounds, PHA works simultaneously on multiple projects. Some of the
major parks of Lahore are the following.

Bagh-e-Jinnah

Bagh-e-Jinnah is a historical park in the city of Lahore, formerly known as Lawrence Gardens.
It is located on Lawrence Road next to Lahore Zoo, directly across from the Governor's House on
The Mall. The site was originally occupied by the Agri-Horticultural Society of the Punjab and had
been planned as a botanical garden modelled on Kew Gardens in London. The garden was named
after John Lawrence, 1st Baron Lawrence, who served as the first Chief Commissioner and then
Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab, and who later became Viceroy of India from 1864 to 1869. The
first tree planted in the garden was in January 1862 and that same year Lawrence Hall was constructed
for public meetings and theatrical entertainment. In 1866 Montgomery Hall was also completed and
in 1868 the site was enlarged through the purchase of land to the south of the gardens. By 1876 the
garden contained 80,000 trees and shrubs of 600 different species including trees from the plains of
India, Austria, Syria and southern Europe.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, Lawrence Garden began to sell plants it had grown
to the general public. Fruit trees were imported from across the British Empire, including grapes and
mulberries from Kabul, peaches from Agra and plantain from Calcutta. In 1904 the Department of
Agriculture became responsible for maintenance of the garden and since 1912 approximately seven
acres have been managed by Government College University, Lahore.
Following Partition and the creation of Pakistan, Lawrence Gardens was renamed Bagh-e-
Jinnah. A statue of John Lawrence outside the nearby Lahore High Court was removed in August
1951 and later moved to Foyle and Londonderry College in Northern Ireland. Lawrence and

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Montgomery Halls were repurposed for the Quaid-e-Azam Library in 1984. Today, the large green
space contains a botanical garden, Masjid Dar-ul-Islam, and Quaid-e-Azam Library.
The gardens are currently spread over 141 acres (0.57 sq. km). The site was originally larger,
consisting of 176 acres (0.71 sq. km), however part of the land was given to Lahore Zoo, and for local
development. The park has a track of 2.65 kilometres, and contains the tomb of a saint, Pir Sakhi
Abul Faizul Hassan, commonly known as Baba Turat Murad Shah, that receives a large number of
visitors. Bagh-e-Jinnah park has a famous cricket ground, built for the entertainment of government
officers and civil servants. Lahore Gymkhana Club had regular fixtures here and the ground was host
to a number of international matches before Gaddafi Stadium reigned supreme. There are other
entertainment and sports facilities within the park including an open-air theatre, a restaurant, and
tennis and badminton courts.

Botanical Garden Jallo and Butterfly House

In contrast to a recreational park, a
botanical garden is a place where plants are
grown and displayed for the purposes of
research and education. Jallo Park is establishing
itself as an important botanical garden of
Lahore. It also has an aquarium.
Established solely for the entertainment
of citizens and located in the heart of Jallo Park,
the Butterfly house is the first initiative of its
kind and houses more than 3000 species of
butterflies. The setup includes a 300 ft. tunnel
that provides a perfect habitat for butterflies; a
butterfly laboratory educates visitors about the
diverse species. The environment is critically
monitored for the survival of butterflies and
comfort of the visitors. The gardens and
butterfly house are of interest to students and
researchers of botany and entomology.

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Jilani Park
Jilani Park (formerly known as Race Course Park) is located on Jail Road in front of Services
Hospital. It is famous for its floral exhibitions and an artificial waterfall. Annual horse races are held
in this park. Walkways circumvent the large space; one side of the park is dedicated to horse-riding
and polo. Floral exhibitions, an artificial waterfall, lakes, jogging track, the race course and green lush
grounds attract visitors throughout the year.

Carpet of Petunias Jillani Park 2015 - Painting by Shahid Jalal

The Gulshan Iqbal Park

The Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park is a large park and recreational space situated in Allama Iqbal Town,
Lahore. The name Gulshan-e-Iqbal is literally translated as "the garden of Iqbal," referring to Allama
Iqbal, the national poet of Pakistan. It has many recreational rides for children and adults, making it
a popular venue for families. It also features a vast artificial lake and a mini-zoo.

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Greater Iqbal Park
Iqbal Park (formerly Minto Park) is an urban park; after renovation and expansion its name
was changed to Greater Iqbal Park. It is located on the outskirts of the Walled City in Lahore, and
was inaugurated in December 2017.
The project featured expansion of the
park by including it in the stretch of Circular
Road between the park and Lahore Fort. The
125-acre green oasis is surrounded almost
entirely by the old city of Lahore. Visitors can
enjoy the rolling lawns and take in the
panoramic view of the Minar-e-Pakistan, the
majestic Lahore Fort, the Azadi Interchange
and the historic Badshahi Mosque.
Four kilometre walkways provide
ample opportunities for running and cycling; visitors can also stroll through the cascade surrounded
by four memorial monuments, ride in the soft rail that runs along the 2-km Buggy Track, or picnic
near the lake and enjoy 800 ft. long musical fountains. The park aims to offer lush greenery, seating,
food courts and shopping kiosks for visitors.
Shalimar Bagh

An antique kaleidoscope of Persian influences and medieval Islamic culture, the Shalimar Gardens
were built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jehan in 1642. The grandeur of this earthy utopia has stood
the test of time as the richly decorated terraced structure, adorned with pavilions, minarets and
fountains continue to attract both tourists and locals.
Dai Anga’s Tomb
The Tomb of Dai Anga, also known as the Gulabi Bagh, is a Mughal-era tomb complex
located in the Mughal-era suburb of Begampura. The tomb complex is listed in the Protected Heritage
Monuments of the Archaeology Department of Punjab.

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Model Town Park
Both a family park and a golf course, the Model Town Park is one of the largest parks in one
of the oldest towns in the city. With ample seating, well-maintained tracks and play areas and
wheelchair accessibility, the Model Town Park is the perfect getaway for both children and adults.
Safari Park
Safari Park, located on Safari Road Lahore, was established for public recreation. This huge
facility of over 247 acres is home to a stunning array of wildlife, birds and aquatic species. From
Indian peafowl to Bengal tigers, silver pheasants to demoiselle cranes, Lahore Safari’s extensive range
of animals, the largest walk-through aviary and boating and fishing facilities make it unique to the
region.
Green Belts
Some major green belts include:

Babu Sabu Interchange

Khayaban-e-Jinnah Johar Town
Mall Road Lahore
China Chowk Lahore
Lorry Adda
Jail Road

The PHA is responsible for 830 parks, one museum, and 21 nurseries. In addition to these it
was tasked in 2021 to grow Asia's largest Miyawaki urban forest over an area of a hundred kanal in
China Park near Saggian Bridge by planting 112500 indigenous trees and shrubs. Such urban forests
were also to be developed at 15 other places in Lahore city to grow a total of 292500 trees. Of these,
58000 trees were to be planted over an area of 50 kanal in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, while another 58000
trees were to be grown over an area of 50 kanal in Township. Another 13500 trees were to be planted
on 12 kanal of land of Township nursery.
Miyawaki urban forests were to be developed at C-Block Sabzazar, Ganj Sarkar Sabzazar,
Qaddafi Park Gulshan-e-Ravi, Saggian Interchange, Rustam Park Gulshan-e-Ravi, Karim Park
Golbagh near Data Darbar, side 1 and 2 of Mahmood Booti, Green Town, Mustafa Bhatti Park
Township, Kashmir Park and Khalid Butt Park Township.
PHA’s calendar of events includes:
Jashn-e-Baharan Festival
Celebration of Independence Day
Annual Spring Flower Exhibition
Eid Milad-Un-Nabi (S.A.W)
Celebration of Pakistan Day
Annual Chrysanthemum Show
Saawan Mela
Winter Festival

Their notable achievements over the year include:

15,000 Trees planted along Ring Road (Kamahan to Gajju Matta, 10KM)
Rehabilitation of Jogging Track at Jilani Park
Illumination on Mall Road and Main Boulevard Gulberg
Development of World’s Largest Miyawaki Urban Forest
Celebration of Festivals (Chrysanthemum Show)
Jashan-e-Baharan:
• Inauguration of Festival

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• Aeromania Show
• Light Show
• Bird Show
• Mural Painting Competition
• Daastan Goi-Qissa Khawani
• Mascot Parade
• Cyclothon
• Calligraphy Exhibition
• Bahar Mushaira
• Vintage Car Rally
• Pakistan Resolution Day’s Celebration

Marigold Carpet The Canal South Side II 2016 - Painting by Shahid Jalal

Message from the Director General

Lahore may not be the capital of Pakistan, yet it is undoubtedly the country’s social, cultural
and historical hub. Its rich cultural heritage spreads over centuries. The architecture of Lahore
is a natural blend of Hindu, Muslim, British, and now the modern traditions. Besides its
architecture, the greenery of Lahore has always been a hall mark of the city with a rich
depiction of its flora and fauna in the shape of paintings, carvings and sculptures. Since its
inception in 1998, the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has come a long way in making
this historic city cleaner, greener and brighter. Over the years, infrastructural demands of
urban population resulted in unbridled concrete growth in the shape of buildings and road
structure in Lahore. This growth necessitated the corresponding increase in green cover to
balance out the cityscape and thus provide a softer and gentler feel to city dwellers.

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GRAVEYARDS
There are a total of 1,131 government cemeteries in Lahorexix – another count puts the number
xx
at 845 . The space allocated for graveyards and the increase in population has not kept afoot, and as
urban spaces expand, the space available for graveyards shrinks. Graveyards also face issues of lack
of security, sanitation, lights and water supply. As they are treated like a social rather than economic
enterprise, their maintenance becomes a burden on the government or the bodies managing them.
An income source are the shops around graveyards – mostly selling flowers – that are auctioned to
the highest bidder and pay rent.
The Punjab Government formed a committee in 2021, including provincial ministers and the
Commissioner of Lahore, to beautify the city. The committee also included the directors general of
the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) and Lahore Development Authority. Its mandate was
to not only help improve the environment of the city but also the provision of municipal facilities,
including graveyards.

Miani Sahib Graveyard

The Miani Sahib Graveyard is the largest graveyard in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. Its origins
date back to the Mughal era, making it one of the oldest graveyard in the region. Located to the south
of Lahore, this graveyard is first mentioned in accounts about the Ghauri ruler Muhammad
Shahabuddin (1149–1206), nearly 825 years ago, who was assassinated at Sohawa near Gujar Khan,
while praying, most probably by Khatri Khokhars. He allegedly met some wise men in Lahore and
set aside a lot of land for a graveyard and, allegedly, named it Miani Sahib. His slave Qutbuddin Aibak
on taking power allocated 40,000 kanals, or 5,000 acres, so that Lahore could “for a thousand years
have no problems with burials”. The Mughals were the first to desecrate this graveyard when
Emperor Shah Jehan set up the garden for his daughter Zeb un Nisa Begum. The Chauburji
monument that we know off was the western outlet to this huge garden and led to the edge of the
river. To the east major portions of the graveyard were consumed by the Mughal passion for gardens.
During the 92 years of turmoil that followed the death of Emperor Aurangzeb and the rise of
Maharajah Ranjit Singh, major portions of the graveyard were consumed by the powerful of the land.
Some demarcation took place under the British, but then after 1947 and with the large number of
people migrating to Lahore, Samanabad was set up not only on the garden of Zeb un Nisa, but also
on large portions of Miani Sahib graveyard. The GOR on Bahawalpur Road was built entirely on
graveyard land, and other smaller chunks of settlement flattened a lot of graves, including some
historic [Link] Miani Sahib Graveyard now occupies a mere 1,206 kanals (60 hectares, 149 acres) of
land and has a capacity of approximately 300,000 graves. Currently, the graveyard is 99.9 percent full.
Gravediggers at the cemetery routinely bury the bodies of the newly deceased in plots that go
unvisited.
Notable interments include Dulla Bhatti (Rai Abdullah Bhatti), Ghazi Ilm-ud-din Shaheed,
Hakim Ahmad Shuja, Anwar Kamal Pasha, Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed and Saadat Hassan Manto,
Wasif Ali Wasif and many politicians, bureaucrats, journalists among [Link] In fact many of
Lahore’s residents – wealthy or not, well-known or not – end up here.

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Miani Sahib Graveyard Ordinance

Petitioners have approached the courts on several occasions regarding land encroachment and
ownership matters. The following is an excerpt from 2009 whereby reference was made by the
Honourable Supreme Court to the graveyard’s history.
(PLD 1973 SC 17) Miani Sahib Graveyard is one of the oldest graveyards in Lahore and was
in a most neglected state. It had been trespassed upon by a large number of unauthorised persons
and innumerable structures had been constructed on graveyard land. It was being used by antisocial
elements. On receipt of a large number of complaints, the West Pakistan Graveyard (Preservation
and Maintenance) Act XXV of 1958 was introduced on 24th April 1958, to provide for the
preservation and maintenance of graveyards in West Pakistan. By a notification dated 25th March
1959, a Graveyard Committee was constituted, headed by the Deputy Commissioner, Lahore as
Chairman. The graveyard land of Miani Sahib was surveyed by the Committee but in view of the
practical difficulties in removing encroachments, most of which had become permanent, the
assistance of Martial Law authorities was sought. The Martial Law authorities on 22nd November
1961, reconstituted a Committee under their own supervision headed by Additional Deputy
Commissioner (G), Lahore, as the Chairman, with five official members including a nominee of the
Martial Law Administrator. This Committee was constituted to remove the encroachments. This
Committee issued notices to unauthorised encroachers under Martial Law Order No. 48 and Martial
Law Regulation No. 20A.
The Miani Sahib Graveyard Committee, by a Press-note dated 29th April 1962, published in
Pakistan Times dated the 29th April 1962, announced the limits of the graveyards.
On 31st May 1962, the Martial Law Administrator, Zone 'B' issued Martial Law Order No.
131 authorising the Committee to remove encroachments and impose penalties. This order was made
retrospective from 22nd November 1961. The encroachments of the appellants were removed under
the Martial Law Order No. 131 and it is alleged were completed long before the commencing day of
the Constitution, i.e., 8th June 1962. On 7th June 1962, the Governor of West Pakistan promulgated
Ordinance No. XLIV of 1962, called the Miani Sahib Graveyard Ordinance. This Ordinance kept
alive the provisions of Martial Law Order No. 131 and had a schedule of Khasra numbers attached
to it, which defined the limits of Miani Sahib [Link]

Mominpura Graveyard
The Mominpura Graveyard is a Shia cemetery and one of the oldest graveyards in Lahore. It
contains over 10,000 burials according to its records and many graves are hundreds of years old.
Established by the Qizilbash family, the cemetery is situated near Lakshmi Chowk. Several notable
individuals are buried here, including first home secretary of Punjab Syed Ahmad Ali, film director
Qamar Zaidi, Nasir Kazmi, Sayyid Sajjad Rizvi, Mushaf Ali Mir, singer Asad Amanat Ali Khan and
music composer Wajahat Attre.

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Gora Kabristan
Christian cemeteries are generally referred to as
‘Gora Kabristan’ in Lahore. The one on Jail Road in
Lahore houses many Christian sons and daughters of
Lahore, who have contributed to its growth and
development. Located next to the Lahore Gymkhana,
this old graveyard has beautiful 19th and 20th century
graves adorned, in some instances, with statues of
[Link] It is the one of the oldest Christian
cemeteries in Lahore and was developed after the
establishment of British Raj in the Punjab Region as
their primary cemetery in Lahore. Many notable
personalities of the British era and later are buried
there, including Cecil Chaudhry, Geoffrey Langlands,
Princess Bamba Sutherland and A.C. Woolner.
Another Christian cemetery is in the
Dharampura area of Lahore and formally known as
the British Infantry Graveyard. It was established as
the resting place for British soldiers more than 200
years ago. ‘Some of the memorial stones reflect the
huge loss of life - more often from illness and diseases
than in conflict - sustained by British troops and their
families while policing and defending the Empire.’xxv
Despite some recent internments, this particular
graveyard is in dire need of maintenance and care. There are Christian cemeteries in Nishat Colony
and Taxali Gate as well; the latter is opposite Taxali Gate and the Lahore Fort, and dates to the 1800s.
Many notable graves dating back to the British era, are located here including Charles William
Forman, Sir Henry Adolphus Rattigan and Walter Allen Robinson.

Shehr-e-Khamoshan
The first 89-kanal Shehr-e-Khamoshan Model Cemetery was established at Kacha Kahna,
near Ferozpur Road in Lahore and has been operational since June 2017. This initiative aimed to
address the lack of proper burial facilities in Punjab as existing graveyards have little maintenance and
no more space. The Punjab Government’s Shehr-e-Khamoshan initiative allows people to bury and
perform last rites of their loved ones in a peaceful manner. There is ambulance service for the
transport of the body and mortuary has space for 30 bodies. There are three female and male bathing
facilities, funeral prayer section, burial kits containing coffin, mushk, kafoor, arq-e-ghulab, soap and
cart for the disabled and senior citizens. The grave is prepared by the authority concerned and there
is guarantee of its maintenance. As of 2018, burial was free of cost for those who could not afford it,
but about Rs 15-20,000 [Link]

Shamshan Ghat
A cremation site (Shamshan Ghat) at was inaugurated in the Babu Sabu locality in Lahore in
January 2019 to facilitate members of religious minority communities to perform their last rituals
easily and respectfully. The inauguration ceremony was held at the office of the Evacuee Trust
Property Board (ETPB). The ETPB had built a crematorium on 34 kanals and 13 marlas of land for
Hindus and Sikhs to perform last rites on the outskirts of Lahore 18 years ago but the crematorium
was completely destroyed by floodwaters. Its reconstruction was completed at a cost of Rs 16.1
[Link]

Across the Budha (Old/Aged) Ravi is where the sole Parsi graveyard still exists. The original
river course curled around the old walled city and the Parsi graveyard of Lahore was across the river.

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Now it is to the East. Sadly, Lahore no longer has any Tower of Silence and its sole Parsi graveyard
has been partially encroached [Link]

ENVIRONMENT
Environmental degradation is escalating rapidly at the national and global level. The
Environment Protection Department, Punjab was established to combat this problem. Environment
Protection Department, Punjab created the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) which is
responsible for the protection, conservation, rehabilitation and improvement of the environment; the
prevention and control of pollution; and promotion of sustainable development in the province.
Environmental Protection Agency
Punjab Environmental Pollution Control Organisation (EPCO) was created in the Public
Health Engineering Department, Punjab, in 1975 to ensure control, reduction and elimination of
pollution. EPCO focused on some areas of the environment but detailed work and follow up was
not possible due to its limited scope. On December 31, 1983, under the Pakistan Environmental
Protection Ordinance, a provision was made for the establishment of the Provincial Environmental
Protection Agency.
In 1985, the Federal Government was requested to delegate powers of the agency to the
Housing Physical and Environmental Planning (HP and EP) Department. On July 1, 1987, the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Punjab, was formed. Punjab is the first province where an
EPA was created in the best interest of its citizens. The staff of the then-existing Directorate of
EPCO was transferred to EPA, Punjab, under the administrative control of the HP and EP
Department.
On December 31, 1996, a separate administrative unit, Environment Protection Department
(EPD) was formed under the Government of the Punjab. EPA Punjab was then detached from the
HP and EP Department and now works as a functional unit under the EPD, Punjab. On February
11, 1997 the Federal Government withdrew the existing Pakistan Environmental Protection
Ordinance (PEPO) of 1983 and declared the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) 1997.
The EPA, Punjab now undertakes functions as delegated under this PEPA Act.
EPA is building on its successes through reliable and effective legislation about environment
protection and high-quality service delivery. EPA sustains qualitative and quantitative standards for
the discharge of effluents, wastes, air emissions or noise either for general applicability or for a
particular area or from a particular source in the form of Punjab Environmental Quality Standards
(PEQS) and other standards established under the laws, rules and regulations.
The EPA Punjab is an attached department working under administrative control of
Environment Protection Department (EPD) and performs the following functions:
Implements the provisions of the Environment Protection Act and rules and regulations made
thereunder
Issues approvals in the wake of environment for different projects
Certifies environmental laboratories in Punjab
Prepares and establishes the Punjab Environmental Quality Standards (PEQS) with approval of
the council and their enforcement
Resolves public complaints regarding environmental issues
Takes measures to promote research and development of science and technology which may
contribute to the protection of the environment and sustainable development
Promotes tree plantation for Clean Green Pakistan
Promotes environmental awareness through seminars/workshops/trainings
Implements international treaties
Identifies the needs for, and initiates legislation in various sectors of the environment
Ensures field visits for anti-dengue campaign in four designated areas
Provides information and guidance to the public on environmental matters
Specifies safeguards for the prevention of accidents and disasters which may cause pollution

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Encourages formation and working of non-government, community and village organisations to

prevent and control pollution in order to promote sustainable development.
Takes all necessary measures for protection, conservation, rehabilitation and improvement of the
environment, and for prevention and control of pollution.
Some special initiatives of the EPA include:

Ban on the use of polythene bags

Anti-Smog Campaign
Installation of pollution control devices (scrubbers)
Conversion of brick kilns to zigzag technology
Installation of CCTV cameras to access chimneys

Pollution
The term pollution means contamination of air, land or water by discharge or emission of
effluents or wastes or air pollutants or noise or other matter, which either directly or indirectly or in
combination with other discharges or substances alters unfavourably the chemical, physical,
biological, thermal or radiological or aesthetic properties of the air, land or water or which may, or is
likely to make the air, land or water unclean, noxious or impure or injurious, disagreeable or
detrimental to the health, safety, welfare or property of persons or harmful to biodiversity. Four types
of pollution are air, water, soil and noise.
The EPA produces daily reports on Lahore’s air quality. Its mobile van uses the Ambient Air
Quality Measurement System (AQMS), and the report includes comparative date over different
locations over 24 hours. This information is available to students or scholars with an interest in trends
in air pollution in Lahore in recent years.
In November 2021, Lahore repeatedly topped the daily ranking of most polluted city in the
world. Pollution and winter weather conditions combine to shroud the city in smog—disrupting
flights, causing major road closures, and wreaking havoc on the health of its citizenry. The current
situation in Lahore is most alarming, with its fine particulate count repeatedly rising well above 40
times the World Health Organization’s air quality guideline values. The reasons why air quality has
been steadily declining in cities like Lahore are numerous. Vehicular emissions, industrial pollution,
fossil fuel-fired power plants, the burning of waste materials, and coal being burned by thousands of
brick kilns spattered across the province are all part of the problem.
Over the past 15 years, Lahore has lost a significant proportion of its tree cover due to an
aggressive plan to build highways, underpasses, and overpasses. Car sales in the city are booming, and
many of the cars plying the roads spew toxic emissions due to a lack of vehicular inspections and
widespread adulteration of fuel. Even the unadulterated form of fuel available in Lahore is of low
quality.
Conversely, bicyclists and pedestrians, who made up almost 45 percent of traffic in Lahore in
2015, remain a low priority when it comes to planning transport infrastructure, evidenced by the near
absence of bike lanes or even sidewalks. And while Lahore has invested in expensive metro bus and
rail projects, the feeder transit system needed to further optimise use of these metro public transport
projects has not received enough attention.
Lahore, along with the rest of Pakistan, desperately needs to shift away from its reliance on
fossil fuels. Doing so would help clean up the transport and energy production sectors simultaneously.
In 2020, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority noted that due to fossil fuels’ price
volatility and renewables’ decreasing cost, viable options for meeting the country’s energy needs
through more sustainable sources were needed. Regularising urban slums that lack any form of waste
management could help address problematic practices, such as trash burning, for instance. More
efficient urban management can reduce energy consumption and vehicular [Link]

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Policy on Controlling Smog

The Policy and Action Plan for Control, Mitigation, Advisory and Protective Measures in
Extreme Weather Conditions of Dense Smog in the Punjab was devised in 2017. Its purpose was to
discuss the reasons behind the formation of dense smog in the Punjab, especially in Lahore and its
environs, on the onset of winters each year and provide a short and medium to long term plan,
including measure for protection of school going children; minimising road accidents and creating
mass awareness on precautionary measures for citizens at large.
Immediate actions proposed in the policy were that the Environment Protection Department
would closely monitor rice stubble burning activities in the Punjab as well as in the region, using inter
alia satellite data obtained through various sources including Space and Upper Atmosphere Research
Commission (SUPARCO), and inform all relevant agencies to adopt suitable mitigation measures.
This information would be supplemented with air quality parameters observed through monitoring
stations available with the Environmental Protection Agency.
As open burning is the major source of smog, every year in early October, the Home
Department would impose a complete ban on open burning of rice stubble, solid waste and other
hazardous materials. This ban was to be implemented through the respective Deputy Commissioners
and District Police Officers. Similar instructions would be passed to their field offices by Agriculture
and Local Government Departments.
In the event of a forecast or actual smog event, immediate advisories would be issued in the
following manner:
1. The Environment Protection Department will issue advisory to all concerned departments based
on the Air Quality Index (AQI) for PM2.5 and other parameters;
2. Primary and Secondary Health Care Departments will issue health advisory and ensure its
maximum dissemination including through such means as paper, electronic, and social media.
3. Additional Inspector General of Traffic will issue advisory on use of roads, especially highlighting
the forecast or prevailing visibility levels and their likely impact of safe use of roads.

If the situation so demands, masks will be distributed at schools and selected public places in
the most effected districts by respective Deputy Commissioners. Similarly, steel furnaces and other
industrial units, which are working without emission control equipment or are using substandard fuels
shall be shut down by the Environmental Protection Agency with the support of respective Deputy
Commissioner and District Police Officers.

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The ‘Short to Long Term Action Plan’ includes the following:
Introduction of Low-Sulphur fuels: Fuels used in Pakistan are high in Sulphur contents.
Fuel Sulphur contributes significantly to particulate matter (PM) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)
emissions. Maximum allowable content of Sulphur for all fuels used in the country was originally
scheduled to be reduced from 10,000 to 500 ppm by 2008, but it was postponed until 2010, and then
again until 2012. The primary reason for such postponements was that oil refineries needed more
time to retrofit. The deadline to lower Sulphur contents in fuels has again been extended to December
2017.
Adopting Euro-II Standards for vehicular emission: While stringent vehicular emission
standards can only be implemented for diesel vehicles once Low-Sulphur diesel is available; these can
be extended to petrol vehicles immediately. A preferable standard is Euro II. It is obvious that
adoption of such a standard will be meaningless unless it is backed up by a strict vehicle inspection
regime. Such standards may be mandated for both new and second-hand imported vehicles.
Particulate matter control technologies can effectively be installed on in-use vehicles, such as diesel
oxidation catalysts (DOCs) and diesel particulate filters (DPFs). DOCs require a maximum of 500-
ppm Sulphur in diesel and DPFs require a maximum of 50 ppm to function effectively.
Installation of vehicular pollution control devices: This measure is closely related to the
foregoing measure. Vehicular emissions contain oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), oxides of Sulphur (SOx)
and Carbon Monoxide (CO) which can transform into secondary compounds. These secondary
compounds then contribute to what is called the Los Angeles or photo-chemical smog. The aim is to
adopt a phased approach towards installation of appropriate devices in the vehicles, such as the
Catalytic Converter, to convert NOx, SOx and CO into simpler non-harmful forms before escaping
the exhaust pipe. With this in view Federal Government will be approached to make it mandatory
upon all vehicle manufacturers and importers to install appropriate devices by a mutually agreed cut-
off date.
Better traffic management: Experience indicates that Particulate Matter (PM) emissions can
also be reduced by better traffic control, restricting the number of vehicles on the roads during high
pollution episodes, avoiding road congestion and improvement of road infrastructure. Further, a
systematic public awareness campaign focusing the advantages of the use of alternates to motor
vehicles, such as bicycles, needs to be carried out consistently. This should be supported by parallel
development of supporting infrastructure such as pedestrian walk ways.
Controlling burning of municipal waste and crop residue: Diffused sources of air
pollution in the province include burning of municipal waste and crop residue, and formation of dust
clouds due to dry meteorological conditions. Due to their heterogeneity, non-point source pollution
is more difficult to monitor and control. Solid waste collection by government-owned and
government-operated services in the cities currently averages only a portion of the waste generated;
however, for cities to be relatively clean, at least 75% of these quantities should be collected. None
of the cities in the Punjab province has a complete solid waste management system extending from
collection of solid waste up to its proper disposal. So far as crop residue, Agriculture Department
needs to launch a systemic campaign for educating farmers on fertility losses suffered due to burning
of crop residues and at the same time introduce alternative technologies for quick and
environmentally safe disposal of crop residue such as converting it into mulch.
Building capacity to monitor and forecast episodes of high air pollution: Presently the
Environmental Protection Agency has only six ambient air quality monitoring systems. The data from
such stations helps in identifying the real cause of the problem and thus is crucial for informed
decision making. One of the key constraints to controlling air pollution in the province is lack of an
effective program for monitoring air quality emissions from stationary and diffused sources, given
the need for regular monitoring of air quality in the Punjab – at least eight large cities, various
industrial clusters and diffused sources – a much larger than available number of ambient air quality
station are required. As part of its on-going restructuring process, the Agency is in the process of
establishing a network of such stations as well as stations for monitoring the quality of water and soil.
These stations will be linked to a central Environmental Monitoring Centre where information relayed
through them will be analysed using computer simulations to generate information for operational

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(such as forecasting episode of high air pollution) and policy level decisions. At the same time, there
is also a need to collect air quality data from significant point sources, most importantly large scale
industrial units with heavy air pollution foot prints (cement, sugar, large boilers, power plants etc.).
There is a need to require them to install continuous air quality monitoring equipment with full access
to Environmental Protection Agency.
Creation of woodland in and around major cities: Trees are highly effective, cheap and
environmentally safe agents to fix carbon and other noxious elements. At the same time, trees
produce oxygen and release moisture through transpiration, which helps in controlling temperature,
maintaining humidity and bringing rains. It is estimated that a single average tree can fix 20 kg of
dioxides every year and can sequester 1 ton of carbon dioxide by the time it is 40 years’ old.
Unfortunately, trees have been a victim of unplanned urban development.
Controlling fugitive dust from road shoulders and construction sites: Fugitive dust from
road shoulders is an important cause of particulate pollution of ambient air. Unfortunately, most
paved roads in the province do not have shoulder designed and constructed for the purpose of
controlling fugitive dust. Similarly, construction sites are another important source of fugitive dust.
Planned urban and industrial development: There is no substitute for planned
development. For this purpose, there is a need to develop master land-use plans for cities as well as
their adjacent country sides. Such plans should then be strictly followed. These plans should, inter
alia, indicate industrial zones and a deadline by which all industrial units located within urban areas
shall shift to such industrial zones. This is a long term measure.
Greening of industrial processes: Industrial processes can be made green by mandating
new industries to use such plants, machinery and processes which are environmental friendly. There
are a number of barriers to adoption of the green process which include technology, entrepreneurial
capacity and financing. These barriers are more pronounced in case of small and medium scale
industrial units.
Regional environmental agreement: Smog being a regional problem cannot be effectively
controlled by eliminating local sources of pollution alone. Comprehensive solution to this and other
environmental problems such as contamination of water bodies flowing into the Punjab from across
eastern borders requires a cooperative approach at the regional level. For this purpose, the Federal
Government will be approached to put environmental concerns on the agenda of bilateral and
multilateral dialogues between India and Pakistan. Although this may prove to be slow and difficult
process, there is no way to save environment in the Punjab without such a collaborative agreement.
A good example on regional environmental cooperation is the “Agreement on Transboundary Haze
Pollution” concluded between ten ASEAN countries in 2002.
The Punjab Environmental Protection Council was tasked with overseeing the
implementation of this policy. Coordination in this respect was to be undertaken by the Environment
Protection Department.
Waste
Lahore generates about 5000 tonnes of waste every day. Waste means any substance or object,
which has been, is being or is intended to be, discarded or disposed of. It includes liquid waste, solid
waste, waste gases, suspended waste, industrial waste, agricultural waste, nuclear waste, municipal
waste, hospital waste, used polyethylene bags, and residues from the incineration of all types of waste.
Two types of waste are hospital waste and solid waste. Proper legislation and planning for their
disposal can have a very positive impact on health, as well as reduce pollution, especially soil and
water pollution.
Lahore Waste Management Company
The responsibility of managing the enormous amount of waste generated by the populace of
Lahore falls to the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC). One of its achievements to date
has been the establishment of a landfill site at Lakhodair in 2016. Previously waste was openly dumped
at Mehmood Booti in without any precautions. This practice had serious environmental
repercussions. The soil, underground water and nearby water bodies were being contaminated and
polluted with this open dumping. LWMC planned to establish a sanitary landfill site at Lakhodair and
acquired 52 hectares of land. The site was selected after conducting geo-technical and Environmental

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Impact Assessment (EIA) studies of the proposed land, for which technical screening was conducted
by M/S ISTAC; its design was also prepared with the support of M/S ISTAC. In the first phase of
the project, two weighbridges, an access road, a boundary wall and fencing was completed. LWMC
has hired national consultant M/S NESPAK for supervision of design and construction. LWMC has
also introduced IT-based monitoring to track and monitor vehicles.
As of December 2021, the landfill had reached capacity; while its plan was based on the daily
collection of 2,500 tonnes of garbage, it has reached 5,500 tonnes. Lakhodair landfill site was
supposed to be demolished in 10 years. The LWMC has now removed more than 80% of the pipes
that were intended for emission of toxic gases as they were blocked, and work is underway on the
rest. Planning is also underway to extract and treat water in its underground water tanks to prevent
contamination of groundwater. Additional sites are currently under [Link] Details of the LWMC
are discussed in later sections.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
The 2022 Disaster Management Plan has been developed for comprehensive disaster
management in the district. It focuses on minimising the effects of hazards on the local communities
by ensuring a coordinated effort in risk management.
The plan aims to manage emergencies by putting in place requisite mitigation measures and a
well-coordinated and integrated response at the district level.
The main objectives of the plan include:

To develop a plan of action for the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and other
district stakeholders to set priorities and provide directions for disaster management;
To define the roles of various stakeholders in disaster management in all the phases pre, during
and after disaster;
To raise awareness of stakeholders about disaster risks and the requirements for disaster
management;
To introduce coordination mechanism for immediate response and rehabilitation at the district
level;
To enhance the effectiveness and timeliness of emergency response through the clarification of
goals, strategies, roles and responsibilities;
To strengthen response coordination between government departments and humanitarian
organisations (UN agencies, international and local non-governmental organisations).

Risk Analysis
The main hazard for the district of Lahore is flooding caused by high levels of water in the
Ravi River, which touches the district border for almost 60 km. The likelihood and impact of potential
hazards in Lahore district is as follows:
Hazards Likelihood Impact Risk
(Score 1-5) (Score 1-5)
Floods 3 3 Medium
Urban Flooding 3 3 Medium
Flash Floods 3 3 Medium
Hill Torrent - - Low
Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) 2 2 Low
Landslide - - Nil
Tornado - - Nil
Earthquake 3 3 High
Drought 2 2 Low
Epidemic 4 4 High
Fire incidents 4 4 High

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Other Major Accidents (Building collapse, road 4 4 High

traffic accidents, train accident, stampede, plane
crash)
Environmental Hazards (industrial accidents, 4 4 High
severe pollution etc.)

Risk = Impact x Likelihood

Low: 1-7
Medium: 8-14
High: 15-25

Disaster History - Floods (since 1970)

Year Disaster type Number of people Number of deaths
affected
1988 Flood 163,000 158

Disaster History – Other disasters (since 1990)

Year Disaster type Number of Number Remarks
people of deaths
affected
1996 Blockage of 1,000,000 N/A Continuous rain for 48 hours,
sewerage damaged houses and markets
2005 Earthquake N/A N/A Severe damage to buildings
2011-12 Dengue 30,000 375 Situation is quite controlled
epidemic now
2013-19 Buildings 1668 272 Total building collapse
collapsed incidents: 609
2019-22 Covid-19 258,481 2697 Data from March 2019-March
pandemic 2022; situation under control at
the time of this publication

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Demography
Lahore is the second largest metropolitan area in Pakistan, and the capital city of Punjab
province. Most recent estimates put its population at 13,541,[Link] The current population is
squeezed into the city’s boundaries of 1,772 square kilometres. Lahore has expanded to almost double
its size in the last two decades but remains the 42nd most heavily populated city in the world. The
population density currently sits at around 6,300 residents per square kilometre (16,000 individuals
per square mile). Residents make their homes in the five tehsils of Lahore District: Lahore
Cantonment, Lahore City, Model Town, Raiwind and Shalimar.

SOCIOECONOMIC INDICATORS
Socioeconomic Indicators (Average) for Lahore District are as follows:
Population 11,119,985 (in 2017)
Tehsil 5
Union Councils 274
Revenue Estates 365
Population Density (people per km2) 6279
Family Size 6
Population Growth Rate 3%
Per Capita Income N/A
District GDP/Annual Income $85 billion
Poverty Rate 4.4%
Doctor/Patient Ratio 1:100
AMR N/A
Infant Mortality Rate 44/1000 live births
Maternal Mortality Rate 300/100000 women (Punjab)
Literacy Rate 77%
Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate 24
Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) rate N/A

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Population with access to clean drinking water 40%

Annual Crime 3700
Source: District Disaster Management Plan 2022, District Disaster Management Authority.

The Master Plan for Lahore-2021 was initiated in 1998 and approved in 2004. The Plan covers
the entire Lahore Metropolitan Area (LMA), which is spread over 2,300 sq. km and comprises of
most of District Lahore (except for 307 sq. km in the south across Butchar Khana Distributary). Also
included in LMA are 628 sq. km of Tehsil Ferozewala of Sheikhupura District across the river in the
north and 263 sq. km of part of Tehsil Kasur in the South.
The Plan aimed at assessing the nature and extent of the problems faced by the metropolis
and providing guidelines for its future growth in various sectors. Much of the data therein is now
outdated – the prediction at the time of the Plan was that Lahore’s population in 2021 would be 9.89
million, however it had already crossed 11 million at the time of the 2017 census.
Despite that, its analysis of the situation at the time is worth noting. The Plan states that the
key issues facing the city pertain to infrastructure deficiencies, land management, housing, traffic and
transportation, sustainability of living environment, urban governance and finances. Resolution of
these issues, it argued, should take precedence over other issues to solve urban problems and plan a
strategy for future [Link]
These issues continue to beset the present-day City District of Lahore. There is increasing
pressure on the city administration to manage infrastructure and squatter settlements. Challenges such
as lack of integrated urban development policies, unchecked urban growth, overlapping jurisdictions
of land governing authorities and ineffective building control further aggravate the situation.
In spite of recent developments, like the provision of enhanced commuting facilities through
Metro and Orange Line transport systems, conservation and restoration of the Walled City, and The
Urban Unit’s (Punjab) focus on evidence-based development of sustainable solutions, Lahore
continues to needs dynamic and structured institutions. These institutions must have technical, legal
and regulatory support for managing the city’s ever-increasing population and to strike a better
balance between conservation, sustainability, and urban development.

POPULATION STRUCTURE
Lahore’s population is diverse and predominantly young. The majority is literate, and the main
mother tongue of Lahore is Punjabi. Muslims constitute the majority of the population.
Population of Lahore District and its Tehsils
Population Census Population Census
01-03-1998 15-03-2017
Lahore District 6,340,114 11,119,985
Lahore Cantonment Tehsil 918,730 1,632,702
Lahore City Tehsil 2,219,399 3,653,616
Model Town Tehsil 1,409,228 2,703,569
Raiwind Tehsil 357,934 848,541
Shalimar Tehsil 1,434,823 2,281,557

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Age Groups and Age Distribution

Age Groups Age Distribution
0-14 years 3,771,908 0-9 years 2,609,959
15-64 years 6,946,952 10-19 years 2,283,705
65+ years 401,125 20-29 years 2,167,080
30-39 years 1,601,430
40-49 years 1,078,280
50-59 years 731,568
60-69 years 401,345
70+ years 246,618

Literacy (Age 10+)

Yes 6,559,569
No 1,950,457

Population by Gender and Religion

The main religion of Lahore, as of the rest of the country, is Islam.
Muslim Christian Hindu Qadiani/ Scheduled Others
Ahmadi Castes
All Sexes 10,530,816 571,365 430 13,433 2,240 1,701
Male 5,510,796 293,192 282 6,925 1,685 1,107
Female 5,018,145 278,045 148 6,506 554 584
Transgender 1,875 128 - 2 1 10

Sectarian Profile
Lahore’s Sectarian Profile (according to the 2017 census) shows a majority of the Arain caste,
and Barelvi sect.
Caste Percentage Number (Mn)
Kamboh 05 0.55
Rajput 05 0.55
Kashimiri 30 3.33
Arain 40 4.45

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Demographic Overview
In the census of 1998, a portion of Lahore was designated as rural; this has since changed and
all is considered urban. The addition of transgender as a category was introduced in the 2017 national
census. According to the 2017 Population Census, an overview of the demography of District Lahore
is as follows (details by Tehsil are discussed in later sections):
Population - 2017 1998-
2017
Pop Average
Urban Average
Trans- Sex Density House-
Total Male Female Pro- Annual
gender Ratio per sq. hold
portion Growth
km. Size
Rate
Lahore 11,119,985 5,813,987 5,303,982 2,016 109.62 6275.39 100.00 6.23 3.00
Rural - - - - - - - - -
Urban 11,119,985 5,813,987 5,303,982 2,016 109.62 - - 6.23 4.06

Literate Population
Lahore’s literate population (10 years and above), disaggregated by the level of educational
attainment is as follows. The large proportion of ‘Other’ may include vocational training, however it
may also include those who have attained international qualifications not expressly included in the
categories, such as ‘O’ and ‘A’ Level degrees. More recently, it may also include the various levels of
the International Baccalaureate, Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programme.

Grad/ Dip/
Below Inter- Masters
Total Primary Middle Matric Bach- Certi- Other
Primary mediate & Above
elors ficate
All Sexes 1,396,79
6,485,495 626,581 1,233,195 1,359,022 783,692 668,221 368,396 22,632 26,964
(10+) 2
Male
3,505,613 351,371 658,489 789,042 753,809 391,426 335,245 192,874 17,069 16,288
(10+)
Female
2,978,970 275,093 574,541 569,783 642,778 392,155 332,906 175,487 5,559 10,668
(10+)
Trans-
gender 912 117 165 197 205 111 70 35 4 8
(10+)

Household Size (Number of Persons)

Number of
Persons 10 and
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Total
in House- more
hold
Lahore
46,466 97,798 147,221 228,550 301,145 286,480 199,349 128,678 85,091 223,977 1,744,755
District
Lahore
8,462 15,718 22,112 33,927 43,991 41,161 28,939 18,926 12,562 32,354 258,152
Cantt
Lahore
15,173 32,655 49,086 76,030 99,701 93,642 63,824 40,428 27,314 75,797 573,650
City
Model
11,653 25,334 37,620 57,583 73,897 69,745 48,350 31,605 20,518 51,485 427,790
Town
Raiwind 3,620 7,431 10,729 15,445 20,579 20,915 16,092 10,937 7,246 17,452 130,446
Shalimar 7,558 16,660 27,674 45,565 62,977 61,017 42,144 26,782 17,451 46,889 354,717

Homeless Population
The Age Group, Marital Status, Religion, Literacy, and Activity (differentiated by the number
that worked compared to others) of Lahore’s homeless population is given below.

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Age
Group Total Literate
Marital Status Religion Activity (10+)
in Pop (10+)
Years
All Sexes

Widowed

Divorced

Worked
Married

Married

128,678
Muslim

Muslim
Never

Other
Non-
All
1588 853 632 93 10 1,548 40 674 695 449
Ages
Below
92 92 - - - 90 2 - - -
5
05-09 91 91 - - - 90 1 - - -
10-14 60 60 - - - 59 1 38 15 5
15-24 258 192 64 1 1 252 6 145 118 74
25-34 327 172 150 3 2 323 4 181 190 94
35-44 285 117 159 6 3 277 8 124 152 95
45-54 231 75 139 15 2 221 10 92 105 88
55-64 139 34 73 30 2 136 3 45 77 47
65-74 74 14 35 25 - 72 2 35 27 33
75+ 31 6 12 13 - 28 3 14 11 13
Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. 2017 Census data disaggregated by District: Lahore [Link]

URBANISATION
Urban planning and design is about making connections between people and places, nature
and the built fabric of a city. It draws together the many strands of place-making, environment
stewardship, social equity and economic viability into the creation of places with distinct beauty and
identity. Current understandings of urbanisation tend not to fall in line with this approach, with
perhaps the following exception.

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The Urban Unit

The Urban Unit was established in 2005 as a Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Planning
and Development Department under Government of the Punjab. In 2012, the PMU was transformed
into an independent private sector company, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission
of Pakistan (SECP), and is fully owned by Government of the Punjab.
The mandate of The Urban Unit is to give policy advice and services to public and private
sector organization in the areas that include inter alia Housing and Urban Planning, Spatial Planning,
Urban Transport, Solid Waste Management, Water & Sanitation, Urban Economic & Municipal
Finance, Institutional Development, Capacity Building and Service Delivery Improvement using its
highly reliable GIS based analytics. Besides all technical areas, they lend considerable consultation and
support in communication, branding, marketing and stakeholder engagement where and when
required.
Numerous high quality publications have been produced by the Unit, and it also offers access
to an excellent collection of resources through its Learning Resource Centre.
Vision Statement and Mission
To become gold source of Data for Pakistan, assisting the government in policy formulation
and strategy execution
- Data for Policy & Strategy
- Data for Knowledge & Innovation
Strategy
The Urban Unit is working to facilitate the government in formulating policies and execute
strategies using evidence-based data-driven Decision Support System – assisting them in achieving
their development/service delivery targets by adaptation as a proactive approach through Big Data
Analysis, Information Visualization, Predictive Modelling and Artificial Intelligence techniques.
It is using the confluence of Big Data, Connectivity and Artificial Intelligence to support
government departments in adopting latest paradigms such as Industry 4.0, Integrated Smart
Agriculture revolution, and digitizing knowledge-oriented service economy.
Functions
Urban Design & Architecture: The Urban Unit, equipped with a multi-disciplinary team of
professionals, has been a strong proponent of urban sector development and management as the only
way towards national development in Pakistan. The Unit has taken the lead in developing legal and
regulatory frameworks as well as institutional development in the field of urban and regional Planning,
an area that has immense potential for improvement and growth.
The Urban Unit has developed expertise in comprehensive, strategic Master Planning, Peri
Urban Structure Planning, Urban Design and Beautification, Façade Uplifting and Restoration,
Tourism Planning, Housing, as well as urban sector rules, regulations, and codes. The in-depth
understanding of the Urban Unit’s team and its familiarity with Government official procedures and
practices has given the company an edge over other private sector companies offering similar services.
As an autonomous, technical arm of the Government of the Punjab, the Urban Unit has been
capacitating various departments and entities in developing procurement documents related to the
sector and reviewing consultancy works. The capacity building initiatives also includes imparting
specialised training and urban development courses at the Civil Services Academy and the
Cantonment Institute of Management and Land Administration (CIMLA). The Urban Unit has
played a pivotal role in re-shaping urban culture by assisting governments in making urban areas
functional, attractive and sustainable. The company brings forth planning and design that is seamlessly
interwoven through analysis and understanding of specific characters of targeted cities.
GIS & Remote Sensing: Effective and efficient administration of cities relies on sound
planning. This planning is result of legitimate and accurate data. Over time, Geographical Information
System has emerged as a formalised computer-based information system capable of integrating data
from various sources to provide the information necessary for effective decision-making in urban
planning.

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The Urban Unit use Geographic Information System (GIS) to visualise, question, analyse, and
interpret data in order to ensure effective decision making. GIS at the Urban Unit has the capacity
and technological resources to integrate, store, analyse, share, and display geographic information for
informed decision making. They have developed various GIS applications especially the web-based
enterprise level application of IRIS. It is a decision making support tool, through which they ensure
the provision of updated and quality information to provincial and local governments. IRIS has
developed GIS-enabled spatial database with urban profile, land use mapping, infrastructure, and
service delivery profile for Punjab cities.
Urban & Regional Development: The Urban Unit is working on the economics of cities
and the many policies and factors that determine city structure and performance, such as land use
restrictions, local labour markets, agglomeration economies, trade, and transportation infrastructure.
Urban Economics concentrates on the economic relationships and processes that contribute to the
important spatial characteristics of urban and regional economies.
The economics team of the Urban Unit focuses on the impacts of spatial agglomeration, local
competitive advantage and future opportunities of local areas due to wider demographic and
economic trends. They also provide urban economic analysis, economic modelling, demographic
analysis, strategic planning, cost-benefit/economic impact analysis, cluster analysis and strategic land
use and transport planning.
Water and Sanitation: Water Supply and Sanitation Department at the Urban Unit aims to
provide technical and professional support and consultancy services to provincial and local
government entities and private sector in Pakistan and overseas for provision of water supply and
sanitation for the attainment of Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development
Goals. The sector works to provide efficient legal, regulatory and institutional arrangements for self-
sustaining water supply, sanitation and wastewater treatment services. The sector also provides
consultancy support services to clients for master planning, system design, third party validation,
Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and Citizen Report Card for water supply and
sewerage sector projects integrated with the GIS system.
The sector employs various approaches including handholding for public-private partnership,
community and business partnership and engagement and design for innovative technical solutions
per client needs for sustainable water supply and sanitation systems in cities and rural areas.
Solid Waste Management: Solid Waste Management sector comprises waste management
specialists and experts trained from the most competitive institutions of the world. The organisation
emphasises sustainable and efficient waste management practices. While establishing plans, policies
and provisions, they aim at preserving a balanced approach among environmental, economic and
community needs, with a special focus on cost effective, efficient and innovative ISWM solutions.
SWM remains a major challenge in urban areas across Pakistan as is the case with the rest of
the world. Solid Waste Management solutions include all administrative, financial, legal, planning and
engineering functions that can cater to the related problems. These involve complex interdisciplinary
relationships among fields such as political science, city and regional planning, geography, economics,
public health, sociology, demography, communications and conservation as well as engineering and
material [Link]
Ravi Urban Development Authority
Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) intends to develop urban areas of the province
into sustainable, liveable and well-managed engines of economic growth. Urban development and its
management are critically linked with sound, comprehensive and strategic metropolitan level long-
term planning. Over the years, rapid urbanisation has changed the socio-economic and physical
characteristics of cities. The physical growth of cities has emerged in a very different way from the
land uses proposed in master plans and other such documents.
Lahore, the capital of the Punjab province, is a regional urban centre of key commercial,
financial, industrial and socio-cultural significance. The Ravi, a transboundary river of India and
Pakistan, is an integral part of the Indus River basin and forms the headwaters of the Indus basin.
The waters of the Ravi drain into the Indian Ocean through the Indus River in Pakistan. Subsequent
to construction of Thein Dam in 2000 upstream of Madhopur headworks in India, surface flow to

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the Ravi has reduced to negligible level during the winter months. Average annual flow between 1985
and 1995 was recorded as 5 Million Acre-Feet (MAF) and due to irrigation and hydro power
diversions in India, the average annual flow between the years 2000-2009 was reduced to 1.1 MAF.
The Ravi remains mostly dry except during the monsoon season.
In addition to lower water level flows, the Ravi River downstream of Lahore also faces
pollution problems. A 72 km stretch from Lahore Siphon to Baloki headworks indicates heavy
contamination of water and sediment with various heavy metals owing to municipal and industrial
sewage being disposed of untreated. Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Lahore, through its twelve
disposal stations, discharges wastewater of the entire city directly to the Ravi River.
A substantial quantity of wastewater amalgamation into the Ravi River without treatment is a
grave risk to the ecosystem, particularly the groundwater source. The increasing tendency of
contaminants in the river can become more hazardous and may cause severe harm to the quality of
groundwater in the coming days, which is the potential source of drinking water for Lahore city.
In view of the city’s projected expansion and issues related to water in the Ravi River,
Government of the Punjab has planned the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development on both banks of
the river along a 46 km long stretch that is contiguous to Lahore district’s northern and western
boundaries through its authority Ravi Urban Development Authority..xxxv
Despite lofty ideals, the case against development along the Ravi has been taken up by public
interest litigators and lawyers representing landowners. They argue that an environmental study
RUDA presented in court was inadequate, and that the authority has failed to explain in detail what
exactly the 100,000 acres of acquired land will become. Lawyers say a land-use master plan was only
submitted in court in December 2021.
Advocates also challenge the establishment of the Ravi River Development Authority, whose
sweeping control they say is unconstitutional. A lawyer has argued that RUDA’s development plan
does not legally justify government acquisition of land and the way the project is progressing is
“unprecedented”. They argue that it is not in the public interest to get rid of agricultural land since
Pakistan already struggles with food shortages. Seventy-five percent of the Ravi river basin is used
for agriculture, according to a study by the Asian Development Bank, and a large percentage of the
city’s vegetables and dairy supply comes from areas along the Ravi.
As of January 2022, RUDA awaited judgment from the Lahore High Court: if the project does
not get permission to go ahead, the authority will likely appeal the decision, sending the case to the
Supreme Court. While some landowners and farmers continue to resist sale of their land, some
farmers have agreed to sell their land after negotiating better [Link].

LAHORE’S MASTER PLAN

Work is currently underway on the 2050 Master Plan for Lahore. As a point of reference, it
would be interesting to note where Lahore stands today in terms of some of the following proposals
of the 2021 Master Plan. Their summary is given below.
1. There is a dire need to have strict development and land use control through enforcement of
zoning, sub-division and environmental protection regulations, and adoption of uniform set of
building regulations by all concerned agencies within LMA. Priority programmes proposed
include consolidation of development activities in the south, in-fill of vacant pockets of land,
provision of trunk infrastructure, shifting of incompatible land uses, upgrading of Katchi Abadis
and protection of those living at vulnerable locations such as the river bed. In order to ensure
planned growth of the city, there is a need to adopt ‘Land Readjustment’ techniques, which
implies assembling and re-plotting of land for urban development (with the consent and in
agreement with the landowners), and returning a part of the developed land to the owners.
Compulsory land acquisition and payment of compensation will therefore not be necessary.

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2. Housing for the poor is proposed to be subsidies through cross subsidies, provision of
infrastructure on an incremental basis, use of affordable standards, provision of high proportions
of smaller plots in new housing schemes, exempting houses up to 5 marla from taxes and
provision of micro-credits.
For the expansion of the city, the south-west direction is currently the natural growth corridor.
Over 8000 hectares of land is available in this corridor, most of which is already developed/semi-
developed. This needs to be provided with the trunk infrastructure, missing road links, urban
transportation system, town level facilities and services, so that people are encouraged to
construct houses and start living in this area. The bulk of the incremental population over the
next 20 years can be absorbed in this area. This will also be a continuation of the 1980 Structure
Plan in the form of a network of radial and ring roads. The proposed Trade Centre in Johar Town
measuring 1400 kanals will serve as the new Town Centre for the area catering to the commercial
and service requirements of the people living in the south in the near future.
3. In the Transportation Sector, short term and long term recommendations have been made in
order to improve the road network and traffic flow in the city. These include construction of new
roads including Ring Road and missing links, bridges/underpasses, provision of facilities for
pedestrians/cyclists, removal of encroachments, parking arrangements, traffic surveillance,
management and control. There is need to base major road projects in feasibility and project
impact assessments. Consistent policies, design guidelines and proper maintenance and
management programmes for the urban road network are required. Private sector financing needs
to be encouraged in this sector. Transport Fund needs to be raised through channelling
government transfers and accumulating local taxation, fees and charges.
Public transport operations should be improved by extending franchised bus operations on all
major corridors and restricting mini-bus operations on feeder routes and switching towards gas
operated buses. Light Rail Transit between Bhaati Chowk and Model Town (12.5 km) costing
over Rs 10 billion is also proposed. Badami Bagh and Railway Station Bus Terminals have to be
upgraded. All transport related functions are proposed to be looked after by one body (may be
TEPA). This authority is proposed to have two wings: one for transport planning, engineering
and maintenance, and the second for licensing, registration, regulation, and operation of public
transport routes. For smooth functioning of this authority, its management is proposed to be
contracted out to the private sector for the first five years through international bidding.
4. In the Education Sector, the policies should be such so as to keep pace with the increasing
educational demands of the growing population and to achieve 100% enrolment of primary age
group by the year 2010. To meet the demand during the plan period, over 4200 primary and
secondary schools and 270 colleges have been proposed in collaboration with the private sector.
5. In the Health Sector, about 400 primary health centres, 82 clinics and 41 hospitals are proposed
to cater for the health requirements over the next 20 years. Around 2700 hectares of open spaces
for both active and passive recreation have been proposed to be developed in the form of
stadiums, playgrounds, parks and riverside recreation areas.
6. Physical infrastructure is the backbone for future urban development. The following measures
are therefore proposed for its improvement:
a. Projected water supply demand for Lahore in terms of number of tube wells is 709 by
the year 2021, while for the first five years, 144 additional tube wells are required. These
include 46 tube wells to be rehabilitated in the first five years, and 289 over the entire plan
period. Major improvements in water supply can be made by curtailing losses and wastage
of water, metering connections, checking illegal connections, reducing pumping hours
and using overhead tanks. As the water table is depleting, water budgeting is necessary to
minimise wastage.

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b. There is a need to provide additional lateral and trunk sewers and pumping stations at
requisite locations. All private housing schemes should have trunk sewers linked to the
WASA system, which should also commence early construction of a central sewage
treatment plant together with ancillary works. Pump stations at Johar Town and L.M.P.
Blocks require shifting towards Hudiara Drain. Cantonment Board must stop the
discharge of raw sewage into Mian Mir Drain. Discharge of raw sewage into Lahore Canal
should be prohibited and elimination of 61 lift stations must be planned to avoid double
pumping.
c. The drainage system of the city should be revamped and new tributary drains
constructed. Encroachments along the drains should be removed and dumping of solid
waste in drains completely banned. Trunk sewers must be constructed to eliminate sewage
from storm water drains. Major storm water drains must be remodelled. Maintenance of
the drains should be carried out on a regular basis.
d. Hospital and municipal waste must be separated and incinerators installed. Solid waste
collection must be organised at town/local levels by involving the private sector.
Transportation of solid waste must be through covered trucks instead of open vehicles.
In congested areas, animal drawn vehicles must be replaced with special vehicles.
Dumping of solid waste in River Ravi and undesignated open spaces must be stopped.
Proper landfill sites must be developed to dispose of solid waste through the private sector
on a BOT basis. Apart from Mahmood Booti, sites for this purpose have also been
identified in the vicinity of Kahna Kachha, Bedian Road, Narang Road, west of New
Bund and Sunder Village etc. for acquisition and development.
e. Projects have been identified for efficient power distribution and street lighting. These
include adequacy of equipment at grid stations, provision of additional transformers,
general improvement of distribution networks and installation of sodium vapour lights
on all roads.
f. Measures proposed to restore, maintain and upgrade the existing flood protection
facilities need to be implemented to save the city from flood havoc causing huge losses
to life and property. Short term and long term measures including the undertaking of a
comprehensive flood management study have been proposed, especially on the Right
Bank of the Ravi.
g. Environmental protection measures have been proposed to safeguard all aspects of
environment such as air, water, land, and noise.
h. In order to ensure proper implementation of the Master Plan, it is imperative to have an
effective legal and institutional framework. Some of the major causes of the present
malaise are lack of effective public participation, overlapping functions of parallel
agencies, lack of proper planning and inadequate financial resources. City District
Government/LDA should be allowed to play a major role in the governance of the city
with a public/private mix for some of the services. Property tax and entertainment tax
should also be levied and collected by the elected local government of the city.
i. Establishment of a data information centre with digitised information on all sectors
using GIS is also essential to meet the plan objectives in this [Link]
Urban Planners will need to develop feasible, realistic and practical development plans to
ensure environmentally sustainable, integrated, infrastructural and socioeconomic development in
Lahore. Utilising the underexploited potential of tourism and knowledge-driven businesses can help
boost the economy and further transform Lahore into a modern city. As the Master Plan for 2050
develops, it is hoped that it will emphasise sustainability over expansion, and rethink how
development can support the health and wellbeing of its increasing population, as well as the heritage
and ecology of the region.

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i Adapted from: Gosal, G.S. “Physical Geography of the Punjab”. Journal of Punjab Studies. Vol. 11, No. 1, Spring 2004.
ii From the official website: [Link]
iii Adapted from: Punjab Small Industries Corporation. 2017. Crafts of Lahore Vol 1. Crafts and Craftsmen of Punjab Vol

5. Lahore: Handicrafts and Design Directorate, PSIC.

iv From the official website: [Link]
v Government of The Punjab, District Profile: Lahore District. [[Link]
vi From the official website of the Regional Meteorological Centre, Lahore: [Link]
vii Adapted from: NESPAK. 2021. Integrated Master Plan of Lahore-2021. Final Report, Vol. 1: Existing Scenario. Lahore

Development Authority and National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) Pvt. Ltd.
viii From the Weather Atlas website: [Link]
ix WWF - Pakistan. The Study of Ecology and Ecological Linkages of the Lahore Canal Bank (from Mustafaabad Bridge

to Thokar Niaz Baig). November 2008.

x Ali, Waqas, A. Javid, S. M. Hussain, H. Azmat, G. Jabeen. "The Amphibians and Reptiles Collected from Different

Habitat Types in District Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan". Pakistan Journal of Zoology, Vol 48 (4), pp. 1201-1204, 2016.
xi Muhammad, Sharif and Khan, Muhammad. Hemidactylus geckos of Pakistan. Natural History and Captive Breeding.

Reptilia, the European Herp Magazine, Vol. 43. 2004.

xii M. Shahbaz, A. Javid, S. M. Hussain, M. Ashraf and H. Azmat. Recent Record of Desert Yellow House Bat, Scotoecus

Pallidus (Order Chiroptera) From Punjab, Pakistan. The Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 25(2): 2015.
xiii From: Ashraf, W. W. Flying Foxes of Lahore. Posted January 15, 2018. Image credits ibid.

[[Link]
xiv Passerines are birds that, like the House Sparrow, have three toes forward, one backward, e.g. when sitting on a

perch; non-passerines relate to, or are, any of various arboreal birds (such as pigeons, woodpeckers, hummingbirds,
parrots and kingfishers) that are not passerines.
xv Ali, Zulfiqar, Fazal, S., Ali, Z., Manzoor, Farkhanda, Nazir, A. (2014). A study on the avian (Passerine) diversity of

Lahore. Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences. 24. 2170-1275.

xvi Adapted from: Khan, Muhammad, Javeed, F. and Anbrine, S. The Impacts of Urbanisation on Avian Communities

of Lahore. Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning. Vol. 18. 23-32. 2015.
xvii Siddiqui, Saima, S. A. Shirazi, A. Ali. A Floristic Analysis of Selected Parks in Lahore Pakistan. Journal of the Punjab

University Historical Society, Vol.29, No.2, July - December, 2016

xviii The Urban Unit. Punjab Urban and Peri-Urban Forest Policy 2019.
xix Talib, Afzal. Graveyards Draw Government Attention. The Express Tribune. Published on October 24, 2021.
xx Talib, Afzal. City Faces Grave Concern. The Express Tribune. Published on July 27, 2021.
xxi Sheikh, Majid. Harking Back: Land where the living continue to harass the dead. Dawn News. Published on July 24,

2018.
xxii Hasnain, Khalid. Catalogue planned of known figures buried at Miani Sahib. Dawn News. Published May 12, 2021
xxiii [Link]
xxiv Adapted from: Lahore Name. The ‘Gora Kabristan’ (Christian Cemetry) in Lahore. Posted on May 16, 2015 by

omaidusmalik. Image credit: ibid.

xxv Whitehead, Andrew. Lahore’s ‘Gora Kabristan’ and the Kipling Connection. [Link]. Published on

January 1, 2020.
xxvi Shehr-e-Khamoshan project working smoothly. The Nation. Published on June 30, 2018.

Bukhari, M. Faran. The economy of Punjab’s graveyards: How the final resting places of citizens dead and buried are
managed and maintained. [Link]. Published on May 28, 2018.
xxvii Crematorium Inaugurated. The News International. Published on January 15, 2021.
xxviii Sheikh, Majid. Harking Back: As Parsis dwindle, their graveyard is under threat. Dawn News. Published March 17,

2019
xxix Adapted from: Syed, M. Ali. “How Lahore Became the World’s Most Polluted Place.” Foreign Policy. Published

November 29, 2021. [[Link]

xxx Adapted from: Talib, Afzal. “City’s Landfill Site Reaches Capacity.” The Express Tribune. Published December 11,

2021.
xxxi From: [Link]
xxxii Lahore Development Authority. Integrated Master Plan for Lahore – 2021. Lahore: NESPAK. The project was initiated

in July 1997. It was revised based on the 1998 census, and resubmitted for approvals from various bodies. Final
approval was granted in October 2004 by the Lahore District Council. It is an extensive three-volume report.
xxxiii All data from the official website of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics: [Link]
xxxiv From the official website of The Urban Unit: [Link]
xxxv From the official Ravi Urban Development Authority website: [Link]
xxxvi Adapted from: News Desk, “Land grab or river revival? Inside $7 billion Ravi city project.” The News. Published

January 20, 2022.

xxxvii Lahore Development Authority. Integrated Master Plan for Lahore – 2021. Lahore: NESPAK.

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EDUCATION
Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Education
The region that is now Lahore District has always drawn people in for many reasons, including
education in its broadest sense. Sufi saints, traders, artisans, writers and poets, musicians and
performers, scientists, mathematicians, healers and medics – and scholars and practitioners of every
other field imaginable – have lived, learned, researched and taught in this city. It has been alongside
the bloodshed, conquests and upheaval in Punjab’s tumultuous history that scholars have pursued
their study and expanded human knowledge, often despite adversity and hardship. In doing so, they
created spaces of tolerance, pluralism and understanding, and places where science, nature,
spirituality, rationality and emotion were not battling for supremacy but able to coexist.
Al Biruni, born over a thousand years ago, ranks amongst the greatest scholars of the Islamic
world. Astronomer, mathematician, physicist, geographer, historian, linguist, ethnologist,
pharmacologist as well as poet, novelist and philosopher, al-Biruni's contribution to human learning
was unique. The 11th century was a time of great turmoil. The armed hosts of Mahmud of Ghazna
overran Khwarizm, in1017, taking thousands of prisoners, including al-Biruni. He travelled as part of
the military campaigns to India, and although that period of time was exceedingly troubled for him,
it allowed him to visit India several times. He walked on its soil, breathed its air, compared and
marvelled. For a period of 12 years, up to the year 1030, al-Biruni was totally absorbed in India.
At the age of 45, he began learning Sanskrit. In his own words, “If you are to learn to like
other peoples, learn their language and show respect for their way of life for their customs, their
thought and their religion.”Al-Biruni’s ‘India’ became the major source for studying 11th century
India. It covered the caste system, philosophy, the exact sciences, religion, laws, customs,
superstitions, legends, the system of weights and measures, the written language and geography. It is
greatly to his credit that, unlike so many of his contemporaries, he saw India as something more than
merely a place rich for looting.i
We know that al-Biruni was in the Punjab – it is from the Fort at Nandana in the present day
Salt Range that he computed the radius and circumference of the earth – and given that Lahore, then
Mahmudpur was the capital of the Ghaznavid Empire, it is extremely likely that the preeminent
scholar was well-acquainted with the city. He determined the latitudes of eleven towns around the
Punjab and the borders of Kashmir. The best astrolabesii in the 17th century were made in the city of
Lahore, a legacy perhaps of its scholarly past.
From Qutbuddin Aibak to Bahadur Shah II, rulers in
the subcontinent contributed significantly in a myriad ways to
the promotion of knowledge, often supported by provincial
governors and rulers of independent states. While we see
archaeological traces through architecture and crafts, much of
the scholarly work has been lost over time. Through what
remains, we may surmise a remarkable grasp and development
of disciplines as we label them today, such as geometry,
engineering, business administration, political science,
economics, and the natural sciences, among others.
Formal education or ‘modern’ education seems to be
historically linked to the British enterprise. However that view
is less about fact than about competing political agendas and
divergent approaches to how education was to be managed
under British rule. Punjab, which was a rich Sikh kingdom with
an ethnically diverse community and a geographically varied
landscape, was annexed by the British in 1849. The British
were keen to give the area the best of their administrative and
organisational capabilities, and a complex attempt in social and
economic engineering resulted. Education, in particular,
Astrolabe, by Allahdad, Lahore c. 1570 received special attention in this [Link]

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 Education

The impact of colonial policy on indigenous education was particularly pernicious. G.W.
Leitner, a renowned educationist and linguist of the period, conducted an in depth study of the
indigenous education system in the Punjab and its fate at the hands of colonial policies. Leitner
reports that prior to annexation, Punjab was home to a progressive and self-sustaining system of
education that was tailored to the community’s needs. The Settlement Report of 1852 showed that a
school existed for every 1965 inhabitants (adults and non-adults) and the schools were not only
associated with places of worship like mosques and temples, but also dotted the Punjabi landscape in
village halls, shops, open air spaces, etc. Five types of educational institutions, madrassahs, maktabs,
patshalas, Gurmukhi schools and Mahajani schools watered the educational landscape of the
province.
The maktabs (places of writing) referred to Persian schools which were often open to all
religious denominations. The madrassahs (places of lesson), on the other hand, were chiefly for
Muslims and taught the Quran, Arabic language and literature, law, logic and the sciences in Arabic.
The patshalas were Sanskrit schools whereas the Gurmukhi schools were mainly for Sikhs in which
Gurmukhi was taught. The Mahajani schools chiefly
catered to the commercial and trading classes and taught
the various tachygraphic forms of Lande and Sarafi, in
addition to arithmetic.
Leitner carried out an extensive survey of the
indigenous schools in the Punjab in the decades following
the annexation and reports that there were at least 330,000
pupils enrolled in the schools in the 1840s who could read,
write and carry out basic arithmetic while thousands more
were enrolled in Arabic and Sanskrit colleges attaining
mastery over Oriental literature and law, logic, philosophy
and medicine. The curriculum was both advanced and
sophisticated: Leitner observes that ‘in philosophical
reasoning, there was not a single European system in
which it has not been preceded by an Indian school or
thinker’. Gottlieb William Leitner, 1899
There were no regular fees charged and instruction
was mostly given gratis – in many instances, teachers fed and clothed the pupils as well. Local rulers
and chieftains actively promoted the indigenous schools, giving grants in monetary terms to the
teachers as well as allotting them land. Parents of the students, on their part, gave a portion of their
agricultural produce and other gifts to the teachers. The system sustained itself through an innate love
of learning and esteem for the learned, and there was no direct state involvement. Rather, it was a
decentralised, community-based set-up with a focus on providing education that the students would
find useful in their lives. The teachers, on their part, ran the schools for ethical, rather than pecuniary
considerations and all three major religious traditions in the province, Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism,
urged its followers to acquire knowledge.
The system undoubtedly had its flaws, for example, outcasts and girls were not allowed to
enrol in Hindu schools; but the schools run by Sikhs and Muslims were open to all. In fact, Sikhs
actively aimed to destroy the monopoly of learning by Brahmins and made education a mass value,
which points to the existence of progressive elements in the system that were attempting to broaden
the reach and prevalence of education.
[With the Colonial intervention] under the influence of the Bentinck policy of 1835, the
indigenous schools lost all official patronage and grants, and the attitude of the Education
Department was of neglect, born out of thinly-disguised contempt for the system. The financial drain
was not only thus inflicted – the British also set up an Educational Cess in the Punjab for the avowed
purpose of collecting funds for the establishment of schools in the region. The funds were however
used by the British for other purposes and no schools were set up, to the indignation of the people.
Over the decades, while government schools were set up, they were beset with numerous issues. A
chief factor for the poor performance of government schools was the poor curriculum and teaching.

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The report for 1870-71 notes that the textbooks were all inferior, ‘neither the English language nor
literature is taught upon any scientific or intelligent system, and the success of English education as a
consequence has not been marked in the Punjab.’
The numbers of government schools and attendance in them would remain unimpressive in
following years compared to the earlier numbers for indigenous schools, a fact which is documented
in successive Reports on Popular Education from the period. The locals, on their part, preferred their
children to remain uneducated than to send them to government schools that provided an education
wholly irrelevant to the local context and needs of the community. Simultaneously, the indigenous
system of education was dealt a deathly blow. Describing the state of Lahore in 1864, Leitner recounts
how ‘all that was respectable in the country was either alienated or disappointed’.iv

During Ranjit Singh’s rule, his

French advisers asked him to
introduce Punjabi as the medium of
instruction. Ranjit Singh issued orders
to compile a Punjabi Qaida (booklet
for beginners) and made it
compulsory for every girl to read it
before her marriage. As a result,
Punjab had 64pc literacy rate, the
highest in India at that time. Under
British rule, a concerted strategy was
undertaken to make sure that nobody
in Punjab read their language as a
means to curb resistance. Anybody
handing over a gun or sword to the
Raj rulers was paid two annas while
anyone returning a Punjabi Qaida was
paid six annas. These Punjabi Qaiday
Punjabi Scripts: Gurmukhi and Shahmukhi (Source: [Link])
were collected from village upon
village and burnt.v
Even before the annexation of the Punjab, Christian Missionaries had begun to set up schools
in the area, including in Lahore. Their role in the advancement of formal education, albeit colonial in
curriculum, pedagogy, and philosophy, remained constant well past independence in 1947.
Burgeoning private school systems, coupled with a particular brand of Islamisation of education in
late 1970s and beyond, loosened their hold as the preferred schools for Lahore’s elite. While some
still remain, they face competition and have suffered a decline in the quality of teaching and learning.
The nature and structure of formal education changed under British rule and became more
like what we know it to be today. A middle school usually had a primary and middle department. A
high school had a primary, middle and high school department. The middle school course extended
over three classes and terminated in a middle school examination. The high school course extended
over two years terminating with matriculation and a school leaving certificate. For primary education,
the 1919 Compulsory Education Act which, though applicable to boys and that too initially for four
years, raised enrolment to 54% in Multan and 62% in Lahore. The British government’s support of
secondary education led to its expansion whereby the number of secondary schools increased from
25 in 1883-84 to 161 in Punjab in 1920. In 1947, 823 high schools existed in Punjab and more and
more matriculates were churned out every passing [Link] Higher education was the slowest to grow
but became Lahore’s crowning glory.
Temporarily housed in a portion of Haveli Dhayan Singh, the Government College opened
in January 1864 and initially comprised nine students working for matriculation from Calcutta
University. The College moved into its present location on the Lower Mall in [Link] building, with
its Gothic structure, that according to John Ruskin was the ideal architectural design for educational
institutions, was completed in 1877 at a cost of Rs. 320,000. The first principal was the

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aforementioned Dr. G. W. Leitner, who was instrumental in laying the foundation of Punjab
University, Lahore. Thereafter, the college would remain affiliated with Punjab University for 115
years.

G
L

Possibly the oldest postcard of The Government College, mislabelled by the [Link]

The University of the Punjab (formerly spelled Panjab) was formally established in Lahore in
1882. It was the fourth university founded by the British colonial authorities on the Indian
subcontinent, the first three being at the initial British strongholds of Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta.
The University of the Punjab was both a teaching and an examining body. Key figures in its early
academic development include G.W. Leitner who was the first registrar, Professor A.C. Woolner,
vice-chancellor from 1928-36, and the author of its 1933 history, J.F. Bruce.
Soon colleges sprang up in other parts of Punjab
and Lahore emerged as the educational hub of North
India, home to many prestigious institutes like the
Oriental College, Central Training College, Aitchison
College, Forman Christian College, and Government
Islamia College Civil Lines, formerly called Dayanand
Anglo Vedic College, and Mayo School of Art.
Lahore's Mayo School of Arts, now known as the
National College of Arts (NCA), was one of the last of
the four colonial art schools established in India, the
others being in Calcutta, Bombay and Madras.
Established in 1875 by John Lockwood Kipling, the
The Punjab University school had on its staff some of the most renowned
names in the Indian art world. These included Bhai Ram
Singh, who together with Sir Ganga Ram, designed and built much of Lahore including the Lahore
Museum, the Mayo School of Arts, Aitchison College, Chamba House and Punjab University in
Lahore.
Colleges for women emerged in the early 1900s. Queen Mary College, located on both sides
of Durand Road near Garhi Shahu in Lahore, opened in 1908 with a group of only 11 students. Its

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

first principal was Ms A. J. Edgeley. Initially established as a school for the daughters of the rich and
powerful, Queen Mary College removed the old restrictions on admission after 1947.
Kinnaird College was founded in 1913 by the Zenana and Bible Medical Mission when they
started college classes at Kinnaird Christian Girls’ High School in Lahore. The founders wished to
give Punjabi Christian women the opportunity to gain professional qualifications as teachers. Its first
principal was Joan MacDonald. From 1913 to 1922 the college was the only women’s liberal arts
college in the Punjab. In 1933, land was acquired near Lahore’s famous canal and new buildings were
constructed to house the large numbers of girls who flocked to this institution from other parts of
Punjab and beyond. By 1939 the twenty acre campus was functioning as a residential college for
women and continues to do so today.

Kinnaird College for Women: Students with the Principal, Isabella T. McNair, c. 1930viii.

Lahore College for Women was established in May 1922 as an intermediate residential college,
and was originally housed in a building on Hall Road, Lahore, with strength of 60 students (25
boarders) and 13 staff members. By 1950, the student population increased to 600 students and it
shifted to its present location on Jail [Link]
In 1947, Pakistan and India inherited a colonial system designed to prepare government and
army officers to work for their British rulers. However a policy objective of investing in education
for the purpose of developing the basic skills of all citizens for economic and social development still
remains to be clearly articulated and implemented today. Pakistan’s enrolment rates lag behind those
of its South Asian neighbours; retention and the quality of education are additional areas that continue
to need attention. Compared to the other provinces, Punjab has the highest participation rates among
school-age children. A number of critical gaps still remain in Punjab’s education system, including
that of Lahore. These are that too many children are still out of school, the poorest households have
the least access to education, girls’ participation lags persistently behind that of boys, enrolments drop
after the primary grades, and learning levels are generally inadequate.
A unique feature of Pakistan’s education system is the rise of low-cost private schooling,
particularly in Punjab (comprising up to a quarter of total enrolments), reflecting the significant
demand for education. Parents may prefer private schools for several reasons: they may be located
closer to home, especially for girls at the primary level; teachers attend class more frequently; and the
quality of teaching at the middle and secondary levels—when examination preparation becomes
important—is likely to be better (Ahmed, Amjad, Habib, & Shah, 2013). The quality of education is,
overall, relatively better in private schools; they also function more efficiently since teachers’ salaries
reflect their performance and the cost of education is considerably lower than in public schools
(Andrabi, Khan, Khan, & Naseer, 2012). Moreover, private school graduates in Pakistan are estimated

160
 Education

to earn more than their counterparts in Bangladesh, indicating that the regulatory framework may be
more conducive to operating private schools in Pakistan (Asadullah, 2009).x
According to the annual school census 2016 and private school census 2016 prepared by the
Punjab Education Sector Reform Programme (PESRP) of the school education department, Punjab,
there are a total of 60,502 private schools in Punjab, while the number of public schools is 52,231.
Of these private schools, some 11,000 are financially supported by the government’s Punjab
Education Foundation (PEF). Schools run by the armed forces, Lahore Development Authority and
some other government departments—in the hundreds—have also been reflected in the private
schools data. While not private, these schools do charge fees unlike schools under the administrative
control of Schools Education Department (SED), Punjab where education is free and textbooks are
provided free-of-cost to students. Lahore is the hub of private schools as they add up to a whopping
82 percent of all schools in the city; of these, 61 percent were established during the last 10 years. In
contrast to the 5,436 private schools (an inaccurate number, as unregistered private schools are not
included) there are 1,219 public schools in the [Link]
According to the Punjab Higher Education Commission, there are 14 public universities in
Lahore, and 21 private universities that have been chartered by the Government of Punjab. The
number of colleges in Lahore is given as 442, of which 111 are public and 331 are [Link] These
numbers do not reflect unregistered and unchartered higher education institutions, which would
cause the totals to swell exponentially.

1. Punjab University, [Link]

Successive governments in Pakistan have attempted to address issues of disparity in education

in various ways. Under Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s leadership, 3,334 institutions were nationalised on March
15, 1972. Nationalised institutions included 1,826 schools, 346 madrassas, 155 colleges and five
technical institutes. 118 of them were church-run institutions. While some have been denationalised
since, others remain semi-autonomous. It is arguedxiv that nationalisation caused grave and serious
damage to the educational system in the country. More recently, the attempt to standardise school
education under a Single National Curriculum has also raised concern among some educationists.
While the aims and claims of such levelling policies are to reduce disparities in education, thereby
reducing inequalities of opportunity, employment and power in society, their success has remained
questionable. In part, perhaps, because the system of education that Pakistan inherited in 1947 was
inherently inequitable.
It is hoped that Lahore will continue to grow into a centre of learning in this part of the world
– respecting and valuing its incredible past while looking ahead to a peaceful, enlightened educational
future.

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

National Qualification Framework of Pakistan 2015. Source: PHEC Annual Report 2019.

DISTRICT EDUCATION AUTHORITY (DEA) LAHORE

At the time of devolution in 2001, all posts pertaining to education were abolished from the
schedule of establishment of tehsil / town municipal administration on 30th June 2002; the same
number of posts were sanctioned on the schedule of establishment of respective district Government
on 1st July 2002. The District Education Authority exists at the district level with a CEO as its head
who is answerable to the Deputy Commissioner.
The District Monitoring Officer assisted by MEAs, is responsible for overseeing the quality
of education being maintained in public schools and reporting to the Deputy Commissioner about
the progress of the DEA.

Organogram

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 Education

Services Provided in District Public Schools

General Cadre Ex-MCL Cadre Total Schools
Category of Girls Boys Total Girls Boys Total Girls Boys Total
School
Primary 219 261 480 24 21 45 243 282 525
Elementary 87 48 135 34 17 51 121 65 186
High 169 133 302 39 40 79 208 173 381
Higher 20 11 31 0 0 0 20 11 31
Secondary
Total 495 453 948 97 78 175 592 531 1123
Grand Total 948 175 1123

Enrolment in Public Schools

General Cadre Ex-MCL Cadre Total Enrolment
Enrolment Girls Boys Total Girls Boys Total Girls Boys Total
Primary 35878 74620 110498 3903 8373 12276 39781 82993 122774
Elementary 29113 31683 60796 14976 11023 25999 44089 42706 86795
High 216259 116604 332863 42515 39533 82048 258774 156137 414911
Higher 5842 1936 7778 0 0 0 5842 1936 7778
Secondary
Total 287092 224843 511935 61394 58929 120323 348486 283772 632258
Grand 511935 120323 632258
Total

DEA Human Resources

Staff Vacant Filled Total
Teaching 3,160 16,528 19,688
Non-teaching 1,230 3,161 4,391

DEA Address
Office of the Chief Executive Officer
District Education Authority, Lahore
9-A, Education Complex,
Hall Road, Lahore.
Telephone: +92-42-99205101

Government Central Model School, Lahore

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

DIRECTORATE OF EDUCATION, COLLEGES

Divisional Headquarters is responsible for the administrative affairs of Public Sector Colleges
of Lahore Division under the supervision of the Directorate Public Instructions Colleges (Punjab). It
is responsible for the management of administrative and allied affairs of 112 Public Sector Colleges
and 300+ Private Sector Colleges.

Functions
The functions of the Directorate of Education Colleges, Lahore Division are as follows.
Implementation of educational affairs, revamping initiatives and annual development schemes of
the Government of the Punjab
Implementation of all government policies, instructions, directions, and orders
Effective and useful contribution in policy formulation for administrative, academic, co-
curricular, and financial matters
Administration of intermediate, degree, BS-4-Years, commerce and postgraduate colleges
Needs assessment and coordination with HED and DPIC Punjab for provision of resources in
terms of funds, human resource, infrastructure to the public sector colleges
Effective and result-oriented coordination with the government and district offices (Kasur,
Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib) being run by the Deputy Directors of Education (Colleges) in
Punjab and other government, semi-government and private sector college administrations
Preparation of Planning Commission (PC-I) for new projects to be initiated by the Higher
Education Department, monitoring and evaluation of ongoing Annual Development Schemes
(ADPs) and Provision of Missing Facilities in public sector colleges on a need basis
Maintenance of service and career records of officials ranging from BS-1 to BS-20
Preparation of working papers for pro forma and other promotions of teaching and non-teaching
staff
Providing support and coordination to conduct regular inquiries under PEEDA Act 2006, initiate
fact-finding probes, and take departmental action thereon
Registration of privately managed colleges in Lahore in the light of the Punjab Educational
Institutions (Promotion and Regulations) Ordinance 1984 (Amended and Updated) under the
supervision of the Directorate Public Instructions Colleges, Punjab

xv

Fatima Jinnah Girls College - Chuna Mandi

(Formerly the haveli of Khushal Singh and Dhyan Singh, and haveli of Asif Jah before that)

Management of Intra and Inter District transfers of teaching and non-teaching staff per
delegation of powers 2010 and transfer policy of the Higher Education Department, Government
of the Punjab, Lahore
Sanction of leaves for teaching and non-teaching staff according to prevalent rules

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 Education

Carrying out internal audits of Public Sector Colleges of Lahore Division

Monitoring Public Sector Colleges with regard to implementation of educational initiatives,
assessment of missing facilities, preparation of ADP Schemes and ensuring compliance with the
directions of the Government of the Punjab, Higher Education Department
Resolution of seniority issues and disputes and publication of the seniority lists pertaining to BS-
1 to BS-16 and coordination with HED Punjab and DPIC for determination of seniority of
teaching staff (BS-17 to BS-20)
Monitoring and supervision of character-building activities in colleges in collaboration with the
National Accountability Bureau, Pakistan Red Crescent and other allied departments
Coordination with the District Administration with regard to Implementation of Anti-Dengue
Activities
Supervision of the distribution of internal scholarships in colleges
Supervision of anti-narcotics seminars/activities in colleges
Dealing with assembly questions/adjournment motions
Supervision of Covid -19 implementation of SOPs circulated by the competent authority
Dealing with court cases of all grades and service matters in the Honourable Courts of
Ombudsperson, Punjab Service Tribunal and Lahore High Court
Supervision of Online College Admission System (OCAS) across Public Sector Colleges
Initiation and supervision of online teaching and instructional work during Covid-19
Supervision of security measures taken up by colleges
Conduct and supervision of “Anti-Corruption Weeks” throughout the province in collaboration
with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)
Monitoring the updating of CIS and HRM systems of the HED to keep the record of teaching
staff; updated for their promotions, transfers, leaves, and other related service matters
Monitoring of law and order situations across Public Sector Colleges of Lahore Division

61
Number of Public Sector Colleges in Lahore
37 for females 24 for males

Types of Public Sector Colleges

Graduate (BS Level) Colleges 17 for females 13 for males & coeducation
Degree (Associate) Colleges 20 for females 11 for males
Student Enrolment Data 2021-2022

Degree Programmes Offered

Degree Programmes being offered for four-year Bachelors degrees (BS4y) across Public
Sector Colleges, District Lahore are:

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Botany Chemistry English Urdu

Physical education Islamic Studies Economics Psychology
Mass Communication English Literature Computer Science BBA
Zoology Political Science History Islamic Studies
Gender Studies Physics Mathematics Education
Fine Arts Social Work BS IT

A tentative list of market-oriented subjects for BS4y programmes was launched across public sector
colleges.
Nutrition and
Biotechnology Microbiology Software Engineering
Dietetics
Medical Lab
Home Economics Pharm D Fashion Design
Technology
Tourism and Hotel
Textile Engineering
Management

Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff

Updated vacancies (non-teaching staff) of Public Sector Colleges of District Lahore (BS-01 to
BS-16) are as follows:
Sanctioned Working Vacant
2397 1586 811

Updated vacancies of teaching staff (BS-17 to BS-20), and status of working, vacant and
sanctioned posts is as follows:

Designation Total Sanctioned Total Working Total Vacant

Lecturer BS-17 931 896 35
Assistant Professor
1669 1585 84
BS-18
Associate Professor
750 406 344
BS-19
Professor BS-20 217 160 57
Total 3567 3047 520

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 Education

2. Government Islamia College, Lahore

SPECIAL EDUCATION
At the time of independence there were only two institutions for Special Education Needs:
one for the hearing impaired in Lahore and the other for the blind in Bahawalpur, functioning under
the control of Education Department. A few institutions for hearing impaired children and visually
impaired children were also being run by private sector organisations in Punjab. The Inspectorate of
Schools for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind was established under the Education Department in 1962 and
raised to the status of a Wing headed by a Deputy Director in 1968. These institutions were
nationalised in 1975. The Directorate of Special Education Punjab was given the status of an attached
department of the Education Department in 1983-84 and the Special Education Department was
established as an independent administrative department in 2003-04.
Prior to establishment of an independent department of Special Education Department, there
were 51 institutions in the province with an enrolment of 4265 special children, which has now risen
to 303 catering to almost 38000 special children in Punjab.
Institutes and Training Centres in Lahore
Institutes for the Visually Impaired
Govt. Institute for Visually Impaired Sheranwala Gate, Lahore 042-37659501
Govt. Sunrise Institute for Visually Impaired Ravi Road, Lahore 042-37724580
Govt. Institute for Visually Impaired Girls, 128- Khyber Block Allama Iqbal 042-37812599
Town, Lahore
Institutes for the Mentally Challenged
Govt. Shadab Training Institute for M.C.C, 128-Khyber Block, Allama Iqbal 042-
Town Lahore 37812549
Institutes for the Hearing Impaired
Govt. High School of Special Education for Hearing Impaired (Girls), 042-37240501
Chauburji, Lahore
Govt. High School of Special Education for Hearing Impaired (Boys), 40-T 042-
Gulberg-II, Lahore 99263308
Govt. Central High School for the Deaf, 40-T, Gulberg-II , Lahore
042-
99263306
Institute for the Physically Disabled
Govt. School of Physically Disabled Children, Quarter No.08, Chauburji, 042-
Lahore 37569976

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Centres of Special Education

Govt. Special Education Centre, Ravi Town, Ali Park, Fort Road Lahore 042-99238145
Govt. Special Education Centre, Shalimar Town, H/No.982/A, block B-1, 042-
Gujjarpura Scheme Lahore 36848363
Govt. Special Education Centre, Aziz Bhatti Town, St. No. 2, Afzal Park,
Harbanspura, Lahore 042-
Govt. Special Education Centre, Haji Park G.T. Road Wagha Town, Lahore 36542841
Govt. Special Education Centre, Nishtar Town, 389 B-III, Johar Town,
Lahore 042-
Govt. Special Education Centre, Raiwind 36581919
042-
35237179
Degree Colleges for Special Education
Govt. Degree College for Special Education 45 B-II, Johar Town, Lahore 042-
99238942
Training Colleges
Govt. In-service Training College for the Teachers of Disabled Children, 31- 042-
Sher Shah Block, New Garden Town, Lahore 99230360
Govt. Training College for the Teachers of Blind, 31- Sher Shah Block, New
Garden Town, Lahore 042-
Govt. Training College for the Teachers of Deaf, 40-T Gulberg-II, 99230954
Lahore
042-
99263305

TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING AUTHORITY (TEVTA)

Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) is a special institution of
Industries, Commerce, Investment and Skills Development Department, Government of the Punjab.
It is the largest Public Sector Organisation established to promote Technical and Vocational
Education and Training (TVEAT) through around 400 institutions located all over the Punjab.
TEVTA’s vision 2023 focuses on Access, Quality Assurance, Demand Driven Skills,
Economics Opportunities and Innovation, the main objective of P-TVTA is to produce a skilled
workforce to meet the market demand for placement in the local and overseas industry. The mission
of the authority is to empower our youth with a new focus on quality demand driven skills and to
develop economic opportunities through entrepreneurship and job placements at the local and
international level.
NB: The data on TEVTA pertains to all of Punjab.
Objectives and Functions
Promote and provide demand driven technical education and vocational training
Re-engineer and consolidate the existing technical education and vocational training system under
one management structure
Develop a dynamic technical and vocational training system to ensure horizontal and vertical
mobility
Regulate and develop standards of technical education and vocational training including
internationally recognised curriculum, examination and certification systems
Upgrade teaching abilities, skills and knowledge of teaching staff
Upgrade teaching equipment to the required standards
Establish close relationships with various sectors of economy namely agriculture, industry,
services and commerce
Assess manpower training needs in the context of the domestic and global market
Enhance participation of the Private Sector in training activities at the management level

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Establish a system for public coordination through Boards of Management at the District level,
coordinating between all institutions in the District and their administration
Motivate local entrepreneurs to patronise TEVTA institutions’ training programmes, provide on-
the-job training facilities and employment to graduates
Set up regular monitoring, evaluation and feedback systems for vocational training and teaching
education to respond efficiently to the existing and changing demands of the economy
Develop and regulate examinations, trade testing and certification systems to ensure uniformity
of education and training standards
Prepare training plans, programmes and projects keeping local and foreign manpower training
requirements in view
Study and propose changes in existing training legislation
Develop and offer need-based short courses in the sector of new technologies to the industry,
and offer services for solutions regarding associated production problems
Establish a staff development system to offer demand-oriented teacher and instructor training
and upgrading performance
Organise and conduct seminars and workshops for various types of personnel associated with
vocational training and teaching education
Establish data banks of skilled workers and technicians
Institute Categorisation
Categorisation Number Capacity
Govt. College of Technology 40
Service Centres 20
Govt. Technical Training Institute 55
Govt. Technical Training Centre 140
Govt. Vocational Training Institute for
128 90,000
Women
Apprenticeship Training Centre 5
Govt. Staff Training Colleges 5
Agriculture Machinery Tools 7
Total 400

TEVTA Training Programs

Diploma, Associate Engineer 36 Months
Apprenticeship Training 36 Months – 12 Months
Vocational Training Program 24 Months – 03 Months
Achievements
Launch of Competency Based Training and Assessment in 100+ Institutes
Curricula Complaint Labs in 100+ Institutes
Apprenticeship Act 2019 passed through Provincial Assembly
Human Resource Development vertical mobility of TEVTA DAE passed
Completion of ongoing development projects
Establishment of 03 technical universities
Strengthening linkages with industry
Promoting entrepreneurship in TEVTA graduates
Kamyab Jawan Program Akhuwat Microfinancing

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HEALTH & SOCIAL WELFARE
Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Health and Social Welfare

HEALTH
The Indian subcontinent was a veritable cauldron of several systems of medicine that
intermingled and informed each other, with many commonalities and contradictions existing between
them. Long before the East India Company entered the subcontinent, an exchange of knowledge and
ideas had occurred between the Indian systems of medicine and their foreign counterparts such as
the Arabs and Chinese. The vaidyas and the hakims from the Ayurvedic and Unani systems of
medicine are said to have collaborated and borrowed from each other. However, the interaction
between practitioners of indigenous medicine and Western medicine was anything but smooth, and
the latter, in effect, obliterated the former.
In the East, medicine was largely pluralistic and there was awareness and acceptance of
alternative traditions. Medicine was not viewed only as a biological phenomenon but holistically;
emphasis was given to a patient's societal standing, environment, and relation with the therapist. As
colonial influence took hold, so did claims of Western superiority and scientific authority. Allopathic
practitioners saw themselves as modernisers and often treated their indigenous counterparts with
contempt for what they deemed inferior knowledge. Local knowledge was labelled unscientific and
irrational.
It was in the 16th century that the Portuguese first introduced Western medicine to India,
followed by medical officers who arrived with the East India Company's first fleet of ships in 1600.
Initially, medical departments with surgeons were set up to provide medical relief to the troops and
employees of the East India Company. In 1775, hospital boards that comprised the Surgeon General
and Physician General were formed. These essentially constituted the staff of the Commander-in-
Chief of the British Indian Army in each presidency. Medical departments were set up in Bengal,
Madras, and Bombay presidencies in 1785, and these looked after both military personnel and British
[Link]
Before 1860, the only two institutes imparting Western medical education in the subcontinent
were the Calcutta Medical College, established in 1835 in Calcutta, and Grant Medical College,
established ten years later in 1845 in Bombay. Until the 1857 War of Independence, when the entire
subcontinent came under direct rule of the British Crown, graduates of Calcutta Medical College were
being sent as subordinate medical personnel to Punjab. They were, however, insufficient to meet its
needs. Additionally, neither were they readily accepted as medical men in the region, nor did they
fancy serving in what seemed to them to be a strange culture in West India.
The establishment of a medical school was thus sanctioned in Lahore, and in 1860, Lahore
Medical School was set up as the third seat of medical education in the subcontinent. It started its
classes in Old Artillery Barracks Hospital, which is the present site of Government College University
(GCU), Lahore. The barracks were dismantled in 1872 and construction of GCU’s building was
completed in 1876.
Dr J. B. Scriven arrived from Calcutta Medical College to serve as the first principal of Lahore
Medical School in 1860. Dr Scriven, along with Dr Manners Smith, Civil Surgeon Lahore, and Dr T.
E. Browne, conducted the first Matriculation Examination on 1st November 1860. The medical
college produced Sub-Assistant Surgeons and ‘Native Doctors’ to begin with. The number of students
grew rapidly; having starting with 44 opting for Hindustani classes, and five for English, a mere decade
later, the school boasted 40 students in English and 87 in Hindustani classes.
Outbreaks of cholera in 1867, 1869 and 1872, called for the services of doctors, whose care
and services helped convince many people of the area of the efficacy of Western medicine. After its
construction in 1871, the Mayo Hospital was affiliated as a teaching hospital with Lahore Medical
School. In 1882, Lord Ripon, then Viceroy of India, inaugurated the Punjab University, which started
awarding a four-year degree of Diploma of Licentiate in Medicine to graduates of the Lahore Medical
School. The school succeeded in acquiring a place for its own building in 1881, constructed on the
design of the Mayo Hospital. Its first medical building was for the Anatomy Department.
Construction was completed in 1883, and the same year, a new building for the nursing school next
to Albert Victor Memorial Hospital was also opened and nursing classes started. In May 1886, Lahore
Medical School was upgraded and renamed Lahore Medical College.

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The first college day commenced on 5th November 1888 and was presided over by Sir Charles
Umpherston Aitchison, then Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab. By the year 1900, a total of 443
students were admitted, including 14 women. In 1902, the first batch for the new MBBS programme
was admitted to the college, prior to which students had to go to Calcutta, Bombay or London for
this [Link]

Main hall of King Edward Medical University

It would be remiss to ignore the parallel systems of healing that continue to exist in Lahore.
While Ayurvedic healing has not thrived in the region, tibbi or Unani traditions have survived.
Hakeem Mohammed Nabi Khan, the grandson of Maseeh-ul-Mulk Hakeem Ajmal Khan, was born
in Delhi on 5th November 1920. He received his basic education in Urdu, Arabic and Persian from
his elders and later qualified as a Doctor of the Graeco-Arabic (Unani) system of medicine from
Tibbia College, Delhi. In 1948 he migrated from India to Pakistan and settled in Lahore where a year
later he established ‘Ajmal Dawakhana’ and opened clinics of this system of medicine in different
cities across Pakistan.
He was elected President of All-Pakistan Tibbi Conference (Organisation of Tibbi Doctors)
and was the Pioneer President of Unani Drug Manufacturers Association (PUDMA) – positions that
he held till the time of his demise in 1990. Hakeem Mohammed Nabi Khan, along with his friends,
chiefly: Hakeem Hafiz Muhammad Saeed of Hamdard Dawakhana, Karachi; Hakeem Tayyab Ali
Tayyabi of Tayyabi Dawakhana, Karachi; and Hakeem Aftab Ahmad Qarshi of Aftab Qarshi Herbal
Industries, Lahore, have strived for the promotion of Tibb Unani, the Oriental System of [Link]

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Health Systems
There are four health systems in Lahore.
1. Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department
2. Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department
3. Punjab Employees Social Security Hospitals
4. Hospitals in the Cantonment Area
A fifth category is Main Private Hospitals.

Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department

The Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department has the following facilities
under their administrative control in Lahore.

King Edward Medical University

King Edward Medical University (KEMU) is a public medical university located in Lahore
District. Founded in 1860, the university is named after King Edward VII. It was established by the
British Raj and named Lahore Medical School. In 1868, the University of Dublin granted students of
the Lahore Medical School “privilege similar to those granted to students from English schools”. In
1871, the university added Mayo Hospital as an affiliated hospital, replacing the existing Anarkali
Dispensary. The same year the college became an affiliate of University of the Punjab. In 1887, the
university added Lady Aitchison Hospital as a second teaching hospital. After Pakistan's
independence, the university became the only medical college in the province and in 2005 became a
charter to award degrees in its own right. It has since gone through expansion, and oversees seven
tertiary referral hospitals including the Lady Willingdon Hospital. In 2015, the Higher Education
Commission (HEC) of Pakistan published their rankings of Pakistani Higher Education Institutions;
KEMU is ranked 6th amongst medical universities of Pakistan by the HEC.
Attached hospitals
Mayo Hospital Lahore
Lady Willingdon Hospital
Lady Aitchison Hospital
Nawaz Sharif Hospital, Yakki Gate, Lahore

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 Health and Social Welfare

Nawaz Sharif Hospital, Kot Khawaja Saeed, Lahore

Shahdra Hospital
Govt. Said Mitha Teaching Hospital Lahore
Mian Munshi Hospital Lahore

Institutes, Schools and Centres

Centre For Nuclear Medicine (CENUM)
Convalescent Centre
College of Ophthalmology and Allied Vision Sciences(COAVS)
School of Nursing
School of Orthopaedic Technology
School of Paramedical
School of Physiotherapy

Mayo Hospital
Mayo Hospital is the oldest and largest
hospital of the country, serving the humanity since
1871. Mayo Hospital was completed in 1870 and
started patient care in 1871. It was named after the
Earl of Mayo, the then Viceroy and the Governor
General of India. One of the largest hospitals in the
South Asia region, it encompasses over 54.6 acres of
land, and the boundary of the main building has 11
gates. It had a bed capacity of 300 beds on
Independence Day in 1947 but now has 2400 beds.
It is located in the heart of Lahore City and is
surrounded by busy commercial and thickly
populated residential areas including Anarkali Bazaar, Nila Gumbad, Gawalmandi and the Walled
City of Old Lahore.
After its construction in 1871, the Mayo Hospital was affiliated as a teaching hospital with the
King Edward Medical College which came into being in 1860. The architecture of the hospital is
Italian, designed by Pudon and engineered by Rai Bahadur Kanahya, one of the leading architects of
that time. The additions between 1960 and early 1980 were designed by A. R. Hye.
The hospital used to be managed by the Medical Superintendent under the administrative control of
the Government till 1999 when the whole setup was declared as an Autonomous Medical Institution
and the Mayo Hospital became an Allied Hospital of King Edward Medical College. The Principal
KEMC and the M.S. Mayo Hospital were placed under the administrative control of a newly-created
post of Chief Executive. In 2002, the Board of Governors took over the charge of the institution
under PMHI Ordinance 2002, according to which the posts of Principal Executive Officer (PEO),
Dean and Deputy Dean were created. In the following year, under another PMHI Ordinance 2003,
the Board of Governors was replaced with the Board of Management under which Principal KEMC
was declared Head of the Institution consisting of KEMC & Mayo [Link]

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Mayo Hospital

Lady Willingdon Hospital

Next to Lahore city’s most recognised landmarks, the Badshahi Masjid, Lahore Fort, and
Minar e Pakistan, lies the biggest maternity facility of the country, Lady Willingdon Hospital, affiliated
with King Edward Medical University. The idea of maternity hospital came about in 1925 when final
year M.B.B.S students had to go to Madras (Chennai) 3000km away. Although the hospital started
functioning with only 56 beds in October 1930, its official opening ceremony was performed by the
First Lady of the 22nd Viceroy of India, Her Excellency the Countess of Willingdon, on 11th March
1933.
The hospital boasts impressive performance figures and trends. It is a great place of learning,
and has a no-refusal policy. It caters to Lahore and its adjoining districts; in 2018 this hospital treated
74302 patients in its Outpatient Department (OPD), 37823 In-patient, conducted 19498 minor &
major surgeries and performed18742 [Link]

Lady Aitchison Hospital

Established on February 15, 1887 just outside the
walled city of Lahore, the hospital was named after Lady
Aitchison (Beatrice Lyell) wife of the Lieutenant Governor
of Punjab at the time. Over the years, the hospital has
expanded to 200 beds and has become the first choice of
maternity care for people of a vast catchment area spread
beyond provincial boundaries. Lady Aitchison Hospital is
affiliated King Edward Medical University Lahore and is a
tertiary care teaching hospital with a staff strength of 488.
The hospital deals with a large number of expectant
mothers and women with gynaecological ailments; numbers range from 300-400 in OPD, 200 to 300
in the emergency and 60 to 70 births a [Link]

Fatima Jinnah Medical University

Fatima Jinnah Medical University, previously known as Balak Ram Medical College, is a public
medical university located in Lahore District. Fatima Jinnah Medical University with its associated
teaching hospital Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, is a medical institution that teaches and trains female doctors
and post-graduate students. It provides medical and healthcare facilities to the citizens of the country,
particularly in and around Lahore, and more specifically to the female population. It is now a tertiary
healthcare unit and is recognised by the HEC. On June 30, 2015 the Health Department of Pakistan

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changed the status of the Medical College to Medical University and the current principal was made
the Vice Chancellor of the university.
Affiliated Hospitals
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
Govt. Mozang Hospital
Govt. Teaching Hospital, Shahdra

Sir Ganga Ram Hospital

Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
was established in 1921 in the
walled city of Lahore by a
philanthropist Sir Ganga Ram
who also donated land. The
hospital is named after Rai
Bahadur Sir Ganga Ram CIE
MVO, born Ganga Ram
Agarwal (13 April 1851 – 10 July
1927), who was an Indian civil
engineer and architect. His
extensive contributions to the
urban fabric of Lahore, then in
colonial India, led to him being
described as ‘the father of modern Lahore’.
The hospital was shifted to its present location in 1943 to cope with the growing demand for medical
and health care services. After partition, India built another hospital by the same name in New Delhi.
The Ganga Ram Hospital is now being extended over another 22 kanals and will have an additional
400 beds. It provides easy, accessible, affordable, and advanced medical treatment to all patients
without compromising on the quality of [Link]

University of Health Sciences

University of health sciences, Lahore is an internationally recognised, student centred research
university with a mission of improvement of health care delivery to the populace. It regulates and
coordinates the activities of medical education, training and research institutions throughout the
Punjab. It also conducts Medical and Dental College Admission Test (also known as MDCAT) every
year for admission in MBBS and BDS degree programs in public and private medical and dental
colleges of the Punjab.
It was placed 2nd in the HEC’s national university rankings for 2012 in medical and health
sciences universities, and 8th in the ‘Overall Top Ten Higher Education Institutions’ category of
universities in Pakistan.

Affiliated Hospitals
Jinnah Hospital Lahore
Services Hospital Lahore
Sheikh Zayed Hospital Lahore
Punjab Institute of Cardiology Lahore
De` Montmorency College of Dentistry, Lahore
School of Allied Health Sciences, The Children’s Hospital & Institute of Child Health, Lahore
Lahore General Hospital
Institute of Neurosciences Lahore
Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Centre, Lahore

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Jinnah Hospital:
Jinnah Hospital was established in 1996 in Lahore and is a teaching hospital. It is spread over
105 acres. It began operations in 1994 with very limited facilities, and was formally inaugurated on 2
February 1996, although with only basic specialties at first. In 2005, it added a new 100-bed Accident
& Emergency Department and since then it is fully functional with 1500 beds. Living up to its motto,
‘dignity in service’, it is providing services in various fields of medicine, surgery, gynaecology and
paediatrics, among [Link]

Services Hospital

In 1958, a separate outpatient department of Mayo Hospital was setup for the use of
government employees. In 1960, this was converted into a 55-bed hospital and named Wahdat
Hospital. It had medical and surgical facilities, laboratory and an X-Ray unit. It was later renamed
Services Hospital.
In 1977, its bed strength increased to 192 (of which 50% was for the public) and it became a
teaching hospital of Allama Iqbal Medical College, (AMIC). In 1986, various additional buildings were
constructed, and the bed strength was raised to 904. In 1995, AIMC moved to its new campus,
attached to Jinnah Hospital. Services Hospital then became attached to the Gulab Devi Postgraduate
Medical Institute, (PGMI), with an increased bed strength of 1096.
Services Hospital Lahore was declared an Autonomous Institution in 1999 with a management
board to oversee affairs and give policy guidelines. In 2002, the Services Hospital was declared as a
teaching hospital for the then newly-formed Services Institute of Medical Sciences.
Today, its 1,196 beds are located in 31 departments, with 27 major and 8 minor operation
theatres and an out-patient attendance of 700 patients on average per day. xxiv Fiscal constraints have
led the hospital's leadership to seek out alternative ways of funding, including philanthropic support.
The hospital's infrastructure is severely overstretched, resulting in electrical overload.

Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex:

SZMC is one of the premier
medical institutions in the country. A
Trust was establishment on 6th
November, 1973 with a donation of Rs.
300 million from H.H. Shaikh Zayed Bin
Sultan Al-Nahyan. The Government of
Pakistan dedicated 56 acres of land, and
the hospital was inaugurated on 8th
September 1986. The Medical Complex
now comprises of 5 components:
Shaikh Zayed Hospital (SZH) &
National Institute of Kidney Diseases
(NIKD)
Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahayan Medical & Dental College (SKZMDC)

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 Health and Social Welfare

Shaikh Zayed Postgraduate Medical Institute (SZPGMI)

National Health Research Complex (NHRC)
Sheikha Fatima Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences (SFIN & HS)
The hospital comprised 360 beds at the time of commissioning. The institute has progressed
considerably over the last 20 years with a tremendous increase in diagnostic and treatment facilities.
The bed strength increased to 713 in 2004 and the present strength is 1031. All departments of this
hospital are recognised by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan for FCPS training.
Administrative control was initially with Federal Ministry of Health which was transferred to
Cabinet Division in 1994. SZMC was devolved to Punjab Government on 14th February 2012 and
transferred back to the Federal Government and placed under Administrative Control of the Cabinet
Division on 22nd April [Link]

Lahore General Hospital:

Lahore General Hospital extends over an area of 256 kanals and is situated on Ferozepur
Road. Its foundation stone was laid by Begum Naheed Sikandar Mirza, wife of the Governor General
of Pakistan at the time, on 27th February 1958. The first phase of the building was completed in late
1958. The initial plan incorporated a portion of the land to be used as a shelter for mendicants,
however that was later altered. Lahore General Hospital was inaugurated in early 1959 by Mr. Akhtar
Hussain, Governor of West Pakistan. Initially the hospital was used as a convalescent home for the
overflow of patients from Mayo Hospital, Lahore and there were no proper treatment or diagnostic
facilities.
King Edward Medical College’s Department of Neurosurgery at Lahore General Hospital in
1966. After the establishment of the Postgraduate Medical Institute Lahore (PGMI) in 1974, Lahore
General Hospital was affiliated with it in July, 1975; the departments of Neurosurgery, T.B & Chest
remained attached with KEMC. In 1995, Lahore General Hospital was attached with Allama Iqbal
Medical College until 1997, then back with PGMI later that same year, which is how it remained,
including the Neurosurgery Department.
On 1st July1998 Lahore General Hospital was declared an autonomous hospital. Dr. Sabiha
Khurshid Ahmad was appointed as its first Chief [Link] .

Children’s Hospital
The concept of Children’s Hospital and The
Institute of Child Health, Lahore was presented at the
annual meeting of the Pakistan Paediatric Association in
1984. Its foundation stone was laid in 1990. The
hospital is located on located on Ferozepur Road. The
OPD Block was operationalised in May 1995 and
emergency services started in October, 1996. The
Children’s Hospital has been providing in-patient
services since December 1998.
The hospital provides a wide range of services
both inpatient and outpatient, with full backup of
diagnostic services. The Institute of Child Health is providing postgraduate training to very large
number of doctors in multiple disciplines as well as conducting research projects. The institute also
encompasses the School of Nursing and the School of Allied Health Sciencesxxvii.

Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department

The Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department has three administrative units:
District Health Authority
Punjab Health Facilities Management Company
Indus Hospitals Network.

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District Health Authority

District Health Authority, Lahore was established in 2011 and the Chief Executive Officer is
its Head, working under the District Administration (Deputy Commissioner) and the Primary &
Secondary Healthcare Department.
The following officers are at the Office of the District Health Authority:
1. Chief Executive Officer
2. District Health Officer (Preventive Service)
3. District Health Officer (Medical Services)
4. District Health Officer (HR & MIS)
5. Program Director of District Health Development Centre (DHDC)
6. District Health Education Officer
7. Deputy District Health Officers (01 in each 10 Towns)
8. District Program Coordinator for Dengue Control Program
9. District Coordinator IRMNCH
10. Statistical Officer
11. Deputy District Officer Budget & Accounts
12. District Surveillance Coordinators (03)
13. Technical Officer
14. Pharmacists (02)
15. District TB Coordinator
16. Focal Person Hepatitis
17. Focal Person Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD)

Vertical programmes under the District Health Authority are:

1. CDC Branch (Dengue Control)
2. Sanitation Branch
3. EPI Branch
4. IRMNCH & NP
5. TB Control Program
6. Non-Communicable Diseases Control Program
7. Hepatitis & Infection Control Program
8. School Health & Nutrition Program

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 Health and Social Welfare

There are 132 Health Facilities under the District Health Authority in Lahore. They include:
Hospitals (4)
Diagnostic Centres (15)
Dispensaries (46)
Filter Clinics (7)
Maternal and Child Health Centres (60)
Public Health Facility Types Number
THQ 1
THQs (Level) 9
Indus Hospitals 4
R HC s 5
BHUs 38
MCH Centres 51
Diagnostic Centres 15
Filter Clinics 7
Dispensaries 48

Maternity Hospitals under the District Health Authority.

Maternity Hospitals Name
THQs (Level) New Karool
Pathi Road
Chohan Road
Govt. Sodiwal Hospital
Indus Hospitals 4
RHCs RHC Raiwind
RHC Chung
RHC Manga Mandi
RHC Barki
RHC Awan Dhai Wala
BHUs (24/7) 19
MCH Centres 51
Filter Clinics 7

The District Health Authority also provides the following health services to the public:
Dengue Prevention and Control
Polio Eradication Initiative
TB Prevention and Control
Hepatitis Prevention and Control
Communicable Disease Control
Non-communicable Disease Prevention and Control
Essential Immunisation Services
Social Mobilisation and Health Education
Disease Surveillance and Response

Punjab Health Facility Management Company Lahore

Punjab Health Facilities Management Company, a not-for-profit company under the administrative
control of PSHD, was established under Section 42 of the Recipient’s Companies Ordinance, 1984
(Companies Act of 2017). PHFMC has 82 Health Facilities in Lahore. They include:

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Hospitals
1. Eye Hospital Swami Nagar, Lahore.
2. Govt. Shahdara Hospital, Lahore. THQ Level
3. Hospital Police Line Qila Gujjar Singh
4. Samnabad Hospital
5. Ghaziabad Hospital
6. Rana Abdul Raheem Memorial Hospital (Sodiwal)
7. Govt. Maternity Hospital, Pathi Ground, Lahore.
8. Govt. Maternity Hospital, Chohan Road, Lahore.
Rural Health Centres
1. Rural Health Centre, Raiwind, Lahore.
2. Rural Health Centre, Choung, Lahore.
3. Rural Health Centre, Manga Mandi, Lahore.
4. Rural Health Centre, Barki, Lahore.
5. Rural Health Centre, Awan Dhai Wala, Lahore.
Basic Health Units
1. BHU Ali Razabad Allama Iqbal Town, 20. BHU Jahman, Lahore Cantt, Lahore
Raiwind, Lahore 21. BHU Jia Bagga, Lahore Cantt, Lahore
2. BHU Ladhe Kay Uchay, Raiwind, Lahore 22. BHU Jodho Dheer, Lahore Cantt, Lahore
3. BHU Niaz Baig, Allama Iqbal Town, 23. BHU Kacha, Lahore Cantt, Lahore
Lahore. 24. BHU Karool, Lahore Cantt, Lahore
4. BHU Rangeel pur, Raiwind, Lahore 25. BHU Kohrian, Lahore Cantt, Lahore
5. BHU Shahpur Alama Iqbal Town, Lahore 26. BHU Dograi Kalan, Lahore Cantt,
6. BHU Sham Kay Bhattian, Raiwind, Lahore
Lahore 27. BHU Ghawind, Lahore Cantt, Lahore
7. BHU Bhaseen, Lahore Cantt, Lahore 28. BHU Hadayara, Lahore Cantt, Lahore
8. BHU Padhana, Lahore Cantt, Lahore 29. BHU Halloki, Lahore Cantt, Lahore
9. BHU Pandoki, Lahore Cantt, Lahore 30. BHU Heir, Lahore Cantt, Lahore
10. BHU Bhangali (Non Functional), Lahore. 31. BHU Jallo Pind, Lahore Cantt, Lahore
11. BHU Sarriach, Lahore Cantt, Lahore 32. BHU Sultan Kay, Raiwind, Lahore
12. BHU Shahzada, Lahore Cantt, Lahore 33. BHU Lakho Ki, Raiwind, Lahore
13. BHU Wahga , Lahore Cantt, Lahore 34. BHU Arriyan, Lahore Cantt, Lahore
14. BHU Leel, Lahore Cantt, Lahore 35. BHU Attoki Awan , Lahore Cantt, Lahore
15. BHU Lidher, Lahore Cantt, Lahore 36. BHU Bhullar, Lahore Cantt, Lahore
16. BHU Manawan, Lahore Cantt, Lahore 37. BHU Babliana Ottar, Raiwind,Lahore.
17. BHU Maraka, Lahore Cantt, Lahore 38. BHU Chappa, Lahore Cantt, Lahore
18. BHU Minhala, Lahore Cantt, Lahore
19. BHU Narwar, Lahore Cantt, Lahore

Rural Health Dispensaries

1. Rural Health Dispensary, Lakho Dair. 16. Rural Health Dispensary Khud Pur
2. Rural Health Dispensary, Bhaseen. 17. Rural Health Dispensary Mall
3. Rural Health Dispensary Manawan. 18. Rural Health Dispensary Molan Wal
4. Rural Health Dispensary Padri. 19. Rural Health Dispensary Satto Katla
5. Rural Health Dispensary, Kaman. 20. Rural Health Dispensary Sheikh Da Kot
6. Rural Health Dispensary Heir. 21. Rural Health Dispensary Theh Punjoon
7. Rural Health Dispensary Ali Hussain 22. Rural Health Dispensary Wahga
Abad. 23. Rural Health Dispensary Yuhanabad
8. Rural Health Dispensary Ali Razabad 24. Rural Health Dispensary Narwar
(Male) 25. Rural Health Dispensary, Kaman.

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9. Rural Health Dispensary Ali Razabad 26. Rural Health Dispensary Heir.
(Female) 27. Rural Health Dispensary Asil Suleman
10. Rural Health Dispensary Asil Suleman 28. Rural Health Dispensary Badoo ke
11. Rural Health Dispensary Badoo ke 29. Rural Health Dispensary Bagrian
12. Rural Health Dispensary Bagrian 30. Rural Health Dispensary Theh Punjoon
13. Rural Health Dispensary Bhali Gill 31. Rural Health Dispensary Yuhanabad
14. Rural Health Dispensary Dograi Khurd
15. Rural Health Dispensary Hadyara

Indus Network
Indus Network has five THQ level Hospitals in Lahore.

1. THQ Hopsital Lidher

2. THQ Hospital Manawah
3. Sabzazar Hospital
4. Raiwind Hospital (THQ)
5. THQ Hospital Kahna Nu

Punjab Employees Social Security Institute

Hospitals
1. Social Security Hospital Kot Lakhpat
2. Social Security Hospital Multan Road
3. Social Security Hospital Shahdra
4. Social Security Hospital Township
5. Social Security Hospital Badami Bagh
6. Social Security Hospital Ferozpur Road
It also has nine (09) Dispensaries and one (01) Emergency Centre
Cantonment Hospitals.
There are four Public Hospitals in Cantonment Lahore.
1. CMH
2. Rangers Hospital
3. Fauji Foundation
4. Airforce Hospital

Major Private Hospitals

1. Akram Eye Hospital 15. National Hospital & Medical Centre
2. Cavalry Hospital 16. Dental Aesthetics Clinic
3. Family Hospital 17. Sana Dental Aesthetics
4. Farooq Hospital 18. Hameed Latif Hospital
5. Gulab Devi Hospital 19. Ammar Medical Complex
6. Ittefaq Hospital 20. Bahria International Hospital
7. Masood Hospital 21. Ghurki Hospital
8. Prime Care Hospital 22. Doctors Hospital
9. Punjab Medical Centre 23. Fatima Memorial Hospital
10. Laser Vision Eye Hospital 24. Surgimed Hospital
11. Sarwat Anwar Hospital 25. Shaukat Khanum Hospital & Research Centre
12. Shalimar Hospital 26. University Dental Hospital - University of Lahore
13. Rasheed Hospital 27. University Teaching Hospital - University of
14. Orthopaedic Medical Lahore
Complex & Hospital 28. Mid-City Hospital

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RESCUE 1122

The Punjab Emergency Service Department (PESD) started as an Emergency Ambulance

Service pilot project from Lahore in 2004. Today, it is operating with a state-of-the-art
fleet of Ambulances, Motorbike Ambulances, Fire Vehicles, Urban Search and
Rescue Units & Water Rescue Vehicles and is providing round the clock emergency
services to the citizens of the Metropolitan city. The vision of the department is to
ensure safe communities where all citizens are provided the right to timely emergency
response and care without discrimination. It aims at the establishment of an effective system for
emergency preparedness, response, protection and prevention, while contributing towards building
socially responsible, healthy, resilient and safer communities.

The organogram for the department is as follows:

Map of Total Area Serviced

There are 23 rescue stations in District Lahore to provide round-the-clock service.

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Departmental Activities

First Responders' Training Programme at UCP Mock exercise on River Ravi

Mock exercise at the airport Fire at chemical factory, Sundar Industrial Estate

Services Provided
Some basic statistics about services provided in Lahore District are given below. Punjab
Emergency Service Department has dealt with 1,716,303 emergencies in Lahore from 14-10-2004 to
31-03-2022. Their details are as follows.
Consolidated Calls & Emergency Report
District Lahore
Telephone Call Details
Total Telephone Calls Received 27865715
1. Emergency Calls Received 1713363
2. Information Seeking Calls 3826935
3. Wrong Calls 668499
4. Fake Calls Received 46424
5. Fake Calls Responded 1779
Emergency Details
Emergency Calls Responded 1713363
1. R.T.A 771021
2. Other (Mostly medical emergencies) 742308
3. Fire 45103
4. Crime Calls (Violence) 42039
5. Drowning Cases 1327
6. Building Collapse 1746

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7. Explosions Bomb Blast 544

8. Miscellaneous Emergencies 101089
9. Falls from Height 8186
Response Time
1. Average Responded Calls Per Day 261
2. Average Response Time 8.6
3. Average Response Time for Fire Emergencies 8.5
Patient Details
Total Patients Rescued & Hospitalised 1661035
1. First Aid at Site 444891
2. Patients Survived & Hospitalised 1169684
3. Patients Died 46215
4. Flood Evacuees 245
5. Patient Revived After CPR / AED 20323

Initiatives Taken
1. High-rise Building Survey
As a preventive measure Rescue Lahore is conducting Fire Safety Audits and surveys of high-
rise buildings including commercial, residential and official occupancies, as a step towards
achieving their vision of a safer and more resilient community.
2. Dengue Activities
During the spike in viral Dengue, Rescue Lahore conducted special door to door surveys to
provide awareness and better understating about the disease. To contribute more actively against
the virus, Rescue Lahore initiated a cleanliness drive, in the light of SOPs given by the District
administration, from 23 community rescue stations and their surroundings across Lahore.
3. COVID-19 Activities
Rescue Lahore provided medical care to citizens of Lahore during the Covid pandemic and
shifted affected and suspected patients to quarantine centres per SOPs issued by the World
Health Organization. Rescue Lahore also served in different quarantine centres (Expo Centre,
Mayo Hospital, PKLI etc.) with the help of the health department, as front-line workers
providing help with testing, sample collection & vaccination. Rescue Lahore also provided
services in the burial of deceased Covid victims, from hospital to graveyard, adhering to all the
SOPs given by the District administration.
4. Community Training
To provide quick response in case of disaster Rescue Lahore initiated the Quick Response Team
(QRT) programme in which Rescue Lahore community instructors train community youth in
first aid and fire prevention management.
5. Road Safety Management
An analysis of data shows that the highest number of emergencies are related to road traffic
crashes (RTC). Therefore to prevent and minimise the future reoccurrence, Rescue Lahore is
working on preventive measures which include blind spot identification, road safety promotion,
helmet campaigns, road safety walks etc. throughout the year.
6. District Emergency Board (DEB) Meeting
Initated DEB meetings for smooth liaison with other department and presented the record of
commercial and residential fire emergencies. Rescue Lahore emphasised the fact before the
Board that the season in which the most fire cases occur starts from April to August and pointed
out that District Lahore is most vulnerable to fire cases in the month of May.

Complaint Number
Punjab Emergency Services Academy & Headquarters Lahore: 0333-3331122

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SOCIAL WELFARE
Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Mal
Social Welfare is a process of social development through which people’s potential is realised
in order to promote their effective participation in social change and improvement of quality of life.
The concept of Social Welfare in Pakistan is drawn from the cardinal principles of Islam based on
Adl-o-Ehsan and Haqooq-ul-Ibad, making the state and society jointly responsible for the welfare of
the people. The Constitution of Pakistan also enjoins on the state to alleviate sufferings of all citizens
irrespective of gender, caste, creed or race.

Major Functions
Institutional services, care, training &
rehabilitation for socially/ economically
depressed and vulnerable groups
Free treatment of deserving patients
from Zakat, Bait ul Mal & Patient Welfare
Societies (PWS)
Social services through non-
governmental organisations (NGOs)
Assessment & Registration of Persons
with Disabilities (PWD)
Boarding & Lodging services through
Pannah Gahs.
Eradication of Social Evils (Anti
Beggary)

Human Resources
Deputy Director BS-18
In-charge of Institutions BS-17/18
Social Welfare Officer (District Office)
Social Welfare Officer BS-17
Medical Social Officer BS-17

The sanctioned HR strength of Lahore District is as follows.

Number of
Name of Post Vacant Posts
Posts
Deputy Director (Bs-18) 01 -
In-charge Institutions (BS-18) 04 -
In-charge Institutions (BS-17) 04 -
MSOs (Bs-17) 49 12
SWOs (BS-17) 26 12
Craft Designer (Bs-17) 01 -
Physiologist 03 01
Law Officer 01 -
Women Doctor 01 -
Total 89 25

Service Delivery Units

Institutions 08
Medical Social Services Units (MSSU) 22

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Modal Drug Abuse Centers. (MDAC) 06

Community Development Projects 13
Socio Economic Rehabilitation Centres (SERC) 02
Pannah Gah (Shelter Homes) 13

Institutions
District Industrial Home (Sanatzar )
Welfare Home for the Destitute and Needy Women ( Kashana)
Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Human Rights Center for Women
Shelter Home (Dar-ul-Aman)
Model Orphanage Home
Socio Economic Rehabilitation Centers, Central Jail & District Jails
Beggars Home Raiwind Lahore
Pannah Gah-13 (Shelter Homes)

Registered NGOs
The number of NGOs registered by sector is as follows.
Sector Number of NGOs
Health sector 97
Education 90
Women’s welfare 54
Child Welfare 8
Disability 14
Drug Eradication 6
Religious Education 20
Human Rights 6
Youth Welfare 8
Legal Aid 4
Environment Protection 2
Miscellaneous 94
Total 403

Benazir Income Support & Ehsaas Programmes

Poverty and inequality are the causes as well as consequences of multi-faceted development
problems in Pakistan and there has been strong evidence and public policy rationale to address these
challenges. The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) was established in 2008 by the
Government at the time, as a means to address reductions in purchasing power and grew to become
the largest aid programme in Pakistan. The Ehsaas programme, in turn, was formally launched in
March 2019 by the Government at the time as an umbrella initiative to address poverty and inequality.
The difference between the two has been outlined as the following:
BISP is the name of a law and an institution. It has executed a number of programmes over
the last ten years. Ehsaas is an umbrella initiative which has more than 280 programmes, policies and
initiatives, structured in four thematic pillars (eliminating elite capture, social safety net, investing in
human capital and creating livelihoods) all linked to a theory of change. [As of July 2021] BISP was
one of the 34 executing bodies for some Ehsaas [Link]
The objectives of Ehsaas were to:
Address elite capture and make the government system work for equality of opportunity
Provide effective and comprehensive safety nets for the marginalised and the vulnerable
Create livelihoods and jobs for the poor
Invest in people for human capital formation; and

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Lift lagging areas

The first four objectives constituted the four Ehsaas Pillars, under which its 134 policies and
programme areas were aligned. The 5th objective was [Link] BISP was an important
intervention for its time, despite criticisms, and as such, the Ehsaas programme built on its success.
The future of these programmes is intrinsically tied to the incumbent government of the time.

District Zakat Committee

System of Zakat & Ushr was introduced in the country through the Zakat & Ushr Ordinance,
1980. Zakat was a Federal subject, however consequent to the 18th amendment in the Constitution,
the subject of Zakat was devolved to the provinces, and currently Zakat and Ushr is a Provincial
subject. Accordingly, the Zakat and Ushr Ordinance 1980 has been repealed in the province, and the
Punjab Zakat & Ushr Act 2018 has been promulgated.
Although the subject of Zakat has been devolved to the provinces, the collection of Zakat is
with the Federal Government (Ministry of Religious Affairs Islamabad). Zakat is deducted on a
compulsory basis on the eleven assets mentioned in the 1st Schedule of the Punjab Zakat & Ushr Act,
2018.
The amount of Zakat so collected is distributed among the Provinces by the Central
Government. Punjab’s share is 57.36% which is shared accordingly with the districts per their
population. Punjab Zakat & Ushr Department is engaged in the disbursement of Zakat. During the
2020-21 financial year, the District Zakat Committee, Lahore disbursed an amount of Rs.337.4 million
among 20069 zakat-deserving mustahqeen under different Zakat programmes.
The District Zakat Committee was initially established in the wake of the Zakat & Ushr
Ordinance 1980. The District Zakat Committee Lahore is constituted for a period of three years by
the Provincial Government in consultation with the Council.
It consists of one Chairman who is from the private sector, a representative of the District
Administration not below the rank of an Officer of BS-18, one non-official member from each Tehsil,
three Female Members and a District Zakat Officer (DZO). The age of women members should not
be less than 40 years. In the absence of DZC, the Deputy Commissioner will work as Administrator
of the DZC.
The Present Chairman of District Zakat Committee is Mr. Muhammad Shabbir Sial, a
businessman and social worker. The DZO works as Secretary to the Committee and administrative
in-charge of the office and is a BS- 17 Officer. Former Deputy Commissioners of Lahore Madam
Saleha Saeed, Mr. Muhammad Asghar Joyia and Mr. Danish Afzaal have also served as Administrator
District Zakat Committee Lahore in the recent past. Under their supervision an amount of Rs 152
million was released to 16928 mustahqeen as a one-time special grant for those affected by COVID-
19 during the 2019-20 financial year.
Major Functions
The main functions of the DZC are as follows, subject to guidelines that may be given by the
Provincial Council.
Oversee, generally, the functioning of administrative organisation of Zakat and, more
particularly, the assessment of Ushr and atiyyat and the disbursement and utilisation of
moneys in the District Zakat Fund and the Local Zakat Fund
Arrange audit of the Local Zakat Funds in the District
Tender to the Provincial Council advice on any matter specified by it
Constitution of Local Zakat Committees
Supersession/removal of Chairmen/Members of Local Zakat Committees.

Local Zakat Committees (LZCs)

A Local Zakat Committee (LZC) is the primary unit of the District Zakat Committee through
which istehqaq for zakat assistance out of zakat programmes is determined for a beneficiary. There
are 1284 LZCs in District Lahore. Each LZC comprises ten persons: one Chairman (matriculate) and

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nine other members including three women. All members of the Committee should be Muslims of
sound moral and financial integrity. The age of women members should not be below 40 years.
Human Resources
The Human Resource strength of the District Zakat Committee is as follows.

Regular Staff
These are regular employees of the Government of the Punjab.
Name of Post BS
1 District Zakat Officer BS 17
2 Addl. DZO B S 17
3 Accountant 15
4 Stenographer 14
5 Junior Clerk 11
6 Driver 5
7 Naib Qasid 1
8 Chowkidar 1
9 Sanitary worker 1

Zakat Paid Staff

These employees are called Aamleen-e-Zakat. They are contractual employees and paid out of the
Zakat Fund according to the terms and conditions set by the Punjab Zakat & Ushr Council. These
are of two kinds: Internal Audit staff and Field Zakat Clerks. Their details are below.
Name Number
1 Audit Officer One
2 Audit Assistant One
3 Auditor One for 200 Local Zakat committees
4 Field Zakat Clerk One for 15 Local Zakat committees

Ongoing Zakat Programmes:

1. Guzara Allowance is the flagship program of the Zakat department. Only adult Muslims, living
below the poverty level are eligible for this. Eligibility is subject to determination of Istehqaq by
the Chairperson LZC of his/her residential area. Preference is given to widows, divorcees,
individuals who are disabled, unemployed and not habitual beggars. Payments are made through
a branchless banking system at the rate of Rs.1500/- per month on a quarterly basis after
biometric verification.
2. Guzara Allowance for the Blind is a scheme only for zakat-deserving mustahqeen with complete
blindness who have their disability certificate issued by the Social Welfare Department. They
should not be a habitual beggar, and are paid after determination of Istehqaq by the LZC.
Payment is made after biometric verification through a branchless banking system at the rate of
Rs. 2000/- per month per beneficiary on a quarterly basis.
3. Educational stipends (General) are disbursed to zakat-deserving students studying in public sector
educational colleges and universities who are eligible for these stipends after completing due
process. They are paid annually per specified rates.
4. Educational stipend (Technical) are provided for students of vocational training institutes being
run by the Punjab Vocational Training Council. There are 13 institutes in District Lahore where
more than 3000 students get technical and vocational training. DZC issues monthly stipends at
the rate of 4000/ per student as monthly fee and stipend.
5. Stipend to students of Deeni Madaris are disbursed to zakat-deserving students studying in Deeni
Madaris registered with the Zakat department deemed eligible for such stipends.
6. Healthcare is provided by the Zakat department as free medical treatment to zakat-deserving
persons from public sector Teaching, DHQ and THQ hospitals and specific private medical

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institutes like Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital, Gulab Devi Chest Hospital, Fountain House
and Ghurki Trust Hospital in Lahore.

DZC Budget 2021-22

The position of the budget of the DZC Lahore for 2021-22 is as follows.
Amount Number of Beneficiaries
Head Disbursed by
Male Female Total
DZCs
1 Guzara Allowance 192096000 1399 9329 10728
Guzara Allowance for the
2 13380000 430 128 558
Blind
3 Health Care-District 5837081 271 246 517
4 Service Charges 1541070 0 0 0
Stipend to the Students of
5 5404500 609 30 639
Deeni Madaris
6 Educational Stipend (General) 5406000 55 688 743
Educational Stipend
7 57240000 1276 1112 2388
(Technical)
8 Salaries of Zakat Paid Staff 16189860 0 0 0
Total (DZF) 297094511 4040 11533 15573

SOS Children’s Village Lahore

SOS Children's Village Lahore was the first of the project to be established in Pakistan. It was
officially opened in January 1977 by the President of Pakistan and is constructed on a ten-acre site
donated by the Government of the Punjab. The idea of the SOS Children's Village is an important
milestone in the development of a modern approach towards the welfare of children.

Deprived of their natural parents, children are placed in an environment which is as close as
possible to a natural home. SOS Children's Villages meet this need by providing them with care,
security, higher education and job-training. This allows them to live relatively normal lives and
develop a sense of confidence that helps them realise their full potential.
The organisation aims to admit children who are orphaned (having lost both parents) or social
orphans through a standard admission policy. Social orphans are the result of the mother remarrying

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or having an incurable disease or mental illness and, therefore being unable to provide for the
children.
Many children have gone on to lead successful and happy lives. The Village started out with
15 family homes; another four have been added since, one of which has been donated by Mohammad
Afzal, who grew up in this Village and is now a successful Hong Kong-based businessman. Many
children have gone out into the world from this Village, and several are doing remarkably well. The
professions they have entered include banking, IT, the armed forces, teaching, the textile industry and
serving as government employees.
They are invited to the reunion of former children, which is organised regularly and provides
an opportunity for them to renew their ties. To date, the marriages of 46 girls have been arranged by
the Village, with Friends of SOS bearing all the expenses. They regularly visit their former homes and
families, along with their own children.
The SOS youth home is located on a property purchased in a nearby area in 1985. This is an
old building and is now reaching the end of its utility. Construction of a new youth home is in its
planning phase; land has been allocated for this purpose by the Government of Punjab.

Akhuwat Foundation Lahore

Akhuwat is a not-for-profit organisation
founded in 2001 on the Islamic principle of Mawakhat
or solidarity. It is a microfinance institution which
offers shariah-compliant micro-financial services to
clients in Lahore and elsewhere in Pakistan.
The institution has been in business for more
than twenty years. It charges no interest or any other
fees for its loans and relies heavily on volunteer staff.
All its funding is from local and mainly unofficial
voluntary donations, including substantial amounts
from its clients, which cover over half its operating
costs.
Akhuwat generally lends to households, rather
than to individual women or men, and without any
form of group intermediation. It is an important
example of an efficient but non-commercial approach
to microfinance, from which many other microfinance
institutions may be able to learn.

Programmes
Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance
Launched in 2001, hundreds of thousands of poor families have been supported through Akhuwat’s
interest-free microfinance loans. As Akhuwat’s core program, Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance (AIM)
provides interest-free loans to the underprivileged to enable them to create sustainable pathways out
of poverty. The loan amounts are small: between Rs10 000 to Rs50 000 or Rs100 000. But they extend
a lifeline to thousands of people who cannot get traditional bank loans. The trust and ownership of
the programme felt by poor communities is evident in Akhuwat’s 99.9% loan repayment rate. Loan
application and disbursement procedures are designed to be helpful to low-income borrowers – they
are simple to understand, locally provided, and quickly accessible with minimal paperwork. To date,
Akhuwat has disbursed over 4.2 million interest-free loans amounting to Rs. 128 billion helping 3
million families across Pakistan.
Akhuwat Education Services
Akhuwat is embarked on the mission to provide free-of-cost, high quality education through its
intervention in primary, secondary and higher education. Through these services, 301 schools and 3
colleges are providing education to 47,000+ students.

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Akhuwat Clothes Bank

It collects, sorts and cleans donated clothing and gifts them to low-income families. These gifts are
disbursed throughout the year while special campaigns are carried out during peak winter season and
natural disasters. Established in 2013, the Clothes Bank also employs and trains transgender people
to run its various programs. Through this initiative. 3.23 million clothes have been collected &
distributed amongst the needy.
Khwajasira Support Programme
Akhuwat, in collaboration with Fountain House launched the Akhuwat Khwajasira Support
Programme in 2011. The programme works with the vision of creating a system of support for
members of the Khwajasira community. This is done through economic and social interventions
whereby thousands of Khwajasiras have been registered across the country and are supported through
direct financial assistance, health services, psychological support and acquisition of identity
documents. A monthly stipend on Rs. 1200 is disbursed to each member Khwajasira 40 years or older
having a monthly income less than Rs.10,000. More than 2000 registered Khwajasira are receiving
financial and social assistance via this program.
Akhuwat Health Services (AHS)
It provides subsidised medicines, lab tests, free examination and consultation to those families
that are unable to afford basic health care. In 2009, AHS set up a health centre in Township,
Lahore that now houses a Diabetes Centre, Gynaecology Clinic, Psychiatric Clinic and a General
Clinic. It has set up playrooms in public hospitals for children offering a refuge for children and
their families who often spend months on end in hospital wards.

Child Protection Bureau

All children have the right to protection. They have the right to be provided with food, shelter,
education, health, play and leisure. Realising the importance of children’s care and to safeguard the
rights of destitute and neglected children in the society, Child Protection & Welfare Bureau was
established in March 2004 under Punjab Destitute & Neglected Children Act, 2004 as an autonomous
body of Government of Punjab.
One of the objectives for the establishment of this Bureau is to protect these children from
criminals. This institution not only provides food and shelter but also imparts education and skills to
children to help them grow into healthy and happy citizens. The Bureau endeavours for reunification
of these children with their families. Besides this, child psychologists take various measures to support
their mental development and rehabilitation. A child protection court has been established that
addresses the issues like custody and legal reunification of children with their parents. A child helpline
has also been set up which provides guidance, help and coordination for their rescue and protective
custody.
This Bureau has a dedicated team of highly educated professionals and motivated officers,
which include child protection officers, psychologists, law officers and doctors, etc. To extend its
services the Bureau has established Child Protection Institutions in Lahore.
Child Protection Institutes
For rescued children who cannot be placed in a safe family environment, the Bureau has
established standardised alternative care institutions. Child Protection Institutions (CPIs) managed by
the Bureau provide residence, food, education, health care, psychological counselling and recreation
to destitute and neglected children upon admission till the time that the children are reunited into
their families. The number of children admitted in CPIs in different district offices of the Child
Protection & Welfare Bureau from 2004 to 2020 was 59,106.
Child Protection Schools
Child Protection Schools have been established to provide quality basic education to the
children. Child Protection School, Lahore is upgraded to Middle Level and registered with the
Education Department, Government of the Punjab. Children who have passed middle level are
provided Secondary Education that is outsourced. Rescued children residing at Child Protection
Institutes are enrolled in Child Protection Schools. Apart from traditional school education, Child

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Protection & Welfare Bureau has focused on providing religious education as well. Religious teachers
that are appointed offer sound knowledge about the Holy Quran and on other Islamic teachings.
Child Protection Courts
Child Protection Courts (CPC) have been established under Section 22 of the Punjab
Destitute & Neglected Children Act, 2007 which provide that the Government may, by notification,
establish one or more Courts under this Act for the local area. The Government appoints a Presiding
Officer of the courts established for the purpose of this Act in consultation with the Lahore High
Court. Until a court is established for a local area, the Lahore High Court may confer powers of the
Court for a local area upon a Sessions Judge or an Additional Sessions Judge. The Child Protection
Courts perform the following functions under the provisions of Punjab Destitute and Neglected
Children Act, 2007:
Legal custody of Destitute and Neglected children
Reunification of Destitute and Neglected children with their families

i Adapted from: UNESCO (Multiple Authors). “Al Biruni”. The UNESCO Courier. Vol. 27. June 1974.
ii Technically called a ‘planispheric astrolabe’, it represents the conversion of spherical geometry to be able to reach any
location on Earth relative to the sun and the stars on a celestial sphere. It was in a way the very first scientific
instrument and paved the way forward in the days before telescopic astronomy.
iii Source: History of Science Museum, Oxford University. Image credit: [Link]/astrolabe/exhibition/
iv Sultan, Atiyab. 2011. “The Mirror and the Lamp: Colonial Educational Reform in 19th Century Punjab”. Lahore

Journal of Policy Studies. Vol 4 (1) October 2011.

v Adapted from: Aslam, Irfan. “Punjab through the Ages”. Dawn News. Published on February 27, 2016
vi Gautam, Shriya. 2011. Education in Punjab under the British Rule from 1849 to 1947. Presented at the National

Seminar on Education and Caste System in India Under the British Rule, September 27-28, 2011, ICDEOL Himachal
Pradesh University
vii Government College, Lahore. Fred Bremner [photographer]. Lahore c. 1903. Image credit:

[Link]/postcard/government-college-lahore
viii Image credit: Project Lahore. [Link]/[Link].
ix University and College information from their respective websites.
x Habib, Masooma. 2013. Education in Pakistan’s Punjab: Outcomes and Interventions. The Lahore Journal of Economics.

18:SE. September 2013.

xi Khattak, Khalid. "41,638 private schools sprang up in Punjab in decade". International The News. Published on January

3, 2018.
xii Punjab Higher Education Commission. Annual Report 2019.
xiii Source: Punjab University website. Image credit: Abrar Cheema.
xiv Kamran, T. & Jacob, P. 2020. Lessons from the Nationalisation of Education in 1972. Lahore: Centre for Social

Justice.
xv Image credit: Ali Usman Baig. [Link]
xvi Anshu, Supe A. Evolution of Medical Education in India: The impact of colonialism. J Postgrad Med. 2016 Oct-Dec;

62(4):255-259
xvii King Edward Medical University. History of King Edward Medical University: 161 Years of Excellence in Medical Education

(1860 - 2021). Lahore: Fareedia Art Press International.

xviii Dawakhana Hakim Ajmal Khan: [Link]
xix Sources: Mayo Hospital website: [Link]; Mayo Hospital - Lahore History: [Link]
xx Sources: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Lady Willingdon Hospital, Lahore, King Edward Medical

University ([Link]); Lady Willingdon Hospital ([Link])

xxi Source: Lady Aitchison Hospital ([Link])
xxii Source: [Link]/hospitals/lahore/sir-ganga-ram-hospital
xxiii Source: Jinnah Hospital, Lahore – Allama Iqbal Medical College ([Link])
xxiv Sources: Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore ([Link])
xxv Source: Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex Lahore: Official Website ([Link])
xxvi Source: Lahore General Hospital ([Link])
xxvii Source: Children’s Hospital Lahore ([Link])
xxviii Lakhani, Bilal M. Ehsaas and BISP: What is the difference? The Express Tribune. Published on July 11, 2021.
xxix Ehsaas Strategy Document. [Link]/Document/Downloads/Strategy_Ehsaas_for_online_consultation.pdf

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PART C
Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Ae Roshniyon ke Shehr
Faiz Ahmed Faiz

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ECONOMY
Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Economy
Known as the cultural capital of Pakistan, Lahore is famous for its centuries-old bazaars,
traditions, cultural heritage, and mouth-watering local delicacies. In 1927, Patras Bokhari had fun in
Lahore ka jughrafia: “Beyond the four walls of Lahore also happens to be Lahore. And day by day it is
happening more and more. Experts estimate that Lahore will be the name of a province in 10-20
years, with Punjab as its capital.” According to the 2017 Census, it is the only city whose population
has more than doubled since 1998, from 5.14 million to 11.13 million.
In a research report produced by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), it
has been estimated that the district contributes a little over 11% to the national GDP. In 2010-11,
the size of the economy of Lahore was around Rs 945.6 billion increasing to Rs 1,227 billion in 2014-
15, representing a growth rate of 6.7% over the four-year period. Since this was higher than the
growth rate of Punjab and Pakistan, this indicates that not only is the Lahore economy large, but it is
also a thriving one.
In economic literature, industrial growth appears as a key determinant of economic growth,
as has been the case with China, Korea, India, Taiwan, and Brazil amongst others. Overwhelming
evidence from cross-country studies has been found to suggest that such growth, in turn, is essential
to achieving sustained reduction in poverty and for the improvement of quality of life, which are two
of the essential objectives of development. In this case of Lahore, however, there has been a sectoral
change seeing a gradual shift from manufacturing to IT, services, and education, unlike other
economic hubs in Pakistan. On the back of a highly skilled workforce, Lahore has also established
itself as the breeding ground for start-ups. The National Incubation Centre, which helps new start-
ups gain ground in different fields, is also based in Lahore. The fact that it is Pakistan's most urbanised
city, might explain this shift.

Lahore is the second largest financial hub of Pakistan and has industrial areas, primarily located
in special economic zones (SEZs) such as Quaid-e-Azam Estate and the new Sundar Industrial Estate
(near Raiwind). These are major agglomerations with units focusing on manufacturing. Industrial
sector occupies the second largest position in Lahore and mostly depends on manufacturing activity
(73.4 %), followed by construction (18.2 %) percent. Gondal et al (2017)1 present a comparative
analysis of the industries located in the Lahore, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala divisions. The figure taken
from the study shows that the number of units in Lahore is one of the highest amongst the districts
that fall in the industrial belt and has posted a ten-year growth of 15% for the period 2006-2016.
Now we look at trends in employment from the same study. The blue bars represent the
percentage contribution to employment of each district for the year 2006. Similarly, the green and red
bars represent the contribution for years 2010 and 2016, respectively. To illustrate, Faisalabad

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employed 15.5 % of the total workforce employed in the industrial sector in Punjab in 2006, while
16.6 % were employed in Lahore and 24.9% in districts other than the ones in these three divisions.
Employment shares in nearly all the major cities seem to be either static or shrinking except
for Faisalabad, Sialkot, and districts in other parts of the Punjab. Though Lahore saw a spike in 2010,
the contribution to employment since then has decreased to 15.5 % in 2016.
This seems counter-intuitive since we would expect the share in the employment levels to
move with the number of industrial units in each district, that is, if the number of units in Lahore
have increased vis-à-vis other districts, we would expect the share employed for the city to rise as
well. This, however, does not have to hold true. The major reason for this trend is that industry in
the major cities is transitioning from labour intensive production techniques to more capital-intensive
ones causing a reduction in share of employment. As a result of this reduction, the proportion
contribution to the employment levels for districts like Faisalabad has increased along with some of
the smaller less developed districts not belonging to these three divisions.

The Lahore division, overall, has also shown a much greater quantum of investment in the
manufacturing sector, with district Lahore leading the way.

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While a more rigorous study is needed to understand the reasons for the fall in the investment
levels from 2010 to 2016 in Lahore, one can speculate that this could be due to the services sector
taking a more dominant role. This hypothesis is further corroborated by the fall in the share of
Lahore’s contribution to provincial employment levels. More recent estimates indicate that nearly
42% of Lahore’s work force is employed in finance, banking, real estate, community, cultural, and
social services. The city has also emerged as the country’s largest software producing centre. This
area, however, needs further research to understand the trends in the services sector vis-a-vis the
manufacturing sector, and the existence of any economic spill overs. Agriculture sector has reduced
to less than one per cent with livestock and dairy being the primary activity in this sector.
As an aside, Lahore is also the hub of handmade carpet manufacturing in Pakistan. At present,
hand-knitted carpets produced in and around Lahore are among Pakistan's leading export products,
and their manufacturing is the second-largest cottage and small industry. Craftsmen in Lahore
produce almost every type of handmade carpet using popular motifs such as medallions, paisleys,
traceries, and geometric designs. The Lahore Design Centre at the Punjab Small Industries
Corporation maintains a separate section of carpet designing to experiment with new designs. Lahore
is known for single-weft designs in Turkoman and Caucasian style and double-weft Mughal types.2

MARKETS AND BAZAARS OF LAHORE

Fruit and Vegetable Market (Badami Bagh Mandi), Lahore
Located just over a kilometre away from the Minar-e-Pakistan, the Lahore Fruit, and
Vegetable Market—known as the ‘Badami Bagh Mandi’ in common parlance—is one of the busiest
markets in Pakistan. It was founded in 1969 to act as the primary location for auctions of fresh
produce, which would then go on to feed the growing city of Lahore. Today, this market provides
fruits and vegetables to the whole Lahore Division, and not just to retailers but also to every minor
market located in its vicinity. If you had any fruits or vegetables today, chances are that it was sourced
through a complex supply chain from Badami Bagh mandi.
For the first ten years, its control was retained by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA).
In 1978, its market committee was established under the Agriculture Produce Markets Act (1939),
which is running its operations to this day. The purpose of this market is to provide farmers an avenue
where their produce can be sold via public outcry auction. All varieties of fruits and vegetables are
routed through Badami Bagh and are bought by cart vendors, vegetable shops, large retailers,
commodity traders, and wholesalers.
The figure below shows the blueprint of the mandi, with details including shops, auction
sheds, roads, parking areas and the dimensions of each. The total area of the combined fruit and
vegetable sections is approximately 205 kanals. Though this sounds like a reasonably large space, the
market caters to nearly 800 trucks daily for a total business turnover of Rs. 850 million. A rough
estimate of the number of people that are employed in some capacity with the economic activity that
takes place here (shopkeepers, labour, bulk breakers, auctioneers, farmers and so on) is 25,000. With
these many people, trucks, and the commodities themselves, all packed in a small space, the market
bustles with activity 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To a visitor, the market would seem unmanaged
and perhaps even chaotic. But there is a system to this chaos, which is understood by those who rely
on it for their livelihoods.

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Blueprint of the Badami Bagh Mandi

The population of Lahore has

seen a rapid increase, doubling
from 5.14 million to 11.13 million
between 1998 and 2017. This has
naturally put a lot of pressure on
markets such as Badami Bagh
since their capacity in terms of
physical space and infrastructure is
limited with no room for
expansion. This pressure worsens
during the monsoon rains since
the ground elevation of the market
is considerably lower than the
adjoining areas causing water
accumulation and flood drain
overflow inside the mandi. Due to
this the functioning of the market
is affected and requires constant
intervention by the district
administration, which responds by
installing dewatering equipment
and heavy machinery to clear the
area.
While development of new
markets is being considered due to
(Clockwise from top left): Badami Bagh Market entrance, Trucks parked next to auction
sheds, Labourer carrying onions from the auction area, tomatoes being unloaded, two lots
the growing needs of the district,
of potatoes waiting to be auctioned, onion auction in action the Badami Bagh mandi will
continue to play a central role in
the provision of essential commodities to the citizens of Lahore and adjoining districts for the
foreseeable future.

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Markets and Bazaars of the Walled City

The walled city of Lahore is not just about buildings, architecture, monuments, and traditional
lifestyles. It is also the biggest wholesale and retail marketplace in Asia. In the total area of 2.6 sq. km.
Each gate has a market of its own kind and an interesting feature of the markets of old Lahore is the
network with which they are linked.

Azam Cloth Market

Azam Cloth Market is inside Delhi Gate and considered among the largest wholesale cloth markets
of Asia. From here cloth is supplied to Afghanistan, Iran, India and China. There are approximately
12000 shops here. The market is a collage of many small, interlinked bazaars where the daylight does
not always seep in and the damp musty odour of history prevails. From khaddar to silk, ready-to-
wear to clothing fabrics, casual wear to bridal wear, the market has something for every apparel
retailer. There was a small market near Wazir Khan Mosque in 1953, but when a road had to be
widened the market was shifted to its current location by General Azam who gave his own name to
the market.
Fish market
There are two wholesale fish markets in Mori Gate and Delhi Gate. The market of Mori Gate was
established in 1969 and has 21 shops or carts, while the fish market of Dehli Gate is some 25 years
old and has nearly 40 shops. Supply of fish is made to renowned restaurants of the city and to other
cities.

Akbari Mandi
Akbari Mandi is the Whole Sale Market of Grains, Spices, Herbs and chemicals. It is claimed as one
of the largest spice & grain markets in Asia.
Pakistan Cloth Market
Pakistan cloth market exists inside Delhi gate near Azam Cloth Market. It deals in retail and is famous
for retail clothing among the citizens of Lahore and other cities. This market was established nearly
40 years ago and has nearly 1500 shops.
Kasera Bazaar
Established nearly 135 years ago near Rang Mehal chowk, there are now 100 shops here. This bazaar
is famous for household utensils and crockery. The items are mostly made of iron, steel, brass and

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copper. Antique crockery and decoration pieces are a speciality of the bazaar that attracts several
international tourists. Many souvenirs are also exported from the bazaar. Crockery polishers (kalayee
wala) were once found here but with the decrease in usage of copper and brass crockery, only one
polish shop now remains.
Waan Market
Waan Market is also situated near Rang Mahal chowk adjacent to Kasera Bazaar. This market has
existed for 120 years; before partition it was called Waan Wattan. The market deals in waan/baan,
seba, plastic baan and all kind of material used in making traditional beds. Also, traditional peerhay,
chauki and chabian are also available here. Artisans can be seen weaving furniture with the waan.

Moti Bazaar
Moti bazaar is the name of the shoe market of the walled city. It is a famous bazaar for the wholesale
shoe market. Shoes are supplied to the whole country from here and also exported. This bazaar is
said to be famous since the Mughal period and presently has nearly 1200 shops.
Sarafa Bazaar
This is Lahore’s old gold market and has nearly 500 shops. Sarafa bazaar was established in the 1960’s;
previously cobblers and tailors had shops here.

Wacho Wali Bazaar

Wacho wali bazaar is situated near Rang Mahal chowk. This bazaar exists since 1952. It is a silver
market where silver jewellery is sold and purchased and is one of the largest markets of silver in
Pakistan.
Langha Mandi Bazaar
Lahnga Mandi Bazaar is a market for musical instruments. It is situated alongside Shahi Mohalla,
Taxali gate. Before partition most of the shops here belonged to the Hindu community. There are
approximately 100 shops here.
Bangle Market
This market was established by the government in 1950 and is a wholesale bangle market. Different
varieties of bangles, new and old, contemporary and traditional, made of different materials can be
found here. There are nearly 50 shops here.

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Ainak Market
This market is located outside Shah Alam gate and has been here since 1970. There are 120 shops in
this market that deal with optical products. The surrounding area has optical factories and
warehouses.

Sheikhupurian Bazaar
Sheikhupurian bazaar is in Taxali gate. It is a Mughal period bazaar and was named at the name of
Shehzada Saleem whose nickname was Sheikhu. This market is renowned for leather khussa
(traditional footwear) and kolapuri chappal. Khussay and kolapuri chappal are exported to other
countries and to other parts of Pakistan. This bazaar has about 120 shops.
Shisha Moti Bazaar
Shisha Moti Bazaar is near Gumti Bazaar, Rang Mehal. It was established in the 1980s and has nearly
40 shops that sell material for the manufacture of shoes (Rexine, artificial stones, sequins etc.).

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Shah Alam Market

This market stands at the site of the Shah Alam Gate,
named after Emperor Shah Alam who died in Lahore in
1712. The gate, like many other gates of the walled city, no
longer exists. The entire area was burnt down during a fire
at the time of partition (1947) and subsequent riots. It was
rebuilt and modernised after the fire but the gate was never
restored. Shah Alam has been a thriving centre of
commerce for over a century, and it is still going strong.
Before partition Shahalmi’s population was mainly Hindu
with businesses owned by Hindus who left for India during
the 1947 partition. Accessories, cosmetics, electronic
goods, handicrafts, antiques, stationery, crockery, genuine items and counterfeits, brand new,
reconditioned or spare parts – anything one can think of is available there. There are nearly 10,000
shops in this market.
Kinaari Bazaar
Kinaari bazaar is situated near Rang Mehal chowk inside Shah Alam Gate. This bazaar has been here
for more than 100 years. There are about 150 shops here. Kinaari bazaar is famous for all kinds of
embroidered cloth for weddings and festivals. Embroidered cloth is supplied to all the large markets
of the city and to other cities.
Gumti Bazaar
Gumti Bazaar is located next to Kinaari Bazaar inside Shah Alam Gate. This market is 25 to 30 years
old and also has embroidered cloth but it is cheaper than that available at Kinaari bazaar; Gumti
bazaar also sells pieces with minor defects, which are lower in price.

Bird Market
Bird market is situated outside Bhati gate. It is not a very old market and was established nearly 20
years ago. It has 38 shops.
Gemstone Market
This market is situated between Shah Alam gate and Lohari gate. Before partition there were some
traders of gemstones but they all migrated to India. The present gemstone market was established
some 30 years ago and there are almost 55 shops here.

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Paaparr Mandi
Pappar Mandi is situated between Shah Alam and Lohari Gate. It is a market for herbs, perfumes,
murabajaat and plastic bottles. There are nearly 250 shops here. It is said that this market existed here
since before partition.
Rim Market
Rim Market is in Masti gate, opposite the Akbari gate of Lahore Fort. This market was established here
35 years ago and mainly deals in car rims. There are 50 to 60 shops here.

Source: WCLA
Some of the other markets in and around Lahore include:
- Dhobi Mandi was located between old Anarkali and the GPO until the establishment of
Pakistan. Many goldsmiths built their shops and workshops in the neighbourhood of Dhobi
Mandi, after which it came to be called "Sonaari Mandi".
- Ghaas Mandiyaan were small markets in many parts of Lahore for buying and selling cattle
fodder. These are still present in many places. There was a Ghaas Mandi near Karim Park on
Kacha Ravi Road and one on GT Road Baghbanpura. The bus stop there was also called "Ghaas
Mandi stop". The mandi at Baghbanpura was destroyed in a huge fire. One such mandi was near
Chowk Daroghwala, one in Thokar Niaz Baig Multan Road and one in Kahna Ferozepur Road.
- Bakar Mandi for buying and selling goats and sheep was near Ali Park near Taxali Mohallah. It
was also set up near Chowk Chauburji. From there it was shifted to Band Road near Babu Sabu
and remained there for about half a century. Around 2010, it was again shifted to "Shahpur
Kaanjran" on Multan Road.
- Sutra Mandi was in Androon Lohari Gate near Anaaj Mandi where items such as threads and
cords were sold and purchased.
- Chamra Mandi for the sale and purchase of cattle and livestock skins extends along the G.T.
Road from Salaanpura to Tezaab Ahata Mor (GT Road).
- Namak Mandi is located in a compound in the centre of Baansan wala Bazaar Ratan Chand
Road.
- Paan Mandi is located in a small area of Anarkali Bazaar.
- Lakar Mandi is located in a wide area on Ravi Road, just before Niazi Chowk; different types of
timber is sold here.
- Gawal Mandi is located near Chamberlain Road and Nisbat Road. While the market is no more,
the whole area is called Gawalmandi.
Anarkali Bazaar
Nestled between Urdu Bazaar and Lahore’s famous Mall Road, Anarkali Bazaar is divided into
old and new sections. Old Anarkali Bazaar is noted for traditional food items while New Anarkali
Bazaar is known for its traditional handicrafts and embroidered clothes including formal wear for
men. Dhani Ram road is famous for its high-quality crockery, and Neela Gumbad for all types of
cycles, readymade garments, leather jackets, automobile parts, shoe stores and much more. The newer
section attracts the most buyers. On Sundays vendors hold a roadside book bazaar where the
occasional rare item may be found at a nominal price. Other than being one of the top street markets
of Lahore, it is also one of the oldest markets in Asia, as its history dates back 200 years. It is located
across from the Lahore Museum.

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Image credit for Anarkali: [Link]

Ichhra Bazaar
Ichhra is a commercial and residential area in
Lahore. Legend says that it was the nickname of a
female belonging to the Kamboja family who came
from Mesopotamia and worshipped a deity named
‘Ishara’; her tomb was named Ichhra. The tomb can
be found in old Ichhra market, which is located on
Ferozepur Road between Gulberg, Mozang and the
Old City. It is known for being one of the most
economical markets of Lahore. This market has
shops for traditional and cultural clothing,
handicrafts supplied from all over Punjab, as well as
furniture.
Hall Road Market
Hall Road is a commercial road near the historic Mall Road. The name of the road comes
from the fact that the British had built four huge halls along the road, which catered to meetings,
exhibitions, and the like. Today those halls have been converted into commercial buildings and are
the hub of Lahore’s electronics market. The market deals with electronics, computers, magnets,
electronic components, CCTV, wires and cables, mobile phones and accessories, DVDs, etc. It is full
of retailers and wholesalers, and is an extremely busy area due to cheap and readily available electronic
imports and pirated items.
Urdu Bazaar
Urdu Bazaar is one of the busiest
markets of Lahore. It is situated near
Anarkali Bazaar. This bazaar is known for
bookselling, publishing, printing paper and
book-related material. From school and
college textbooks to classic literature, and
everything in between, all kinds of books
are available here.
Saddar Bazaar Lahore Cantt
In one of the most populated areas of Lahore, Saddar is located in the Cantonment Board. It
has a large number of shops dealing with household products and clothes.

Fortress Stadium
The Fortress Stadium is a popular open space consisting of shopping centres, restaurants,
cafes, entertainment areas and a sports stadium. It is located in Lahore Cantt. Fortress Stadium is also
one of the busiest commercial areas of the city. The Chairman and Management of Fortress Stadium

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are serving and retired army officers. The Fortress Square Mall and amusement park called Joyland
are located in this area.

Liberty Market
Liberty Market with its iconic horseshoe layout is
located in Gulberg III, an uptown area of Lahore and
was considered one of the best areas to shop in
central Lahore till quite recently. It is still always busy
and a hub for cloth and jewellery shopping, with
‘dupatta gali’ being the preferred option for dyeing
of fabric, and ear and nose piercing.
M.M. Alam Road
M. M. Alam Road named after flying ace of the Pakistan Air Force, Air Commodore Muhammad
Mahmood Alam, runs from Main Market to Firdous Market in Gulberg. It contains shops of high
end fashion brands, shopping plazas and ‘towers’, and a string of upscale restaurants and international
food chains along both sides of the road. This part of the city is always crowded and lively, regardless
of the time of day.
Malls of Lahore
Lahore has become enamoured of shopping malls, particularly those that are temperature-
controlled and house a wide range of brands and eateries. Children can be spotted taking joyrides on
escalators, or, in some cases, sobbing inconsolably for fear of stepping on them. Ambient music,
sparkling floors, wafting fragrances and ever-changing window displays have made these outings
more than a mere shopping trip, although that is the ostensible purpose of the visit. Completely
different in ethos from the older markets of the city, shopping malls are yet another phase in the
evolution of this remarkable city.
Some of the popular malls in the city are: Emporium Mall, with more than 300 brands, 100
food outlets, and nine cinemas; Packages Mall with over 200 brands, a food court, restaurants, cinema
and parking for over 2000 cars; Amanah Mall with eight floors of shopping and food outlets; and
Mall of Lahore, with 13 floors, of which three are for shopping and the rest have offices and
apartments.
Many more are functional and still more are coming up rapidly, having stalled momentarily
due to the coronavirus pandemic and related lockdowns, rules and precautions.

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LAHORE’S MAJOR INDUSTRIAL CLUSTERS & ESTATES

The main industrial clusters and estates of Lahore are as follows.
Location Number of Units
Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate 379
Sundar Industrial Estate 280
Hudiara Drain 328
Charrar Drain 102
Northern Lahore (Steel Mills) 334
Gulberg Industrial Area 53
Katar Bund Road 38
Ferozepur Road 61
Multan Road 160
Shahdra (Farkhabad) 40

Data for Major Industrial Estates

Name Number. of Types of Industries
Units
379 Agricultural Implements, Aluminium Products ,
Quaid-E-Azam Auto Parts, Food Products, Beverages, Blade And
Industrial Estate Razors, Confectionery, Chemical, Cooler,
Cosmetics, Cycle Tyre & Tubes, Embroidery,
Engineering, Fibre Glass Industry, Furniture
Products, Fruit Juices, Gas Cylinders, Gases, Gas
Appliances, Ghee / Cooking Oil, Garments, Glass
Products, Generator, Home Appliances, Hosiery
Products, Ice Cream, Textile, Dying, Knitting &
Stitching, Marble Industry, Packages, Paints /
Varnishes, Pet Bottles.
Sunder Industrial 280 Carpets, Cold Storage, Electric Furnace, Electric
Estate Goods, Embroidery, Fibre Glass Industry, Fire
Fighting Equipment, Flour Mills, Foam
Manufacturing, G.I. & M.S. Pipes, Gas Cylinders,
Gases, Gas Appliances, Ghee / Cooking Oil,
Garments, Glass Products, Generator, Home
Appliances, Hosiery Products, Ink Manufacturing,
Knitted Textile, Foam Industry, Marble Industry,
Packages, Paints / Varnishes, Paper And Paper
Board, Pet Bottles.
Hudiara Drain 328 Textile Dying, Waiving & Stitching, Leather
Footwear, Leather Garments, Engineering,
Chemical.
Charrar Drain 102 Engineering, Textile Dying, Waiving & Stitching,
Garments.
Northern Lahore 334 Steel Re-Rolling Mills, Foundries, Auto-Parts.
(Steel Mills)
Gulberg Industrial 53 Beverages, Ice-Cream, Flour Mills, Food Products,
Area Printing Press.
Katar Bund Road 38 Confectionery, Pharmaceuticals, Paint & Varnish,
Transformers Manufacturing, Cosmetics, Pesticides,
Foods Products.

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Ferozepur Road 61 Ghee Mills, Textile Dying & Stitching, Home

Appliance & Electrics Machineries, Pharmaceuticals,
Flour Mills, Pesticides.
Multan Road 160 Foam Manufacturing, Engineering, Textile, Dying,
Weaving & Stitching, Home Appliance & Electrics
Machineries, Pharmaceuticals, Flour Mills, Auto
Manufacturing, Leather Footwear, Pesticides, Tyre
& Tube Manufacturing.
Shahdra 40 Textile Dying, Bicycle & Bicycle Parts, Engineering,
(Farkhabad) Shoes Manufacturing,

Office of the District Officer: Industries, Prices, Weights & Measures

The Office of the District Officer Industries, Prices, Weights & Measures, Lahore is
responsible for the registration of Firms under Partnership Act, 1932 and registration of societies and
associations under the Societies Registration Act (XXI of 1860) and under the Companies Act, 2017.
It ensures the implementation of Punjab Weights & Measures (International System) Enforcement
Act, 1975, formulates survey reports about prices and other related matters desired by the
Government and provides feedback to the Government for formulating industrial trade import and
export policies and for planning, promotion, and development of medium and large-scale industrial
sector. Inspections are made daily to check weights & measures in the open market to ensure accuracy
of weights. Any violations are forwarded to the concerned court. Weights and scales are confiscated
and nozzles are seized if found inaccurate. Surveys are carried out daily in the open market to check
prices and other related matters as desired by the Government.
Human Resources
Deputy Commissioner / Registrar Joint Stock Companies
District Officer (IPWM) / Registrar of Firms
Deputy District Officer (IPWM)
Assistant District Officer (IPWM)
Inspector (W&M): 3
Asst. Inspector (W&M): 9
Assistant: 2
Senior Clerks: 15
Junior Clerks: 18
Class-IV: 16
Online Business Registration Portal
The online Business Registration Portal is an initiative of the Industries Department Lahore
for Ease of Doing Business (EODB). Business Firms are being registered in Districts under the
Partnership Act, 1932 and District Officers (IPWM) have been notified as the Registrar of Firms. In
order to improve EODB rankings and facilitate investors, an online Business Registration Portal was
developed and launched in Lahore in January 2018. This portal has all the required guidelines and
samples for applicants. Applicants can submit their documents and fees online and they are informed
about the status of their application through SMS and emails alerts. The approximate time for
registration was one week prior to the launch of the portal. To date, 25000 business firms have been
registered through this portal in Lahore, with an average time of 15 hours and 20 minutes, that is, less
than a day. The EODB index ranks countries based on how conducive to business operations the
regulatory environment is. Pakistan jumped up 28 points—the highest ever in Pakistan’s history—
from a ranking of 136 in 2018 to 108 in 2019 among 190 economies. This improvement is attributed
to the online business registration portal. After successful operations in Lahore, the portal has been
replicated across the Punjab since July 2020, and is also being adopted by Sindh and Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa.

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Infrastructure
ROADS
Lahore is one of the largest cities of Pakistan with an extensive road network linking its various
tehsils. While historic roads such as the Mall Road, Main Boulevard Gulberg, Ferozpur Road,
Lawrence Road, Jail Road, etc. mapped the city traditionally, now with the Ring Road and vast
boulevards in different housing societies, the road network of Lahore has morphed considerably.
Over the past decade, significant efforts have also been made to ease commute through the
construction of various underpasses and link roads, as well as signal-free corridors.
Additionally, organisations like the Parks and Horticulture Authority have been tasked with
beautification and lighting on the main avenues. The role of Traffic Police is also paramount in easing
congestion on the roads. The department caters to nearly 10 million travellers with a force of 3,215
traffic wardens every single day. Moreover, under the Lahore Safe City Project, which was
launched in 2016, more than 8,000 surveillance cameras were installed, as of August 2020. Roads
in Lahore, therefore, are some of the most secure in the country.

A number of roads, other than those discussed below, hold much significance in Lahore, such
as McLeod Road, Lytton Road, Main Boulevard Defence and Main Boulevard Model Town Link
Road, and the arteries of Lahore Cantt. The select few discussed below serve as major links and
corridors in and around Lahore.
Ferozepur Road
Ferozepur Road provides a connection between Lahore and Kasur. It also serves as a crucial
artery that connects to important locations such as Model Town, Walton Road, Defence and Kot
Lakhpat. Ferozepur Road provides easy access to many facilities including hospitals, housing schemes
and commercial markets. One of the popular markets on main Ferozepur Road is Ichhra Market
which is famous for affordable garments and soft furnishings such as curtains and bedlinen. In
addition, there is a whole market for sanitary fixtures as well as other materials used in construction.

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Lahore Metrobus
System, a bus rapid transit
(BRT) service, has been
established by the
government to facilitate
commuters who travel
from the outskirts like
Gajjumata to different
places in the city. Lahore
General Hospital and
Gulab Devi Hospital are
also located on main
Ferozepur Road from
where people from all over
Lahore and its adjacent
areas receive medical treatment.
Many investment opportunities are available on Ferozepur Road for those who are looking
for high returns. These options have immense potential because Ferozepur Road has easy access to
important areas such as Lahore Ring Road, Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and Model Town.

Main Boulevard Gulberg

The area of Gulberg is an upscale area that has evolved from being primarily residential, with
large sprawling homes, to a
comparatively congested
commercial hub. It has some
of the most luxurious, and
lucrative property options in
Lahore. It is home to the
biggest computer market in
Pakistan, and provides access
to a range of other shopping
centres and markets including
Main Market and Liberty
Market, and in recent years,
has become home to a
number of high-rise
apartment buildings and hotels. The central road that connects Gulberg to other parts of the city is
Main Boulevard Gulberg.
A signal-free corridor, Main Boulevard Gulberg starts from Kalma Underpass and ends at
Siddique Trade Centre. Between these two points, the road gives access to many popular areas such
as Qaddafi Stadium, M.M. Alam Road, Pace Shopping Mall, Imtiaz Store, Zahoor Elahi Road and
Lahore Cantt. Another major reason for people to visit Main Boulevard Gulberg is food: this route
offers many options for open-air as well as indoor dining.

Jail Road
Jail Road is another signal-free corridor and one of Lahore’s primary traffic arteries that links
older parts of the city with new. Jail Road houses everything from commercial markets, a park,
hospitals, eateries and educational institutions. It also passes by Lahore’s oldest Christian cemetery
known as Gora Kabristan where personalities like Princess Bamba Sutherland, granddaughter of
Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and famous educational icons of country are buried.
Services Hospital is located on main Jail Road next to which is the Punjab Institute of
Cardiology where hundreds of patients with cardiovascular diseases are treated. There are two all-

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female higher education institutes; Kinnaird College for Women and Lahore College for Women
University that have been providing quality education in Lahore for about a century.
The road starts from Sherpao Bridge and extends to Ferozepur Road; along its route it
provides links to access Shadman, G.O.R.-I, Mall Road and Mozang.

The Mall Road

There is no road that rivals Lahore’s Mall Road in the importance it holds in terms of culture,
politics and architecture. Most of Mall Road was lined with trees that gave it the name ‘Thandi Sarak’
because of the shade they provided. It is still relatively greener than other roads of the city. From
government buildings to famous markets and educational institution, this road was developed during
the British Raj and has stood the test of time. One of the most famous and prestigious boys’ schools
in Lahore, Aitchison College, is located on Mall Road. Further ahead lies the iconic Alhamra Art
Center and WAPDA House, the headquarters of the Water and Power Development Authority
(WAPDA). Right next to it is the Punjab Assembly building. Lahore’s famous Anarkali Bazar is also
located on Mall Road. Mayo Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in Lahore, lies on this route, as do
important landmarks including the GPO building, Lahore High Court, Punjab University Old
Campus, National College of Arts (NCA) and Lahore Zoo.

Canal Bank Road

Canal Bank Road connects different parts of Lahore and helps to orient you in the city because
of the canal that flows along it.
Canal Bank Road starts as you
enter the city from Thokar
Niaz Baig and remains busy day
and night as traffic flows
through the housing societies
of Lahore such as Johar Town,
PCSIR and Canal View.
Canal Bank Road is yet
another signal-free corridor
with 12 underpasses that help
in the continuous flow of
traffic from Thokar Niaz Baig
till Harbanspura. This road is
that it is decorated with lights
and flowers during the
springtime festival called Jashn-e-Baharan.

Canal Road Underpasses

The underpasses along Canal Bank Road have been named after famous personalities at the
recommendation of the Punjab Government and Dil Kash Lahore Committee of the City District
Government, Lahore.

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1. Chaudhry Rehmat Ali Underpass

Chaudhry Rehmat Ali was born in 1893 in a landed and affluent family in Qasba Mohar,
Hoshiarpur District. He passed his Matriculation Examination from the Anglo Sanskrit School
in Jalandhar and joined Government College, Lahore in 1914. He went to England for higher
studies in 1930, and during his LLB studies at the University of Dublin, had several meetings with
Allama Iqbal. In 1932, he published a pamphlet demanding a separate homeland for Muslims
living in India and named this ideological country Pakistan, which became so popular that the
word “Pakistan” was used in the media. He spent most of his life in England and died in 1951 in
Cambridge, England. In recognition of his services, the underpass near Doctors Hospital has
been named after him.
2. Mir Chakar Rind Underpass
Mir Chakar Rind was born in Baluchistan in 1468. He became the chief of the Rind tribe at the
age of 18 after the death of his father, Sheikh Haq Rind. He spent his entire life in war and strife.
He left Balochistan and migrated first to Central Punjab and later to Satghara (a town in present
day Okara district) where he settled and built a fort. He helped the Mughal kings attain the throne
of Delhi against Sher Shah Suri. The Mughal Emperor Humayun gave him large estates, including
seven knots, as a reward. Mir Chakar Rind died in 1565 and his tomb is in Satghara. In recognition
of his services, the underpass near Jinnah Hospital has been named after him.
3. Waris Mir Underpass
Waris Mir was born on November 22, 1938 in Sialkot. His father Mir Abdul Aziz was a famous
poet who wrote in Urdu, Persian and Punjabi. He obtained his MA (Journalism) degree from
Punjab University in 1962. After completing his education, he became the magazine editor of a
national newspaper published from Lahore and a part-time lecturer at the Department of
Journalism, Punjab University. Later, he started writing columns; the candid and bold columns
caused a stir in government circles and in his political and journalistic circles. He was appointed
Assistant Professor in 1970 and Professor in 1977 and served as Head of Department for some
time. He also completed a journalism training course from London in 1979. Waris Mir passed
away on 9th July 1987. In recognition of his services, the underpass near New Campus (Punjab
University) has been named after him.
4. Shah Abdul Latif Bhattai Underpass
Shah Abdul Latif Bhattai was born in 1689 in Hala Haveli village of Hyderabad district and
belonged to the Sadat family of Herat. His early education was at Noor Mohammad Batti
Madrassa. His father, Shah Habib’s knowledge was widely acknowledged and it is said that he
started the tradition of mystical poetry in the Sindhi language. Shah Abdul Latif was a famous
Sufi poet of the Sindh region and was fluent in Arabic, Persian, Seraiki, Multani, Hindi, Punjabi
and Balochi. Through his poetry, he showed the people the ways of love and closeness to the
One and Only Lasharik. His poetry teaches devotees to bow before Allah Almighty and reflects
Islamic concepts and allegory. Shah Abdul Latif Bhattai died in 1756. In recognition of his
services, the underpass near Muslim Town has been named after him.
5. Liaquat Ali Khan Underpass
Liaquat Ali Khan was born on 1st October 1898 in Karnal, India. He received his early education
from his father, Nawab Rustam Ali Khan. He obtained his BA degree from MAO College, Aligarh
in 1918 and Bar at Law in 1922. Despite his higher education, he did not get a job and remained
active in the political arena and looked after his lands. In 1924, he attended a meeting of the All
India Muslim League in Lahore and was elected as a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative
Council as a representative of the Muslim League. He was the Deputy Speaker of the Provincial
Legislative Assembly for 14 years. In 1940, he was elected as a member of the Central Legislative
Assembly of British India. In 1946, he was given the portfolio of the Ministry of Finance. On
August 15, 1947, he was sworn in as the first Prime Minister of Pakistan. Liaquat Ali Khan, who
was elected President of the Muslim League in 1950, was martyred on 16th October 1951 while
addressing a gathering at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi. In recognition of his services, the Ferozepur
Road underpass has been named after him.

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6. Justice Cornelius Underpass

Justice Alvin Robert Cornelius is a prominent name in the history of Pakistan's judiciary. Born
into a Christian family in Agra on 1st May 1907, he began his service as an Assistant
Commissioner after graduating from Cambridge University with a degree in law. He was
appointed as the first Sessions Judge and in 1946 a Judge of the Lahore High Court Bench. In
1960, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He was the Federal
Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs in Yahya Khan's cabinet and in 1967, was awarded
the Hilal-i-Pakistan by the Government of Pakistan. He retired in 1968 and died on 21st
December 1991 at the age of 88. He is buried in Gora Kabristran on Jail Road. In recognition of
his services, the Forman Christian (FC) College underpass has been named after him.
7. Waris Shah Underpass
Waris Shah was born in 1722 in Jandiala Sher khan, Sheikhupura. His father's name was Qutb
Shah. He came to Kasur to acquire knowledge and became a disciple of Maulvi Mohi-ud-Din. He
started teaching in a mosque in Thatta Jahid. Meanwhile, he fell in love with him a girl named
Bagh Bari and after failing in love, came to Malka Hans, a town of Pakpattan. There he wrote the
classic Heer Ranjha, his eternal work that is still very popular in every city, town and village of
Punjab. Waris Shah died in 1798 at Jandiala Sher Khan, a village some 14 km north of
Sheikhupura. His annual Urs is celebrated with great fanfare every year. In recognition of his
services, the Jail Road underpass has been named after him.
8. Faiz Ahmed Faiz Underpass
Faiz Ahmad Faiz was born on 13th February 1911 in Kala Qadir village of Sialkot District to a
wealthy family. In the field of education, memorising the Qur'an was a distinguishing feature for
him, and while he was a scholar of Arabic he also had a deep understanding of Muslim history
and civilizations. He lived a life of constant struggle and served as the Editor-in-Chief of Pakistan
Times, Imroz and Lail-o-Nahar. He was a proponent of modern revolutionary poetry. His famous
works include Naqsh-e-Faryadi, Dasht-e-Saba, Zindan-e-Nama, Dasht-e-Taha-e-Sang, Shama-e-
Shehryar, Mere Dil Mere Musafir and Nuskha-e-Wafa. He passed away on 20th November 1984
in Lahore at the age of 73. In recognition of his services, the Mall Road underpass was named
after him.
9. Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy Underpass
Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy was born on 8th December 1893 in the city of Madnapur, West
Bengal. He received his early education from Calcutta High School, his [Link] degree from St.
Xavier's College, Calcutta and MA and [Link] degrees from Oxford University in England. He
joined the Muslim League in 1937 and was also the Deputy Mayor of Calcutta. In the 1937
elections, he was elected a member of the Bengal Assembly on a Muslim League ticket. In 1946,
he became the Chief Minister of Bengal. After the formation of Pakistan, he was elected as a
member of the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. He formed the Awami Muslim League in
1949 and was elected as a member of the National Assembly. He laid the foundation of the Pak-
China friendship by paying an official visit to China on 12th September 1956. In 1957, he
presented the Kashmir issue to the Security Council. On 11th October 1957, he resigned as Prime
Minister. Hussein Shaheed Suhrawardy died on 5th December 1963 in Beirut. In recognition of
his services, the Dharampura Underpass has been named after him.
10. Khushal Khan Khattak Underpass
Khushal Khan Khattak was born in 1613 in Akora Khattak, Kabul Province, now Nowshera
District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He was a well-known Pashto poet and the national
poet of Afghanistan; he translated books written in Persian and Arabic into Pashto. He was the
first Afghan Chief who brought Afghan tribes together on a single platform, united against
foreign invaders. He took part in the wars against the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir and
defeated the Mughal army at many places. He died on 25th February 1689 at the age of 75. In
recognition of his services, the Mughalpura Underpass has been named after him.
11. Joginder Nath Mandal Underpass
Joginder Nath Mandal was born on 29th January 1904 in Bengal. He was a well-known jurist and
politician of India. He supported Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the Tehreek-e-Pakistan

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and played an important role in the establishment and stability of Pakistan. He was a member of
Pakistan's first Constituent Assembly and Pakistan's first Federal Law Minister. He also served as
Labour, Commonwealth and Kashmir Affairs Minister. He resigned from the ministry in
September 1950, handed over his resignation to Prime Minister Nawab Liaquat Ali Khan and left
for India. He died on 5th October 1968 in Calcutta. In recognition of his services, the
Harbanspura Underpass has been named after him.
12. Beijing Underpass
Pakistan’s longest underpass, named after China’s capital city of Beijing, is 1.3 km long with a
height of 5.1 metres. It was inaugurated in December 2017 is named as a testament to the
friendship between Pakistan and China.

Apart from the underpasses of Lahore Canal, the names of roads, interchanges and
intersections have also been changed on the recommendation of the Dil Kash Lahore Committee.
Burki Road underpass has been named Col. Hassan Gilgit underpass and Model Town Turn
underpass has been named after Ashfaq Ahmed. The Ravi Interchange is named after Ustad Daman,
Niazi Interchange after Baba Buleh Shah, Mahmood Buti Interchange after Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan,
Babu Sahib Interchange after Sadequain, Seven Up Chowk Gulberg after Waheed Murad, Hamdard
Chowk Township after Hakim Saeed, Akbar Chowk Township after Jalaluddin Akbar, Cooperative
Chowk after Allama Rashid Turabi, Saggian Bridge after Justice Kayani; Bank Road is Pitras Bukhari
Road, Fort Road is Maulana Abdul Qadir Azad Road, and the road inside Gaddafi Stadium has been
named after Hafeez Kardar.

Ring Road
As the name suggests, Lahore Ring Road is a circular road that encircles Lahore and is a
modern architectural marvel. The project included the construction of a six-lane divided main
carriageway with service roads on both sides, interchanges, reinforced earth abutments/walls,
overhead pedestrian bridges, culverts, sub-ways, underpasses, flyovers and related works.

Lahore Ring Road Authority was established for the construction and maintenance of the
Lahore Ring Road Project. The total length of the project is approximately 103 km and the project
has been divided into three sections: Northern-Loop from Ghulshan-e-Ravi to Sui Gas Society, 40
km, Southern-Loop from Sui Gas Society to Molanwal, Sharaqpur Road, 37 km, and Western-Loop
from the end of the Southern Loop to Ghulshan-e-Ravi, 26 km.
It has eased the flow of traffic and those who travel by car save a significant amount of time
and fuel in order to reach the other parts of the city. The project has created a number of investment
opportunities nearby, both commercial and residential.

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LAHORE MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM

Lahore’s transport demand amounts to 8 million daily motorised trips to work, shopping or
recreation. Over the past fifteen years the rapid growth in population and increasing vehicle
ownership have steadily worsened traffic congestion in Lahore. The situation will get worse in the
absence of transport infrastructure improvements.
There was an urgent need to develop mass transit transport facilities in Lahore to meet the
predicted passenger demand. A mass transit system network dilutes and protects against the
increasing demand and supply for the urban traffic system, and further contributes towards
developing a sustainable transport system. In 2007, the Transport Department, Government of
Punjab commissioned a consultant to develop a long term mass transit network and undertake a
Feasibility Study of a Mass Transit System for Lahore.
The strategic long term Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System (LRMTS) network was developed,
based on identification of potential mass transit corridors, followed by a broad assessment of
patronage and engineering constraints in those corridors. The order of priority for implementing
these lines was then determined based primarily on forecast passenger demand. The resulting Long
Term Network is made up of four lines in the following order of priority:
Green Line (MRT) – Ferozepur Road/ Mall Road/ Ravi Road/ Shahdara (Commissioned as
BRT for Operation on February 10, 2013)
Orange Line Metro Rapid Transit (MRT) – Raiwind Road/ Multan Road/ McLeod Road/
Railway Station/ GT Road
Blue Line (MRT) – Township/ Gulberg Boulevard/ Jail Road
Purple Line (MRT) – Bhatti Gate/ Allama Iqbal Road/ Airport

Orange Line Metro Train System

The Orange Line MRT feasibility
study was done by the Consultant MVA
Asia Ltd. in 2007 for a 27-km route. The
study was updated by NESPAK in 2014
through an Addendum to the Feasibility
Study. The Orange Line starts from Ali
Town on Raiwind Road and terminates
at Dera Gujran. The alignment follows
the Multan Road corridor from Thokar
Niaz Baig up to Chauburji, then via Lake
Road, McLeod Road, and Nicholson
Road to the main Railway Crossing to reach GT Road, and follows GT Road till the interchange of
Lahore Ring Road. The project cost is USD 1478.18 Million (exclusive of contingencies).
The features of the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project are as follows:
Total length: 27.1 km (Cut & Cover section: 1.72 km; Elevated: 25.4)
Total Stations: 26 (Cut & Cover stations: 02; Elevated stations: 24)
Rolling Stock Requirement - 27 (Train sets at the start of operations)
Ridership: 245,000 passengers per day

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Lahore Metrobus System
With the aim of providing safe, efficient and
comfortable urban transportation system and
reducing the growing congestion problems in
Lahore; Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMA) has
established the Bus Rapid Transit System in Lahore
knowns as Lahore Metrobus System (MBS). MBS
Line-1 from Gajjumata to Shahdara, established in
Lahore, is the first system operated by PMA.
The main features of the MBS are a two-lane
Limited Access Corridor that stretches 27 km from
Gajjumata to Shahdara. It has 27 stations, each with
two curb side platforms, three docking bays and
level board – of these 18 are at grade and 9 are
elevated. Platforms are equipped with sliding doors and escalators where required. The portion from
the Canal to Data Darbar is elevated (8.3 km). The MBS has an automated fare-collection system with
off-board ticketing. Other features include a bus scheduling system, vehicle location system, a
Passenger Information System and an Intelligent Transportation System for signal operations. There
are 64 articulated air conditioned buses.
The line was inaugurated on 10th February 2013 and has achieved its highest ridership at 179,104 per
day.
Lahore Feeder Routes (Phase I)
In order to increase the coverage area of the MBS, the PMA has planned to operate integrated
public transport routes with the Metrobus line. Phase I of the project has 200 buses, which includes
162 Standard buses (12-meter) and 38 Mini buses (8-meter).
PMA has engaged an independent service provider to provide the Automated Fare Collection
and Bus Scheduling Systems, which together serve as a Management Information System (MIS).
Passengers will use a single stored-value, rechargeable smart card for their journey along the
Integrated Public Transport routes. The Driver Console/On-Board Unit installed on buses will be
used to track buses accurately and reliably. The PMA will receive live passenger data, financial data,
and Automatic Vehicle Location data at the Control Centre.
An efficient surveillance system is
designed for operation management. PMA
has installed cameras along the road at
intersections and critical points. The overall
system is designed to be controlled and
monitored from the Lahore Metrobus
Command and Control Centre. The buses
have a wireless communication system to
connect with the Control Centre in
emergencies and to broadcast information
from the Control Centre to buses. The Feeder
Routes operation started on March 20, 2017.

Lahore Safe City Project

In order to realise the vision of developing safe cities in the province, PPIC3 Centre has been
developed for Punjab Police in Lahore, which will subsequently be established in other large cities of
the province. Recently, PSCA has installed more than 10,000 cameras at more than 2000 locations
for surveillance through a comprehensive survey. These include coverage of public institutions, key
infrastructure, public roads, crime spots, VVIP routes, and entry and exit points.
PSCA’s premier project PPIC3 is a hub of policing, regulating, swift emergency and police
response. This includes intelligent traffic management, dispatch of Punjab Police, PRU and Dolphin

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Force, Rescue 1122 Emergency response, criminal identification/investigations, virtual surveillance

and media monitoring, among others. This project also serves as a source of employment to hundreds
of young IT professionals.

LAHORE JUNCTION RAILWAY STATION

The Lahore Junction
Railway Station is one of the major
railway stations of Pakistan
Railways on the Karachi-Peshawar
main line one. Construction
commenced shortly after the 1857
War of Independence and the
station was built in the style of a
medieval castle with thick walls,
turrets, and holes to direct gun and
cannon fire for defence of the
structure.
It was built just outside the
Walled City at the intersection of
Empress Road, Allama Iqbal Road, and Circular Road and formally opened in 1860. The station
served as the headquarters of the Punjab Railway and later served as the northern terminus of the
Sindh, Punjab and Delhi Railway that connected the port city of Karachi to Lahore. Pakistan Railways
is the national, state-owned railway company of Pakistan. Founded in 1861 and headquartered in
Lahore, it owns 7,791 kilometres (4,841 miles) of track across Pakistan, stretching from Torkham to
Karachi, offering both freight and passenger services.
The Lahore Junction Railway Station has a total of nine platforms for passenger train
operations. It has the maximum number of waiting rooms and a passenger facilitator team that
remains operational ’round the clock. Food stalls book stalls and restaurants are also located on its
platforms. The station has advance and current reservation offices as well as freight and parcel
facilities.
Connectivity
The Lahore junction railway station connects to Lahore Cantt station on its main line and
Mughalpura station on its loop-line in the Down direction and to Badami Bagh in the Up direction.
The station acts as a junction and routes in the Down direction are Lahore linked to Karachi and
Quetta via Sahiwal and Faisalabad, and in the Up direction, Lahore linked to Rawalpindi and Peshawar
via Lalamusa.
There are 9 platform lines for train operations. Lines 2, 4, and 5 are the main lines that head
towards Rawalpindi in the Up direction and towards Karachi in the Down direction. Lines 8 and 9
are loop lines. Platforms number 1, 3, 3A, 6, and 7 are used for trains originated from Lahore. A
branch line towards Mughalpura station connects Wagah with Atari in India. The Lahore to Narowal
Branch Line links with Sialkot. The Lahore to Jaranwala line also facilitates international passengers’
rituals at Nankana Sahib at Darbar Baba Guru Nanak and other Gurdwara Sahibs. Pakistan Railway
is also working on upgrading the Lahore, Shahdara Bagh to Chak Amru Branch Line and

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rehabilitation of Darbar Sahib Kartarpur railway station to facilitate Sikh pilgrims’ visit to Darbar
Sahib Kartarpur.
Thousands of passengers and traders travel daily on trains from different cities for study, work,
tours, and sale and purchase. Lahore Railway Station offers easy access from the station to the rest of
the city through Local Transit LTC, Punjab Metro Transit (Speedo Bus), Subway Interchange Lahore
Metro Orange Line (Lahore Station), rickshaws, and ride-hailing services (e.g. Uber and Careem).

ALLAMA IQBAL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Inaugurated in March 2003, the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore is the second
largest civilian airport by traffic in Pakistan. It also serves passengers from Lahore as well as a large
portion of travellers from the other regions of Punjab. Originally known as Lahore International
Airport, it was renamed after the poet philosopher Allama Muhammad Iqbal. The airport has three
terminals: the Allama Iqbal terminal, the Hajj terminal and a cargo terminal. The airport is about 15
km from the centre of the city.
Airlines operating from the airport include:
Pakistan International AirBlue Air Sial Serene Air
Airlines
Air Arabia Emirates Etihad Airways FLYNAS
Gulf Air Jazeera Air Kuwait Air Mahan Air
Malindo Air Oman Air Qatar Airways Saudia
Sri Kankan Air Thai Air Turkish Air Virgin Atlantic

Flights and Passenger Handling statistics for 2021- 22 (Jan-May) are as follows:
Number of Flights Passengers
2021 Jan-May 2021 Jan-May 2022
2022
International 4691 3389 915108 755788
Departures
International Arrivals 4618 3301 816114 610366
Domestic Departures 3937 1476 540615 192351
Domestic Arrivals 3571 1515 550006 229874

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PUNJAB MASS TRANSIT AUTHORITY

Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMTA) was initially established as Punjab Metrobus
Authority in 2012 to undertake the metro bus systems in the major cities Punjab. It was renamed
“Punjab Mass Transit Authority” in 2015 after required legislation that enabled PMA to undertake all
types of mass transit systems. PMA is a statutory body established by Government of Punjab for the
purpose of planning, construction, operation and maintenance of mass transit systems in the major
cities of Punjab, Pakistan, in order to provide a safe, efficient and comfortable urban transportation
system.
Jurisdiction
Its mission is to establish and operate state of the art mass transit systems which are safe,
comfortable and efficient. Their features are planned to cater to the vision and mission of the
Authority. The PMA has outsourced all its operations and maintenance services to tap private sector
efficiency. The PMA mainly focuses on planning, contracting services and oversight of contracts and
operations.
It is currently operating three Mass Transit projects in the jurisdiction of Lahore that are as
follows:
Number of Buses & Commuters
Name
Trains (Avg.)
Lahore Metrobus 64 Buses 88,588
Orange Line Metro
27 Train Sets 76,266
Train
Feeder Routes 200 Buses 103,457

Route Licenses
The PMA notifies routes of feeder buses based on recommendations in the feasibility study for
Integrated Bus Operations. It issues route licenses to feeder buses and Metro buses that are renewable
annually or are issued for the duration of the Services Contracts.
Ongoing Project
As part of its on-going project, it is introducing an additional 513 feeder buses in Lahore.
Helpline
Dedicated helpline: 111-222-627

Message from Head of Department

Having moved more than 900 million passengers since the inception of the Authority, PMA
is now a leading government entity in implementing and operating mass transit systems in
Pakistan. PMA has brought about a revolution in mass transit through the involvement of the
private sector which has contributed to moving people at efficiency rates of 99% or above.
The Authority, through implementation of systems recommended in the Public Transport
Planning Guide (ITDP), has gained the trust of the Government of Punjab through evidence-
based reports of passenger movements, making it easier to receive grants/subsidy, which in
this case is going to the underprivileged sector of the society.
Currently, PMA is operating some 167 metro buses and 300 feeder buses in Lahore,
Rawalpindi-Islamabad and Multan. The Authority has earned trust for the Government
through operating 27 metro trains on the Orange Line with the help of Chinese entities.
In the next five years, PMA is endeavouring to become a centre of excellence aided by a
Research & Development Wing.

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PART D
Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

‘One of the landmarks of Lahore is its District Courts, the point which is known as Lahore
Zero…Before the British captured Lahore in 1849, the area between the shrine of Ali Usman
Hasan Hajveri, or Data Ganj Bakhsh, to the west, the Government College to the east, and Tibba
of Baba Fareed to the south-east and the Government College Hostel to the south, was occupied
by huge barrack building that were known, after 1849, as the Rai Mela Ram Building. In the Sikh
period these building were known as the Barracks of the Khalsa Army's famed cavalry called 'Fauj-
e-Khas'…
Let us now turn to how and why the Lahore District Courts were built. We follow the
description of Kanhiya Lal in his book Tareekh-e-Lahore as he describes the environment in which
the Lahore District Courts came up. When the British took over in 1849, the first court to be set
up by them was the office of Deputy Commissioner... The office of the Assistant Commissioner
Lahore was located in the 'haveli of Suchet Singh inside the walled city. The office of the Extra
Assistant Commissioner was located in the 'haveli' of Raja Dhian Singh at Chuna Mandi. This was
to later become a girls school, and then became the Nawaz Sharif Government Girls College,
Chuna Mandi. With the various courts and offices scattered all over the city, the events of 1857
threw up the need to consolidate the legal system. By this time the British faced the events of 1857.
By then the military cantonment was shifted from Anarkali to Mian Mir, and the rule of the East
India Company had ended. When the cantonment shifted and the Company also ceased to rule
Lahore, the new British rulers saw the barracks now emptied. They purchased the property in the
name of the Punjab Government and started planning for new impressive District Courts.
A set of three major buildings were planned, and with it a series of auxiliary buildings also
came up. There were two sets of lock-ups, one for the natives and the other for Europeans. The
concept was a set of verandahs for litigants facing a courtyard, with the main court of the Deputy
Commissioner being part of the main building, but facing outwards, or to the north. The office of
the DC faced the 'Maal Khana' or the Treasury, where a guard was always mounted. Thus we see
a well-planned series of building that served the needs of Lahore and the Punjab. The plan was
approved by the Punjab Government and a budget of Rs. 100,000/- was approved. Special thin
broad bricks were baked in a traditional kiln and the quality and colour of the bricks were reddish
and even. In its days, almost 150 years ago, people acknowledged that they were the very best
bricks made in the Punjab. The building work raced ahead at great speed, and within two years the
entire complex was completed.
The Lahore District Courts have been functioning for over 150 years and the buildings
have stood the test of time. The craftsmanship has been, excellent and the planning has served the
function for which they were planned well. Over the last 20 years a number of additions have been
made. As the workload has increased immensely, a number of new buildings have come up. But
they do not match the excellence of the original construction. It is, by any standard, a set of
buildings we should protect, and the new ones should match the original architecture.
- From ‘Lahore's district courts and its buildings’ by Abdul Majid Sheikh

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 Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

District Administration
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
The Deputy Commissioner (DC) is the principal representative of the Government at the
District Level. The DC is responsible for the efficient use of public resources for integrated
development and effective service delivery.
Under the Punjab Civil Administration Act 2017, the functions of the Deputy
Commissioner include the following:
Supervise and monitor the discharge of duties by the Assistant Commissioners in the District
Coordinate the work of all the offices and public facilities in the district for purposes of
integrated development, efficient use of public resources and effective service delivery
Support and facilitate the offices and public facilities in the District
Ensure that the standards set by the Government in respect of a public facility are fully
observed
Supervise and coordinate the implementation of the policies, instructions and guidelines of the
Government.
Moreover, as the District Collector, the DC supervises the Revenue Administration of the
district and handles court matters of the Collector. In the overall discharge of duties, the DC is
responsible to the Provincial Government through the Commissioner of Lahore Division. The
Deputy Commissioner is assisted by Additional Deputy Commissioners (ADC) and Assistant
Commissioners (AC).
In Lahore there are four Additional Deputy Commissioners whose offices are in the
Deputy Commissioner’s Office Complex on Lower Mall. They are:
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Headquarters)
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue)
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General)
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Finance and Planning)
Administratively, Lahore is divided into five tehsils, each headed by an Assistant
Commissioner. The Tehsils are discussed in greater detail in the following sections. The Tehsils of
Lahore are:
1. City
2. Model Town
3. Cantt
4. Shalimar
5. Raiwind

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Organogram of DC Office Lahore

Note: The responsibilities and functions of the officers posted at and the branches of DC Office are enlisted in Appendix-A.

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ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS OF DISTRICT LAHORE

Lahore District comprises five tehsils, each headed by an Assistant Commissioner (AC).
The AC is responsible for the General Administration of the tehsil and is also a Sub-divisional
Collector within the meaning of Land Revenue Act 1967. As the main representative of the
Government, the responsibilities of an Assistant Commissioner are wide within their respective
territorial jurisdictions. These include:
1. Revenue work of the tehsil
2. Responsibility of annual activities (e.g.)
i. Muharram Duties
ii. Wheat Procurement
iii. Ramzan Bazars
iv. Cattle Mandis
3. Flood & Disaster Management
4. Price Control
5. Law & Order

TEHSILS OF LAHORE DISTRICT

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Tehsil City
Tehsil City was created in 1893. It has an area
of 214 sq. km of which 95% is urban while
5% is considered rural. Its population per the
2017 census is 365,577. There are 5 National
Assembly Constituencies and 11 Provincial
Assembly Constituencies in the tehsil.
Tehsil City has 5 Zones which include
Ravi (Complete), Data Gunj Buksh
(Complete), Shalimar (10-20% Revenue
Area), Samnabad (50-60% Revenue Area) and
Iqbal Town (40% Revenue Area).

Importance of Tehsil City

One of the most congested tehsils of
Lahore, this area embodies the rich culture
and heritage of the whole the district. The old
Walled City attracts tourists from across
Pakistan and around the world. It is this
vibrant part of the district that best embodies
the spirit of Lahore, captured in the popular
Punjabi phrase, ‘jinnay Lahore nai vekhya, o
jammya nai’ (while no translation will do it
justice, its general meaning is that a person
who has not seen Lahore has yet to live). The
Mall Road with Government buildings along
both sides and many exemplars of colonial
architecture is located here.

Snapshot of Tehsil City

Major Roads: G.T Road, Road Shahdara,
Multan Road, Ferozepur Road, Mall Road,
Ring Road.
River and Canals: Ravi passes through
revenue estates Shahdara & Naulakha, Lahore
Khas, Sanda & Niaz Baig and UBD Lahore
Canal.
Main Educational Institutions: Punjab University, King Edward Medical College, National
College of Arts, Government College University, MAO College and others.
Important Religious and Spiritual Sites
Data Darbar Complex, Peer Makki, Ghazi Ilm Din Shaheed, Mizar-e-Iqbal, Badshahi Mosque,
Lohari Gate Mosque, Masjid of Maryam Zamani, Masjid Shuhada, Moti Masjid (Lahore Fort),
Muhammad Saleh Kamboh Mosque, Oonchi Mosque, Shab Bhar Mosque, Shaheed Ganj Mosque,
Sunehri Mosque, Wazir Khan Mosque, Neevin Mosque.
Ranjit Singh samadhi, Sir Ganga Ram samadhi, Lava Temple, Akbari Mandi Temple, Arya Samaj
Temple, Jain Mandir Anarkali, Bal Mata Temple at Shah Almi, Doodhwali Mata Temple (between
Shah Almi and Lohari gate), Valmiki Temple Anarkali, Krishna Mandir, Sacred Heart Cathedral,
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Anarkali, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Don Bosco Lahore, Gurdwara Dera
Sahib Walled City.

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Tombs: Tomb of Allama Iqbal, Tomb of Asif Khan, Tomb of Anarkali, Tomb of Jahangir, Tomb
of Nur Jahan, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, Tomb of Zeb-un-Nissa Begum, Tomb of Gul Begum Mozang,
Tomb of Malik Ayaz Walled City, Kuri Bagh old Anarkali
Historical and Important Buildings: Shahi Qila Lahore, Badshahi Mosque, Minar-e-Pakistan,
Lahore Museum, Old Campus Punjab University, District Courts Lahore, Masjid Wazir Khan,
Government College Lahore, Town Hall Lahore, Punjab Civil Secretariat, Board of Revenue
Punjab, Lahore High Court, State Banks, Punjab Assembly, Fakir Khana Museum, Tollinton
Market - Lahore City Heritage Museum.
Public Parks: Bagh e Jinnah, Greater Iqbal Park, Jillani Park
Major Markets: Allama Iqbal Town Fruit & Vegetable Market, Shahalami Market, Pakistan
Market, Akbari Market, Old/New Anarkali Market, Abid Market, Mall Road Market, Hall Road
Market, Mozang Market, Gulshan-E-Ravi Market, Yateem Khana Market, Timber Road Market,
Beadon Road Market, Krishan Nagar Market, Islampura Market, Wandala, Lajpat and Dolat Khan
Market, Loha Market, Badami Bagh Auto Market.
Major Events: Urs Data Darbar, 09 & 10th Moharram Jaloos, Chehlum, 21st Ramzan Youm-e-
Ali, fireworks on Independence Day14th August
Hospitals: Sir Ganga Ram, Services Hospital, Mayo Hospital
Qanungoi and Patwar Circles:
Qanungoi: 06
Patwar Circles: 41
Total Revenue Estates (Mouza): 41

Source: WCLA

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Tehsil Cantt
Tehsil Cantt was established in 1982 and its
Headquarters is situated at 01-Tufail Road
Lahore Cantt. In 2011, it was split into three
Tehsils: Tehsil Lahore Cantt, Tehsil Model
Town and Tehsil Shalimar. The Tehsil has an
area of 466 sq. km and a population of 1,632,702
(2017 census). There are 3 National Assembly
Constituencies and 5 Provincial Assembly
Constituencies in the tehsil. The four zones fall
in Tehsil Cantt are Aziz Bhatti, Nishtar, Wahga
and Gulberg.

Importance of Tehsil Cantt

Cantt is somewhat different from other
tehsils as it comprises two Cantonments, Walton
Cantonment Board and Lahore Cantonment
Board, Defence Housing Authority and the
Border Area, which requires extensive
coordination with Station HQ and IV Corps.
The tehsil is also sensitive due to the presence of
Allama Iqbal International Airport so
coordination with various agencies including the
Civil Aviation Authority and Pakistan Air Force
is of utmost importance for the Assistant
Commissioner serving here.

Snapshot of Tehsil Cantt

Canals: BRB Canal, UBD Canal.
Major Roads: G.T, Road, Bedian Road, Burki
Road, Allama Iqbal Road, McLeod Road, Davis
Road, Canal Road, Ring Road.
Major Industries: Awami, Azeem and Barkat
Flour Mills
Hospitals: Government Mian Mir Hospital
(THQ) Rural Health Centre, Barki, Lahore,
BHU Bhangali.
Main Educational Institutions: University of South Asia, Lahore Garrison University, Lahore
University of Management Sciences, Lahore School of Economics, Navy War College, Defence
Degree College for Women.
Religious/Spiritual Sites: Shrine of Hazrat Mian Mir
Historical and Important Buildings: Allama Iqbal International Airport, Army Museum,
Fortress Stadium Mall, Fortress Stadium Ground.
Major Markets: Mini Sabzi Mandi, Gurumangat, Sadr Bazar Cantt, Defence Main Boulevard
Market, Fortress Stadium and Fortress Square Mall, Mall of Lahore.
Events: Urs Hazrat Mian Mir, Horse & Cattle Show at Fortress Stadium.
Qanungoi and Patwar Circles
Qanungoi Circles: 05
Patwar Circles: 63
Total Revenue Estates (Mouza): 97

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Tehsil Model Town

Tehsil Model Town was established in 2011 as a
Sub-division. The tehsil has an area of 353 sq. km
and a population of 2,703,569 (2017 census).
There are 3 National Assembly Constituencies and
6 Provincial Assembly Constituencies in the tehsil.
The five zones that fall in Tehsil Model Town are
Gulberg, Nishtar, Samnabad, Data Ganj Bakhsh
and Allama Iqbal. The number of Union Councils
in the tehsil are 60.

Importance of Tehsil Model Town

Model Town Tehsil is in the heart of
Lahore and comprises some of the recently-
developed upscale residential localities as well as
older areas. It is a hub of commercial activities in
the form of important retail markets like the
bustling Ichhra Market and Liberty Market. It also
contains the Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate. The
International Qaddafi Cricket Stadium, and
hockey and football grounds are also located here.
Model Town Park spread over 125 acres is has
retained its old trees and has playgrounds, walking
tracks and seating areas for its many visitors.
The tehsil is named after the Model Town
Society, originally laid down as the concept of a
‘Garden Town’ with agricultural farms, vegetable
gardens and orchards, which was a dream of
Dewan Khem Chand. In 1921, about 200 persons
assembled in Lahore's Town Hall under the
chairmanship of Sir Ganga Ram where the
proposed housing scheme based on cooperative
principles was approved. To be built in the
suburbs of Lahore it was to solve housing
problems and provide improved sanitary and
better living facilities for the residents. The
government was requested to provide a 2000 acre
(4 sq. km) plot of land upon which it was built as
a planned development. After independence it was
registered as Cooperative Model Town Society in
1960 under the Cooperative Societies Act 192511.
Snapshot of Tehsil Model Town
Major Roads: Ferozepur Road, Canal Road, Wahdat Road, Jail Road, Peeco Road, MM Alam
Road, Ghazi Road, Kacha Defence Road and Walton Road.
Rivers/Canals: Upper Canal
Major Industries: PEL, Packages, Nishat
Hospitals: Jinnah Hospital, General Hospital, Services Hospital, Punjab Institute of Cardiology,
Children’s Hospital, Gulab Devi Hospital
Major Educational Institutions: Punjab University, FC College, DPS School Model Town
Important Buildings: Nishtar Sports Complex
Public Parks: Gulshan Iqbal Park, Nawaz Sharif Park, Model Town Park and Central Park.

11 Source: [Link]/[Link]

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Major Markets: Liberty Market, Main Market, Ghalib Market, MM Alam Road Market, Township
Market, Ichra Market, Shadman Market, Kareem Block Market, Bank Square Market Model Town,
Model Town Link Road Market, Kotha Pind Faisal Town Market, Barkat Market, Chungi
Amarsidhu Main Bazar Market, Packages Mall Walton Road, Nishtar Bazar Market, Kahna Market.
Events: International, National, Provincial and League matches at Qaddafi Stadium
Qanungoi and Patwar Circles:
Qanungoi Circles: 05
Patwar Circles: 46
Total Revenue Estates (Mouza): 63

Ferozepur Road

Model Town Park

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Tehsil Shalamar
Tehsil Shalamar was established in 2011 by the
bifurcation of Tehsil Cantt. The tehsil has an
area of 466 sq. km and a population of
1,632,702 (2017 census). There are 5 National
Assembly Constituencies, 9 Provincial
Assembly Constituencies and 66 Union
Councils in Tehsil Shalimar. The 5 Zones that
are part of the tehsil include Gulberg, Aziz
Bhatti, DGB, Shalamar and Wahga Zones.
The Office of Assistant Commissioner
Shalimar is in the Arazi Record Centre,
Shalimar building, situated on GT Road near
Manawan Training Centre. Tehsil Complex
Shalimar, Lahore is presently under
construction on Main Canal Road,
Harbanspura near Hajvery Housing Scheme.

Importance of Tehsil Shalamar

The Wahga Border lies in Tehsil
Shalimar where the flag hoisting ceremony
attracts hundreds of tourists daily. The AC has
the additional duty for managing the Border
Area Committee tasks and has the distinguished
duty of facilitating Sikh yatri coming from
across the border to perform their religious
rites. In addition to this, the Tehsil is also house
to the beautiful Butterfly House Jallo. Butterfly
house is the first initiative of its kind and houses
more than 3000 species of butterflies. The tehsil
has some places of historical importance as well
such as the Shalimar Garden and the Allama
Iqbal Museum.

Snapshot of Tehsil
Major Roads: G.T, Road, McLeod Road,
Davis Road, Allama Iqbal Road, Canal Road,
Ring Road
Rivers and Canals: River Ravi passes through revenue estates Ichogil and Talwara War, BRB
Canal, UBD Canal
Major Industries: Steel Mills, Cement Pipe Factories, Flour Mills, Bata Factory
Hospitals: Kot Khawaja Saeed Teaching Hospital, THQ Level Ghaziabad Hospital, Indus
Hospital Manawan, Shalimar Hospital, Ghurki Trust Hospital
Main Educational Institutions: University of Engineering & Technology (UET), Sub-Campus
of University of Sargodha, Queen Mary College
Religious and Spiritual Sites: Shrine of Hazrat Bibi Pak Daman, Shrine of Hazrat Madho Lal
Hussain
Historical and Important Buildings: Shalamar Garden & Joint Check Post Wahga, Mughalpura
Railways & Carriage Workshop, Wahga Border
Public Parks: Botanical Garden, Jallo Park, Sozo Water Park and Shalimar Garden

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Major Markets: Singhpura Fruit & Vegetable Market, Main Bazaar Baghbanpura / Haq Nawaz
Road, Ghari Shahu Bazaar, Suicarno Bazaar, Jallo More Bazaar
Events: Maila Chiraghan / Urs Hazrat Madhu Lal Hussain at Baghbanpura, Urs at Darbar Hazrat
Bibi Pak Daman at Qila Gujjar Singhpura, Special Military Parade, Shows on 23rd March /
Pakistan Day, 14th August / Independence Day and 6th September / Defence Day at Wahga
Border
Qanungoi and Patwar Circles:
Qanungoi Circles: 05
Patwar Circles: 54
Revenue Estates (Mouza): 84

Madho Lal Hussain’s Tomb

Wagha Border

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Tehsil Raiwind
Tehsil Raiwind, Lahore was established in
2012 by the bifurcation of Tehsil Saddar.
The Tehsil has an area of 467 sq. km and a
population of 357,934 (2017 census). Half
(50%) of its area is rural. Tehsil Raiwind has
2 National Assembly Constituencies, 4
Provincial Assembly Constituencies and 166
Union Councils. The two Zones that are
part of the tehsil are Nishtar and Allama
Iqbal Zone. The Office of Assistant
Commissioner Raiwind is in the Office
Building of Revenue Patwar Circle Kiosk
Headquarter Raiwind Lahore situated on
Main Raiwind-Road, Pajjian Stop near Haier
Factory.

Importance of Tehsil Raiwind

The tehsil lies on the south-eastern
end of the District Lahore and is known to
the average Pakistani for the annual three-
day congregation of Raiwind Tableeghi
Ijtima. Moreover, the tehsil has some of the
biggest Housing Societies of the District
including Bahria Town and Lake City
making its administrative dynamics, unique.
This tehsil has the greatest number of online
land record of revenue estates amongst
tehsils of the district. The first project
assigned to Punjab Industrial Estates
Development and Management
Corporation the Sundar Industrial Estate, is
also located here. With over 500 industries
in production, it provides employment to
almost 1 million people.

Snapshot of Tehsil
Major Roads: Ring Road, Raiwind-Road,
Multan-Road and Defence-Road etc.
Rivers and Canals: Ravi passes through
revenue estates Chung, Khudpur,
Rangeelpur, Sundar, Manga Hathar and Mohlanwal. UBD Canal also passes through it.
Major Industries: Sundar Industrial Estate, Textile Mills, 36 Flour Mills, 01 Bata Factory & Haier
Factory etc.
Hospitals: Sharif City, Ch. Akram Teaching Hospital, Lahore University Teaching Hospital,
Akhtar Saeed Hospital & Bahria Town Hospital THQ Level Indus Hospital Raiwind, Life Care
Trust Hospital.
Main Educational Institutions: COMSATS University, Lahore University, Sub-Campus of
University of Sargodha, Superior University & University of UMT.
Religious Sites: Raiwind ijtimah markaz

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Historical/Important Buildings: Eiffel Tower Bahria Town & Bahria Grand Mosque.
Public Parks: Safari Zoo.
Major Markets: Manga Mandi, Raiwind, Bahria Town, Chohang Bazar, Araiyan, Sundar Multan
Road
Events: Tablighi Jama’at Ijtima
Qanungoi and Patwar Circles
Qanungoi Circles: 05
Patwar Circles: 44
Revenue Estates (Mouza): 61

Flower Show: Board of Management – Sundar Industrial Estate

Grand Jamia Masjid, Bahria Town

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REVENUE ADMINISTRATION
The Deputy Commissioner exercises the powers of District Collector and heads the land
revenue hierarchy. For administrative efficiency, these powers are delegated to the Additional
Deputy Commissioner (Revenue). The District Collector is assisted by the Assistant
Commissioners as Sub Divisional Collectors at the Tehsil level, a Tehsildar in each tehsil is in-
charge of Revenue Officer, who is assisted by Naib Tehsildars, Qanungoh and Patwaris.

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Land and Revenue Administration

The existing system of management of land records in the province of Punjab is centuries
old and was put in place for the purpose of collection of land taxes by rulers at the time. The
tradition was continued by the British after their occupation of Punjab in 1849. They extended and
refined the system in India and, in the process, prepared detailed records of ownership and
tenancy. Since then almost the entire agricultural land of the areas now constituting Punjab have
had detailed records of land, including records of ownership, tenancy, type of land and the crops
sown. Although the collection of land revenue has now been abolished, the records created for
this purpose continue to be maintained as a public good and till date, serve as the best record of
land title and ownership.
The Land Revenue Act 1967 empowers the District Collector in many ways. The DC is the
appellate authority for all land revenue matters in the district and is responsible for looking after
many matters pertaining to land records comprising: settlement, consolidation, partition,
acquisition, encroachments, mutations and preservation of state land.
More than half – 60.9% - of the land record of District Lahore has been computerised and
can now be accessed by the public at Arazi Record Centres under the Punjab Land Record
Authority (PLRA).
Revenue Collection by District Administration
The District Administration collects revenue for the Provincial government; in the financial
year 2020-21, Rs. 11537.85 million was collected in land revenue under the following heads:
Agricultural Income Tax (Land Based) 14.07 million
Agricultural Income Tax (Income Based) 164.31 million
Water Rate (Abiana) 123.12 million
Stamp Duty 11,022.85 million
Mutation fee 324.70 million

Revenue and Patwar Circles & Online and Manual Mouzas

Tehsil Revenue Circles Patwar Circles Online Mouzas Manual Mouzas
Lahore City 58 44 18 40
Lahore Cantt 97 63 68 29
Model Town 63 46 31 32
Raiwind 61 44 55 6
Shalimar 84 54 49 35
Total 363 251 221 142

Revenue Field Staff

District Revenue Officers Patwar Circles
Strength Working Strength Working
Lahore 18 18 251 251

Mouza under Consolidation

One (01) Mouza, Haloki, in Tehsil Model Town, Lahore is under consolidation.
Tehsil Qanungo Mouza Area (Acres)
Model Town Pandoki Haloki 4444 Approx.

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Mussavi for the year 1911 -12 of Mouza Harpalkay

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Digitisation of Land Records and Arazi Record Centres

The manual land record system of Punjab was extremely complex and also faced capacity
issues of revenue officials, allegations of corruption, weak supervisory controls, and political
interference in posting transfers of revenue staff.
The Government of Punjab embarked upon a revolutionary initiative of computerisation
of land records through the Land Records Management and Information System (LRMIS) project
that was approved by the World Bank in 2006. The project flourished and evolved into an
autonomous body, the Punjab Land Records Authority, through the PLRA Act-2017 under the
administrative control of the Board of Revenue. The primary objective of PLRA is to preserve
revenue records, improve service delivery, eliminate corruption, and protect land ownership rights.
PLRA initially established the Arazi Records Centre (ARC) and one window Mobile Van
at the tehsil level, Qanoungoi Arazi Records Centre (Q-ARC) at the Qanoungoi Level, and Dehi
Markaz Mall (DMM) at the Patwar Circle Level to provide hassle free land revenue services to
landowners.
The posts of Service Centre Official (SCO), Service Centre In-charge (SCI), Assistant
Director Land Records (ADLR), and Land Records Officer (LRO) were created for ARC and Q-
ARC operational work.
ARC and Q-ARC provide the following services through their Central Land Records
Management and Information system (CLRMIS):
Obtainment of a Land Ownership Fard for a landowner of a Revenue Estate for personal
record, for sale, gift, exchange, mortgage, redemption, water/gas/electricity connections,
guaranty, and for court proceedings, through scheduled appointment via online link,
telephone, or Express Service Delivery Counter.
Transfer of land ownership rights from seller to buyer, inheritance of land ownership of
deceased to their legal heirs, exchange of land, and loans from banks, with prescribed
procedure through Mutation (Inteqal).
Correction of land record errors/mistakes through electronic Fard-Badar.
Entry and cancellation of stay orders and implementation of court orders in the Computerised
Land Revenue Record.
Collection of Land Revenue, Fard and Mutation fees through the Bank of Punjab counter.
Protection of land ownership rights through NADRA biometric software, quick verification
of Advance and Gain Tax, PSID vouchers of Mutation from the Federal Board of Revenue
software.
In order to provide universal access service, any landowner of Punjab province can get a
Fard and make an entering Mutation at any ARC. CCTV cameras have been installed to monitor
the functioning of ARC staff, and third-party monitoring teams are designated to oversee
performance.

Role of SCO Role of SCI Role of ADLR/LRO

Issuance of Fard Work as Administrator at Records of statement
Q-Manager ARC of parties
Cashier Reporting of staff to Responsible for
Implementing interim PLRA attestation of entries
working and all entries Coordination with District in CLRMIS
of revenue records in Administration
CLRMIS software Allocation of ARC budgets
Attestation of interim
working task/entries

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The reform initiative needs to be strengthened further. As the land record ARCs are only
located at the sub-divisional level, they have limited capacity to provide services to landholders
even in small subdivisions where the average turnover of customers is far less than larger
subdivisions. People need to wait in queue for hours for their turn to avail services.
For doorstep facilitation of landowners, Digital Girdawari Records and rapid
implementation of government policies, DMMs established at the Patwar Circle level where
Patwari and Tehsildar work as SCO and ADLR/LRO can provide full revenue services to
landowners of revenue estates through the CLRMIS

Dehi Markaz Maal (DMM)

In order to make public service delivery more accessible and citizen friendly, the Board of
Revenue (BOR) introduced the initiative of DMMs to provide digitised land and village records at
the doorstep. DMMs have been set up at the Qanungoi level in the first phase and are currently
being established at the Patwar level. The number of DMMs established for tehsils of District
Lahore at the Qanungoi and Patwar Circle Levels is given below. All DMMs at both levels in all
five tehsils are functioning.
Tehsil Number of DMMs Number of DMMs
(Qanungoi Level) (Patwar Circle Level)
City 5 11
Cantt 8 11
Shalimar 8 13
Model Town 7 12
Raiwind 6 13
Total 34 60

Detail of Landowners
Statement showing number of owners (including mortgagees in position and tenants of
government land) and their net sown areas, completed into irrigated land by treating one irrigated
acre as equal to two unirrigated acre, during the year 2021-22. Area is given in acres.
Tehsil of Owners whose Owners whose area Owners whose Owners of
Lahore area net sown net sown exceeds 25 area net sown Orchards shown
District exceeds 12.5 irrigated acres but exceeds 50 in the Revenue
irrigated acres but does not exceed 50 irrigated acres Record
does not exceed 25 irrigated acres (excluding
(excluding (excluding Orchards)
Orchards) Orchards)
No. of Area No. of Area No. of Area No. of Area
Owners Owners Owners Owners
City 28 471 11 445 0 0 31 151
Raiwind 431 6,937 113 3,772 32 2,925 193 447
Cantt 289 4,884 102 3,655 21 3,261 16 65
Model Town 120 2,160 24 893 7 955 0 0
Shalimar 271 4,575 55 1,811 8 445 7 106
Total 1,139 19,027 305 10,576 68 7,586 247 769

Retrieval of State Land under Illegal Occupation

District State Land Under Illegal Occupation Retrieved Remaining
Lahore 121992K 27545K - 1M - 10Sqft 7211K - 5M - 5Sqft 20356K - 04M - 5Sqft

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Revival of Lambardar System

Special efforts are being made to revive the Lambardar/Chowkidar System in Mouzas of
District Lahore. In this regard, meetings have been arranged to create awareness among the
Lambadar regarding responsibilities of Lambardar in the Mouza and to engage them in
Government policies.
The table below gives the total number of Lambardar posts per tehsil as well as the number
of vacant posts.

Tehsil Total Number of Vacant Number of Lambardar

Lambardar Posts Lambardar Posts granted land under
Lambardari Scheme
Raiwind 106 18 Nil
Cantt 155 8 Nil
Model 103 13 Nil
Town
City 9 3 Nil
Shalimar 90 14 Nil
Total 463 56 Nil

Registration Branches
Registration work has a historical background in Lahore district. Before partition, the very
initial document was registered in 1849 in Persian script. The document is available at the
Registration Branch City, now Data Gunj Bakhsh Town.
After the inception of Pakistan, registration work was divided into two sub-divisions: City
and Cantt. On 23rd February 1986, it was divided into four tehsil sub-divisions: City, Saddar, Cantt
and Model Town. After devolution, registration work was further divided into six towns: Nishtar,
Shalimar, Aziz Bhatti, Data Gunj Bakhsh, Allama Iqbal and Ravi Town Lahore, Finally in 2007 it
was divided into nine towns, adding Samanabad, Gulberg and Wahga. This classification stands to
date.
Hierarchy
In Lahore district, registration branches are performing their duties under the head of
District Collector/ District Registrar detailed below.

District Collector / The ADC(G) Lahore is designated as District Collector/District Registrar and
District Registrar overall in-charge of all registration branches. They are responsible for appeals
cases filed in the Court of District Collector, decisions of impounded cases
received u/s 33 of Stamp Act 1899, and supervision and monitoring of all
registration branches. Recovery cases of the audit observations of registration
branches and housing societies are also dealt with in this office. ADC(G) also
approves records burnt in the fire of 1998 after due process.
OIC (Registration) An officer of Grade 17 who works as staff officer to ADC(G); the OIC
(Registration) supervises all assigned tasks pertaining to ADC(G) office.
HRC The HRC is the head of all Registration Clerks and deals with all registration
matters, correspondence from the BOR, and cases of burnt records.
Sub-Registrar Sub-Registrars performs duties pertaining to the registration of property
documents in their respective territorial jurisdictions and towns. Their main
responsibility is the interest of the State by preventing leakage of taxes.
Registration Under every Sub-Registrar, Registration Moharrar-I examines and scrutinizes
Moharrar-I documents presented to them for registration. They check duties and in case
of any tax evasion, get it impounded by the Sub-Registrar and sent to the

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District Collector. If the case is complete, they submit it to their Sub-Registrar

for signing, after which they allot a registration number.
Registration Registration Moharrar-II deals with documents presented for registration
Moharrar-II through parties in person.
Registration Registration Moharrar-III makes appointments of Local Commissions on
Moharrar-III applications submitted by parties.
Record Keeper The Record Keeper is the custodian of records and issues attested copies,
NECs and verification of record on applications submitted for the purpose.

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Local Government & Municipal Services

The provision of municipal services and utilities in Lahore district is through the local
governments/ councils including the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore and individual
departments including Lahore Electricity Supply Corporation, Water and Sanitation Agency, Sui
Gas Northern Pipeline Limited, etc. These are discussed in greater detail below.
METROPOLITAN CORPORATION LAHORE
The Metropolitan Corporation Lahore was established in 1931. The First Mayor of Lahore
after 1947 was Mian Amir-ud-Din, an officer of the colonial Indian Civil Service. In subsequent
decades, both administrative officers and elected leaders have held the administrative control of
the Metropolitan Corporation depending on the Local Government System in place. The seat is
situated in Town Hall, Lahore. Currently, with no functional local government system, the
Commissioner Lahore Division is working as the Administrator of the Metropolitan Corporation.
Town Hall
The office of the Metropolitan Corporation is located at the junction of Mall Road and
Lower Mall Road in a building referred to as the Town Hall. Sir Charles Aitchison laid its
foundation stone in 1887 and at the time, named it Jubilee Town Hall. The formal inauguration
took place in 1890 by Prince Albert Victor during his visit to colonial India. The building, which
was completed at a cost of Rs. 60,000 at the time, has been restored and renovated in recent years,
and once again proudly presents its original brick facing. The landscaped forecourt is dominated
by an attractive fountain, said to be a gift from Raja Harbans Singh.

Town Hall c. 1890

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Town Hall - Present day

Functions
The functions of a Metropolitan Corporation, Municipal Corporation and Municipal
Committee per Chapter VII of Act XIII of 2022 are discussed below. The role and responsibilities
of MCL keep changing with the evolution of the local government system during various political
tenures. It is mainly responsible for the provision of municipal and civic amenities in areas within
its jurisdiction. Some of its basic functions are:
1. Enforce all municipal laws, rules and bye-laws governing its functioning
2. Approve and collect taxes, fees, rates, rents, tolls, charges, fines and penalties
3. Execute and manage development plans
4. Prepare and revise budgets, and annual and long term development plans
5. Prosecute, sue and follow up on criminal, civil and recovery proceedings against violators of
municipal laws
6. Maintain municipal records and archives and ensure public access to information
7. Prepare, approve and enforce spatial plans, master plans, zoning, land use plans, including
classification and reclassification of land, urban design and urban renewal
8. Exercise building control
9. Provide, manage, operate, maintain and improve municipal infrastructure and services,
including:
i. water supply and control and development of water sources
ii. sewage and sewage treatment and disposal
iii. storm water drainage
iv. sanitation and solid waste collection, disposal of solid waste, treatment and disposal
including landfill site and recycling plants
v. roads and streets
vi. public transport and mass transit systems

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vii. firefighting
viii. street lighting
ix. parks, playgrounds, open spaces
x. parking stands
xi. graveyards
xii. arboriculture
xiii. parking places
xiv. transport stations, stops, stands and terminals
xv. slaughter houses
xvi. municipal libraries
xvii. community and cultural centres

10. Organise town or tehsil council level sports, cultural, recreational events, fairs and shows, cattle
fairs
11. Assist in relief activities
12. Encourage afforestation and plantation at the local level
13. Manage properties, assets and funds vested in the local government
14. Establish and promote, incubation centres for start-ups of cottage, small and medium size
enterprises
Administrative Units of MCL Lahore
The Zones/Towns of Lahore that are the Administrative Units of MCL Lahore are:
1. Ravi Zone
2. Data Gunj Buksh Zone
3. Samanabad Zone
4. Allama Iqbal Zone
5. Shalimar Zone
6. Gulberg Zone
7. Wahga Zone
8. Aziz Bhatti Zone
9. Nishter Zone

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Administrator
MCL Organisational Chart
03 Deputy
Chief
Corporation
Officer BS 19
Chief Corporation Officer BS-20
Council
Chief Public Officer
Relations Officer

Chief Metropolitan Officer Chief Metropolitan Officer Chief Metropolitan Officer Chief Metropolitan Deputy Metropolitan
(Planning & Archt.) (Infrastructure & Services) (Regulation) HQ Officer (Finance) Officer (IT)
BS 20 BS 20 BS 19 BS 20 BS 18

01 01 01
Metropolitan Metropolitan MO 09 01
Officer Officer (Infra) DyMO Regulation MO (Finance)
Architect BS19 Planning BS19 BS 19
East Management
03 03 03 01 Officer
Deputy MO Deputy MO Dy MO Dy MO 03
Architecture Planning (Infra) (Ser) DyMO (Finance)
BS18 Dy. Director Public BS 18
Facility
09 09
03 09 AMO
AMO 09
AMO AMO Planning (Ser)
(Infra) Director Food AMO (Finance)
Architect BS17 BS18
BS17 BS 17

Director Director 09
Worksho SWM AMO Regulation

Administrator

Fire Officer

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

The most recent Local Government Act has just been passed by the provincial assembly
and elections are yet to be held under it. Currently, Local Governments are working under the
Punjab Local Government Act (PLGA) 2021 wherein Municipal Services are rendering their
services to the public at large. The Chief Corporation Officer is a Principal Administrative Officer
controlling all subordinate officers and officials as well as the Principal Accounting Officer. This
wing is working under the Administration of Punjab Local Government Board. All these local
governments are working in the headship and corporate body of public representatives under
Local Government Act 2021. There are 274 Union Councils established in 2017 in District Lahore
according to Punjab Local Government Act-2013.
Directorate General Local Government
The directorate of Local Government is headed by the Director General assisted by the
Directors at the Head Office, Directors at Divisions, Deputy Directors at District and Assistant
Directors at Tehsil Level and by Executive Engineers (XENs) of civil divisions.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
The key roles and responsibilities of the Local Government & Community Development
(LG&CD) Department include coordination with local governments at district and tehsil levels,
assisting the district administration in matters related to local government, assisting the District
Election Commissioner in demarcation of constituencies and conduct of local government
elections, third party validation of campaigns to eradicate polio and dengue, inspection of local
government schemes and projects, redressal of grievances regarding registration of life events like
birth, death, marriage and divorce.

LG & CD Department Offices in District Lahore

Office Officer Contact Address of ADLG Office
Number
DDLG M Aslam Baloch 03334535319 7-Fasih Road near Akram Tent Service,
Office Islamia Park, Samanabad Lahore.
ADLG Imran Rafique 03334043383 7-Fasih Road near Akram Tent Service,
City Joiya Islamia Park, Samanabad Lahore.
ADLG Irum Zain 03354199922 1. UC-121 Crown Park Baghechi Sethan Wali
Shalimar Crown Park, Lahore.
2. UC-124 Braganza Quarter Tariq Road near Police
Station Garhi Shahu Lahore.
ADLG Sara Mohsin 03326688207 UC-195 Heir Pind Bedian Road TehsiL Cantt
Cantt Lahore.
ADLG Wasim Basit 03214420319 Office UC-203 FC College Katchi Abadi Pani Wali
Model Tanki near WASA Office Zahoor Elahi Road,
Town Gulberg-II, Lahore
ADLG Syeda Tashan 03314929196 UC-272 Raiwind Rural, Raiwind Khurd near Darbar
Raiwind Fatima Dolla Molla Rohi Nala Road, Lahore.

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LAHORE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (LDA)

The Provincial Assembly of Punjab established the Lahore Development Authority under
the LDA Act of 1975. It had previously been called the "Lahore Improvement Trust". It has three
main wings: Urban Development Wing, Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), and Traffic
Engineering Planning Agency (TEPA).
Vision: To transform Lahore into a world class city through efficient public service delivery
Mission: To provide quality public services through socio economic programs, urban development
and efficient mobility while preserving cultural and heritage dynamics of Lahore.
Goals and Targets
Integrated and sustainable Development
Quality housing
Provision for low cost housing
Rehabilitation of under developed areas/ slums
Maintain natural and aesthetic beauty of the city
Complaint redressal system (One Window Cell)
Promote environment friendly activity through:
o Potable drinking water
o Sanitation and drainage
o Waste water treatment plants
o Rain water harvesting and water conservation
o Urban forestry and plantation
o Integrated traffic management system
Organogram

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Abbreviations:
DG : Director General, ADG(H): Additional Director General (Housing), DKA: Director Kachi Abadi,
DLD: Director Land Development, DEM: Director Estate Management, DEM(QAT): Director EM
Quaid-e-Azam Town, DEM Ave: Director Estate Management Avenue, PDIT : Project Director
Information Technology, DCS: Director Computer Service, DE: Director Enforcement, DHP: Director
Hidden Properties, DLaw: Director Law, CTP: Chief Town Planner, DTP: Director Town Planning,
DComm: Director Commercialisation, D Arch: Director Architecture, D Rcry: Director Recovery, CMP:
Chief Metropolitan Planner, DMP: Director Metropolitan Planning, CE: Chief Engineer, ACE: Add Chief
Engineer, DDHQ: Deputy Director Headquarters, DR: Director Revenue, DB: Director Building, DEME:
Director Estate Management (?), DP&D :Director Planning & Development, ADG (HQ): Additional
Director General (Headquarters), DEdu: Director Education, DA: Director Admin, DF: Director Finance,
DPR: Director Public Relations, C&I: Coordination & Implementation12

LAHORE ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY (LESCO)

In order to provide for the unified and coordinated development of the water and power
resources, Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) was created in 1958 through
WAPDA Act, 1958. To provide more autonomy to the various distribution areas in Pakistan under
WAPDA, the Area Electricity Board (AEB) Lahore, one of the eight AEBs in Pakistan, was
established under the scheme of Area Electricity Boards in 1982. Later on, the Government of
Pakistan divided the power sector into 10 Distribution Companies (DISCOs) one of which is
Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO).

Service Area

12 Lahore Development Authority. Official Website. [Link].

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Area of Operation in Lahore

LESCO's area of responsibility covers Civil Districts of Lahore, Kasur, Okara and Sheikhupura.
However, Lahore District is divided into four operational circles. These are:

Circle Main Areas

1 Northern Circle Sandha , Data Darbar , Gulshan ravi
2 Central Circle Township, Raiwind, Samanabad, Civil lines
3 Eastern Circle Shalamar, Mughal Pura, Baghan Pura
4 Southern Circle Gulberg, Defence, Kot Lakhpat , Cantt

Services Provided
LESCO is responsible for distribution of electricity from the Common Delivery Points (at NTDC)
to the consumers. LESCO thus covers the following, along with the main function of distribution of power:
Installation of new connections
Meter Reading and Billing
Date Extensions of Bills, Installment of Bills etc.
Collection of revenue
Disconnection and reconnection of consumers
Replacement of Defective Meters
Theft control
Complaints handling etc.

LESCO’s functions and services are not limited to the above-mentioned services. The list
mentioned above comprises consumer-centric functions.
Customer Service Centres
Name of Customer Services Centres under LESCO Location
1 Central Customer Services Centre LESCO H/Q 22- A Queens Road Lahore
2 Regional Customer Services Centre Northern Circle Ravi Road Minar e Pakistan
Lahore.
3 Regional Customer Services Centre Central Circle Said Pur Stop Multan Road
Lahore
4 Regional Customer Services Centre Ichra Circle Feroze Pur Road Ichar Lahore
5 Regional Customer Services Centre Township Chandni Chowk Town Ship
Lahore.
6 Regional Customer Services Centre Eastern Circle Near Sukh Nahar Shalimar Town
Lahore.
7 Regional Customer Services Centre Southern Circle Ghazi Road Defence Lahore

Complaint Management Numbers:

Helpline: 111-000-118
SMS at: 8118
Complaint and monitoring cell number: 042-99205461-62
Customer Facilitation
There are five Mobile Customer Service Centres to assist with customer facilitation.

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The key functions of Customer Service Centres are:

Instalments
Corrections of Over Billing
Paid Bill Correction
Duplicate Bill
Extension in Due Date

CEO’s Message
Lahore Electric Supply Company is building its future upon a
foundation of strong core values. As the electricity industry undergoes
massive change, our success will come from respect for people,
uncompromised commitment to safety, quality customer services, and
support for the communities we serve. Through public-private
partnerships that reflect these values, Lahore Electric Supply Company
looks forward to growing in this era of unprecedented opportunity. I invite
you to learn more about LESCO's vision for the future and contribute
through your valued suggestions.

WATER AND SANITATION AGENCY (WASA)

Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), Lahore is responsible for the provision of water
supply, and sewerage and drainage services to the citizens of Lahore. WASA Lahore is committed
to efficient and sustainable provision of water utility services for its consumers through developing
and safeguarding Lahore’s water resources. In the year 1976 the Water Wing of the erstwhile
Lahore Improvement Trust was converted into WASA Lahore under the provisions of the LDA
Act 1975.
Today WASA Lahore’s service area covers 350 sq. km of the district of Lahore, serving
more than 8 million of its inhabitants or 70% of the population of Lahore, making it the country’s
second largest water utility. To meet the requirements of the metropolis, WASA is currently
operating a water supply network of about 5,864 km that delivers around 540 million gallons of
clean drinking water per day. This is pumped by 593 tube wells.
To keep the city clean, a 4,974 km long sewerage network is operated with the help of 116
Lift Stations. There are 16 major Disposal Stations that are operating on 359 km of drains. To help
prevent urban flooding and keep the lives of citizens undisturbed, WASA Lahore has constructed
3 underground storage tanks at Lawrence Road, Sheranwala Gate and Kashmir Road. These and
more in the pipeline, so to speak, are designed to prevent water ponding while harvesting rainwater
for horticulture. To fulfil its duties, WASA Lahore currently employs more than 9000 personnel.

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In addition to dedicated area-wise complaint numbers, a Walk-in Customer Care Centre

has been established at the LDA Plaza on Egerton Road.
Complaint Numbers
The main WASA Call Centre UAN is 1334. Its Complaint Management Cell at the WASA
Head Office can be reached at +92-4299332100.
Office Complaint Number Office Complaint
Number
Gulberg 923377770981 Sabzazar 923377771002
Mozang 923377770982 Anarkali 923377771003
Shadi Pura 923377770983 Township 923377771004
Ravi Road 923377770984 Gujjar Pura 923377771005
Kahna 923377770985 Shimla Hill 923377771006
Green Town 923377770986 Baghbanpura 923377771007
Misri Shah 923377770987 KrishanNagar 923377771008
Garden Town 923377770988 Mughalpura 923377771009
Johar Town 923377770989 Fateh Garh 923377771011
City 923377770991 Samanabad 923377771012
LDA Avenue-I 923377770992 Ichhra 923377771013
Jubilee Town 923377770993 Farrukhabad 923377771014
Industrial Area 923377770994 Data Nagar 923377771015
Mustafa Abad 923377770995 Fateh Garh 923377771183
Tajpura 923377770996 Mustafa Town 923377771184
Gulshan-e-Ravi 923377770997 Shahdara 923377771185
Dholanwal 923377770998 Shadbagh 923377771186

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Service Area Map - Water Wing of the Lahore Improvement Trust

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Steam Pump installed at Pani Wala Talab in the Walled City of Lahore, under the British Raj,
financed by Mr. Mela Ram of Lahore.

Message from the Managing Direct

Water is indeed the most essential of natural resources needed to
sustain life. Therefore, we need to be wise in its management and
consumption. WASA Lahore is committed to adopting the best
practices and technology for improving service quality and
achieving sustainability. We at WASA Lahore are cognizant of the
crucial role entrusted to us in ensuring the wellbeing of our fellow
citizens and prosperity of the great city of Lahore.

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LAHORE WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANY (LWMC)

Lahore has emerged as one of the cleanest cities of Pakistan by adopting different strategies
over a period of 30 years. The need to improve the Solid Waste Management (SWM) system in
Lahore metropolitan city was realised in the mid-1990s. A separate department for SWM was
established in 1992 by the Government with independent wings for planning, workshop and fleet
management to collect and dispose about 3,000 tons waste per day. The City District Government
Lahore (CDGL) established Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) under section 42 of
the Companies Ordinance 1984 on 19th March 2010. Its main function is to provide a waste
management program that contributes to the health of the residents by ensuring that waste is
removed from the city and disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner through efficient
waste collection, storage, transportation and disposal.
The vision of LMWC is:
Transformation of Lahore as one of the cleanest cities in the world by providing
customised solutions in consultation with citizens and private partners to ensure
sustainable, safe, clean and green environment.

Various efforts were made to improve the SWM system in Lahore by adding more
resources like labour, vehicles and hiring of professional staff. This is why the Project Management
Unit (PMU) was created in 2009 and entrusted with the task of managing solid waste of Lahore.
LWMC was established through an executive order with an aim to modernise the SWM system in
Lahore city so that it is at par with international standards.
The new institutional arrangements enabled LWMC to gain financial and administrative
autonomy for quick decision making, adoption of a professional and corporate governance
approach with improved human resource management. Under the Services and Assets
Management Agreement (SAAMA) signed on 25th June 2011, all functions, staff and budgetary
allocations of SWM department were transferred to LWMC for a period of 15 years with the
condition of achieving the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that were developed with mutual
understanding between CDGL and LWMC.
Two Turkish companies were selected through an international competitive bidding
process. The contracts with international contractors were signed in November 2011 and after
closure of former outsourcing contracts in December 2020, LWMC took over cleanliness
operations. Currently LWMC is providing cleanliness services in the whole city.
The waste collection and haulage component is further divided into Primary Collection and
Secondary Collection. Primary Collection services that is, collection of waste from streets,
containers and open places, and haulage to Temporary Collection Points (TCPs) is being
performed by LWMC itself. However, the Secondary Waste Collection from TCPs to the
designated landfill site is locally outsourced to increase the efficiency of the system.
Normal functions performed by LWMC are as follows:
Manual sweeping of residential and commercial areas of the entire city by deploying sanitary
workers in the field.
Primary waste collection by deploying machinery, that is, compactors, mini dumpers, loaders
and dumpers and arm roll for waste collection from containers and open places.
Mechanical sweeping and washing of major roads of the city.
Secondary waste collection from TCPs to the only designated site located at Lakhodair in the
north of the city near Darogewala along Ring Road.

Currently LWMC is operating in the city with a fleet of more than 1000. LWMC has
procured new machinery including 550 Mini Dumpers, 64 Chain Arm Roll, 27 Tractor
Loaders/Trolleys and 55 Dumpers that have been deployed in the field. Procurement of new 139
Compactors, 50 Mechanical Sweepers and 18 Washing Vehicles is in process and likely to be

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completed by the middle of this year (2022). Six thousand new waste storage containers have also
been placed in the city to increase waste collection efficiency.
About 10,500 sanitary workers are deployed in the city for manual sweeping and primary
waste collection. LWMC is collecting on average 5,800 tons solid waste per day as depicted in the
following graph:

Service Area Map

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Basic Services Unit Map

Operational Activities
Manual Sweeping Activites

Waste Collection Operations

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New Fleet for Waste Collection

New Initiatives
Recently, LWMC has taken some initiatives to improve the system in the city in line with
the standards and desires of the citizens. Details are below:
Restructuring of LWMC Operations: Dedicated separate arrangements for field and fleet
operations are made to improve the efficiency of the system as the company has shifted from
monitoring to executional mode.
Strengthening of 2nd Shift and Workshop Repair: 3,000 sanitary workers and 190 Technicians
were hired in June and July 2021. Deployment of 25 workers in each UC of the city is ensured.

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Workers are also deployed in second shift for cleanliness of main areas including commercial
entities of the city to control the littering and to improve the aesthetics of the area.
Strengthening of Night Operations: Waste collection during the night shift is being ensured in
central areas i.e., Gulberg, Samanabad, Data Gunj Bukhsh, Ravi and Johar Town areas of the
city. Dedicated workers are also deployed for night sweeping of major commercial markets of
the city.
Complaint Redressal Squad: 6 dedicated teams are deployed in the city for quick resolution of
complaints received on 1139 and social media.
Handcarts for Workers: 3,000 handcarts have been procured and distributed among the
workers and deployed in the field. The impact of manual sweeping has been improved with
this intervention.
Overall Accountability: A vigilance wing has recently been established. GM Vigilance, Sr.
Manager Vigilance along with 18 AM/DM Vigilance (2 per town) have been deployed.
Tracking of Fleet: The LWMC fleet is monitored through a video wall, which assesses distance
travelled, trips made, duration of time spent in field and any unauthorised stops. The same is
shared with Town Managers and Fleet Managers daily to take necessary corrective measures.
Workshops: Management Information System (MIS) has been developed and is being
implemented in workshops to monitor use of spare parts, stocks and other allied logistics. The
same will monitor the number of times a vehicle broke down, parts repaired or changed,
reason, and will ensure that each step is done after proper approval.
Hotspot Monitoring App: The app has been developed to assess complete clearance of
containers, plots and waste heaps in time. Geo-tagging of all waste containers was completed
and embedded in the app. Daily clearance of containers is being monitored by the monitoring
wing. Changes to the schedule of fleet movement will be made, if required, based on data
collected.
Monitoring: CCTV monitoring has been initiated in workshops.
New Landfill Sites: Four sites have been identified by the district administration for proposed
sites in north and south Lahore. The same are being assessed by LWMC for potential use,
access ease and utilisation.

Message from the Head

Our primary motto is making the provincial capital neat and
clean. The dedicated human resource of LWMC embodied
in its sanitary workers, drivers, mechanics and technical staff
have worked diligently to provide services during the
difficult transition period. LWMC has successfully moved
from a monitoring company to executing primary and
secondary waste collection activity as well as handling of the landfill site. In keeping with
the vision of the Chief Minister Punjab, the company has moved to a more cost-effective
model with successful procurement of new vehicles for primary waste collection as well as
enhancing the technical capacity of own workshops. LWMC is committed to providing the
best possible services to the great city of Lahore.

SUI NORTHERN GAS PIPELINES LIMITED (SNGPL)

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) was incorporated as a private limited
Company in 1963 and converted into a public limited company in January 1964 under the
Companies Act 1913. SNGPL established a distribution department office in Lahore in 1977 for
laying and expansion of a gas network, provision of gas connections in developing areas, and other
activities such as billing, sales etc. Later, further sub-offices were developed and established to

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cater to newly-developed localities under Lahore cities. The list of personnel in charge and the
duration of their tenure is as follows.
Name Designation From To
Mr. Abdul Rahim Tariq Qureshi Area In-charge - 15-07-1977
Mr. Malik Liaqat Hassan Regional Manager 16-07-1977 26-04-1978
Mr. Javed Hameed Regional Manager 27-04-1978 10-10-1978
Mr. M. Latif Choudhary Regional Manager 11-10-1978 30-09-1979
Mr. Malik Liaqat Hassan General Manager 01-10-1979 18-06-1981
Mr. Abdul Rehman Regional Manager 18-06-1981 1986
Mr. Zahid Popalzai General Manager 1986 20-05-1989
Mr. Muhammad Ilyas Regional Manager 20-05-1989 26-01-1992
Mr. M. Aslam Malik General Manager 27-01-1992 12-04-1993
Mr. Mian Abdul Wajid General Manager 13-04-1993 26-07-1995
Mr. Muhammad Ilyas General Manager 26-07-1995 22-09-1997
Mr. Arif Hameed I/C LHR Region 23-09-1997 05-04-1999
Mr. Saeed Uz Zaman General Manager 06-04-1999 10-08-2000
Mr. Nasir Qureshi I/C LHR Region 11-08-2000 17-06-2001
Mr. Mujahid Anwar General Manager 18-06-2001 07-10-2005
Mr. Atta Ullah Tayyab General Manager 08-10-2005 24-04-2006
Mr. Arif Hameed General Manager 25-04-2006 26-03-2009
Mr. Abdul Haseeb General Manager 27-03-2009 14-12-2011
Mr. Sohail M. Gulzar General Manager 15-12-2011 19-09-2013
Mr. Mahmood Zia Ahmad General Manager 20-09-2013 16-08-2016
Mr. Qaiser Masood General Manager 17-08-2016 19-03-2019
Mr. M. Tayyab Faisal General Manager 19-03-2019 20-09-2019
Mr. Shahzad Iqbal Laun General Manager 20-09-2019 30-07-2020
Mr. M. Tayyab Faisal General Manager 30-07-2020 30-03-2022
Mr. Riasat Ali I/C LHR Region 30-03-2022

Services Provided
The following offices are operating within the jurisdiction of Lahore District.
1) SNGPL Head office situated at 21 Kashmir Road, which is monitoring gas distribution
operations in North Central Pakistan through an extensive network in Punjab, Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
2) SNGPL Transmission Office situated at Defence Road near Mohlanwal, from where gas is
being fed to the distribution system of Lahore.
3) SNGPL Distribution Office Lahore Region situated at 21 Industrial Area Gurumangat Road
Gulberg III, which is serving more than 1.2 million (industrial, commercial and domestic)
consumers under its jurisdiction; 0.31 million domestic consumers are being looked after
directly from the Lahore Regional Office whereas the rest of the domestic consumers are being
served by sub-area offices.
a) Sub Regional office Johar Town situated at 76-J Johar town, is mainly monitoring western
areas of Lahore City along with allied small cities such as Phool Nagar, Pattoki, Kot Radha
Kishan, Chunian and Kasur serving around 0.47 million consumers.
b) Sub Regional office Harbanspura situated at Main Canal Road near Harbanspura, which is
mainly monitoring eastern areas of Lahore City serving around 0.2 million domestic
consumers.

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c) Sub office Walled City situated at 2nd floor, Hadia Haleema Centre, Bhaati Chowk, which
is mainly monitoring the Walled City and allied areas serving around 0.17 million
consumers.
d) One sub office is situated in Kasur city, which is mainly monitoring Kasur city and allied
localities serving around 0.04 million domestic consumers.
Three Complaint Centres have also been established to facilitate walk-in consumers in Samanabad,
LDA Plaza and Defence Housing Authority. In addition to above, several SNGPL offices are also
established within the jurisdiction of Lahore city. These include SNGPL Training Institute,
Corrosion Control Department, Central Meter Shop Kot Lakhpat and Sunder Industrial Estate.

Addresses and Contact Numbers

Office Office Type Telephone Address
Location Number
1 Lahore Regional Office 042-99263361- 21-Industrial area, Gulberg-III,
80 Lahore
2 DHA Complaint 042-35743729 73-K Commercial Area, Phase-III,
Centre DHA, Lahore
4 LDA Plaza Customer 042-99204556 LDA Plaza
Service Centre 042-99204554 Egerton Road Lahore
3 Samanabad Customer 042-37591565 494-N Near Ladies Park
Service Centre Samanabad, Lahore
5 Walled City Sub Region 042-37631477-8 Hadia Haleema Centre, 2nd floor,
outside Bhati Gate, Lahore
6 Harbanspura Sub Region 042-99239436-7 1-Nadir House, Canal Bank,
Tajbagh, Harbanspura, Lahore
7 Johar Town Sub Region 042-35951728 76-J Johar Town, Lahore

NATIONAL DATABASE AND REGISTRATION AUTHORITY (NADRA)

National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) was established as the National
Database Organization (NDO), an attached department under the Ministry of Interior,
Government of Pakistan, in 1998. On 10th March 2000, NDO & Directorate General of
Registration (DGR) merged to form NADRA: an independent corporate body with requisite
autonomy to operate independently and facilitate good governance.
National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) has gained international
recognition for its success in providing solutions for identification, e-governance and secure
documents that deliver multi-pronged goals of mitigating identity theft; safeguarding the interests
of our clients and facilitating the public.
NADRA set out on the journey of Civil Registration of all Pakistanis in March 2000 and in
a short span of time NADRA’s team indigenously created a state-of-the-art centralised Data
Warehouse, Network Infrastructure and Interactive Data Acquisition System to issue secure
National Identity Cards (NIC). With the introduction of this new fool proof, comprehensive and
highly sophisticated computerised system, NADRA has been successful in reducing identity theft
to a bare minimum.
Services Provided
Any information relating to NADRA services and application status can be sought from
the NADRA call centre: +92-51-111786100. NADRA services are also available online at
[Link]

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 Local Government & Municipal Services

NADRA Cards for Pakistani Citizens Smart Card, Juvenile Card, CRC, FRC
NADRA Cards for Overseas Pakistanis Smart NICOP, SMART POC, FRC
Arms License Cards Issued from MOI & Government of Punjab
Succession Certificates All over Pakistan

NADRA Offices in Lahore District

NADRA is providing its services to the residents of Lahore city through its offices and
Mobile Vans so that the maximum number of citizens may be registered. Mobile Vans are specially
designed to carry the NADRA equipment in such a way as to reach remote areas of Lahore District
to register unregistered people at their doorsteps. The detail of NADRA offices and Mobile Vans
working in District Lahore is as follows:-
NADRA Registration Centres (NRCs) 16
Mobile Registration Vans (MRVs) 9
To further facilitate the residents of Lahore, the NADRA office situated near Shimla
Pahari, Egerton Road is working 24 hours a day, and seven days a week so that citizens may avail
its services at their convenience.
Other Projects
NADRA knows its departmental as well as official responsibilities are to assist other
Government departments in the computerisation process. NADRA is working with Government
of Punjab as well as Benazir Income support Program (BISP). Details of such projects are given
below.
Punjab Arms License Project (PALP) - Computerisation of Punjab Arms Licenses
MOI Arms License Project (ALP) - Computerisation of MOI Arms Licenses
Succession Facilitation Unit (SFU) - Issuance of Succession Certificates
Benazir Income support Program (BISP) - Helping in Issuance of BISP cards

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Law and Order

DISTRICT POLICE
Capital City District Police (Operations Wing) Lahore
The Capital City Police, Lahore, a metropolitan police organisation headed by CCPO,
supervises the overall functions of Capital City Police, Lahore. On 14th February 2002 it was
bifurcated into Operations and Investigation wings. The Operations Wing is under the command
of DIG/Operations and primarily focuses on the prevention and detection of crime, and
maintenance of law & order. In an ever-fluctuating security scenario, the security of public places,
events, ceremonies and important personalities holds permanent importance.

History of Capital City Police Lahore13

1916 Police force of the district was controlled by one SP with two DSPs
1972 Lahore District was divided into two Police Divisions: City and Cantt
1991 Saddar Division established
1992 Model Town Division established
2002 Establishment of CCPO, Office
2002 Investigation and Operations separated
2006 Iqbal Town and Civil Lines Divisions established
2006 Constitution of Traffic Warden Force
2016 Constitution of Dolphin and PRU
2015 Establishment of Front Desks at Police Stations
2016 Constitution of Anti-Riot Force

Organogram of Operations Wing

DIG Operations

SSP Operations

SP SP SP SP SP SP
VVIP/Sec Security HQrs. Dolphin Mobiles ARU

SP
SP SP Addl. SP SP SP
Model
City Cantt Civil Lines Saddar Iqbal Town
Town

13
Source: [Link]

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Government Officers in Operations Wing Lahore

Official
Name of Officer Portfolio
Numbers
1. Capt. Suhail Chaudhry (PSP/BS-20) DIG Operations Lahore 99212578
Capt ® Mustansar Feroze (PSP/BS- 99211567
2. SSP Operations Lahore
19) 99214047
Mr. Muhammad Waqar Azeem SP Operations Model Town 99263421
3.
(PSP/BS-18) Division 99263422
SP Operations Iqbal Town 99230456
4. Ms. Ammara Sherazi (PSP/BS-18)
Division 99230660
SP Operations Civil Lines 99203472
5. Mr. Raza Safdar Kazmi (PSP/BS-18)
Division 99203473
Mr. Muhammad Essa Khan 99220615
6. SP Operations Cantt Division
(PSP/BS-18) 99221126
Mr. Hassan Javed Bhatti (PSP/BS- 99262023
7. SP Operations Sadar Division
18) 99262024
99213433
8. Mr. Akhlaq Ullah (PSP/BS-18) SP Operations City Division
99213435

Administrative Set Up
The six divisions are divided into the following circles/sub-divisions. In total, 84 Police
Stations work within the precincts of their respective division and sub-division.

Division Circle/Sub-Divisions
SP/Model Town Model Town, Garden Town, Ichra, Gulberg, Kahna Circle
Division
SP/Iqbal Town Muslim Town, Iqbal Town ,Samanabad Gulshan Ravi ,
Division Nawankot
SP/Civil Lines Division Race Course , Qilla Gujjar Singh, , Old Anarkali,
Mughalpura, Women Race Course
SP/Cantt Division Defence Area, Sarwar Road, North Cantt, Barki,
Baghbanpura, Manawan
SP/Saddar Division Raiwind City, Chung, Sabzazar, Township
SP/City Division Islampura, Lowe Mall, TIbbyi City, Rand Mahal, Naulakha,
Gowalmandi, Shahdara Shafiqabad, Badami Bagh, Misri Shah

Detail of Human Resources of Operations Wing*

Nature of Total
ASsP/DSsP

DSP/Legal

Insp Legal

strength
Insp
DIG

SSP

ASI

HC
SsP

FC
SI

Sanctioned 1 1 6 35 5 14 136 841 1226 2683 20802 25750

Strength
Present 1 1 6 34 0 2 124 630 980 2503 13052 17229
Strength
Shortage 0 0 0 1 5 12 12 211 246 180 7750 8521

* Inspector Establishment, Ops Wing, Lahore

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District Crime April 2021 to April 2022

Property Cases
Year Crime Category Challaned
Dacoity 45
Robbery 3439
Motor Vehicle Snatching (Number of Vehicles) 166
Apr-21 to Apr-22
Motor Vehicle Theft (Number of Vehicles) 3936
457/380 PPC 819
All Other Thefts 15099

Heinous Offences
Year Crime Category Challaned
Murder 176
Dacoity 45
Apr-21 to Apr-22 Robbery 3499
Kidnapping for Ransom 6
Dacoity / Robbery with Murder 10

Recovery of Narcotics
Year Name of Item Recovered (kg)
Heroine 57
Charas 3347
Apr-21 to Apr-22 Opium 128
Bhang 173
Liquor (litres) 131796

Arrests of Proclaimed Offenders

Year Category Number
A 263
Apr-21 to Apr-22 B 3351
Total 3614

Police Khidmat Marakiz Service Report

The service report for Police Khidmat Marakiz in Lahore for April 2021 to April 2022 is as follows.
Services Total
Character Certificate 30407
Sent Request - Out District Character Certificate 3805
Received Request - Out District Character Certificate 1187
Through Global Request Character Certificate 1504
Through Embassy 33
General Police Verification 33258
Sent Request - Out District General Police Verification 19320
Received Request - Out District General Police Verification 603
Vehicle Verification Car 8
Vehicle Verification Bike 0
Tenants Registration 1509

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Loss Report 3079

Copy FIR 4673
Crime Report 314
Employee Registration 942
Legal Aid/ Violence against Women 4
New Learner License 73875
Renewal of Learner License 86321
Out District Renewal of Learner License 2691
Renewal of Regular License 51647
Out District Renewal of Regular License 3416
Duplicate of Regular License 1769
New International License 3203
Renewal of International License 1484
New Regular License 5914
Grand Total 330966
Other Services
Complaint Management System
o Loss Report (CNIC, Driving licence, property documents etc)
o Reporting of Crime (MC Theft, Robbery, Dacoity, Mobile Theft, Mobile Snatching,
Burglary etc.)
Tenant Registration System
Registration of Private Employees
Platforms Available to Complainants
1. PUCAR 15
2. PMDU (Prime Minister Delivery Unit)
3. 1787- IGP Complaint Cell
4. Front Desks located within Police Stations

Jinnah Hospital Greater Iqbal Park

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Map of Total Area Serviced

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CITY TRAFFIC POLICE

The Traffic Wardens Force was shaped primarily to organise and enforce traffic safety
compliance on the roads. A very enthusiastic, well-trained, public-friendly, and service-oriented
force was launched in 2006, which is committed to excellence in traffic management, the highest
standards of integrity and courtesy. City Traffic Police Lahore, with approximately 3000 Traffic
Wardens, accepted the responsibility for policing a city of 12 million by performing a wide variety
of public safety, law enforcement, traffic management, counter-terrorism, and emergency response
roles.
Vehicles in Punjab

Rest of Punjab Motorcycle Vehicles

The figure shows that Lahore has around 32% of vehicles in Punjab. City Traffic Police
Lahore with its 3000 Traffic Wardens and 215 Senior Traffic Wardens is covering the entire city.
The Department is catering to nearly 10 million daily riders, 195 traffic junctions, 1,772 square
kilometres of the city area, and 03 signal-free corridors.
Additionally, our Road Safety Officers serve on the city's busy streets and highways, and as
school safety agents, protecting public schools attended by over a million students. The force, with
its outstanding decorum, is well-equipped to perform its operations successfully, creating a positive
influence on public perceptions. While on duty, Traffic Wardens have achieved the highest level
of public satisfaction because of their courteous attitude and the help they offer when they are on
the roads.
In the past few years, the Department has achieved a spectacular reduction in fatalities due
to head injuries caused by accidents. Lahore City has the lowest overall rate of fatal accidents due
to head injuries with a decline of up to 41%. The automation of various functions of City Traffic
Police Lahore through technological solutions has become a success story. Dedicated hard work
by Police officials has led to genuine reforms in the centuries-old system in order to facilitate
citizens. Our RASTA App has shown unprecedented acceptance by citizens as 260,503 people
have downloaded this smartphone application so far and are making good use of it.
The Traffic Wardens are meant to ‘take care’ of the road users, instead of ‘policing’ them.
The natural corollary of the main theme is ‘courtesy’, service’ and ‘help’, and ensuring adherence
to general principles and rules of traffic. Traffic wardens are committed to excellence in traffic
management, the highest standards of integrity, and courtesy.

Public Services Provided

o Driving License Issuance at Khidmat Markaz
o Driving License Centres 06-Nos.
o Driving License Verification (DLMIS)
o Driving Schools 07-Nos.
o Traffic Violation Ticket E-Payment
o Traffic Education Unit

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CTPL Circles and Respective Jurisdiction

CTPL Traffic Circle Jurisdiction Area
Shahdara Circle Shahdara Ravi Road Lorry Adda
City Circle Kotwali Misrishah Railway Station
Anarkali Circle Anarkali Cantt Circle Mall-1
Lower Mall Cantt Mall-2
Mall-3
Mughalpura Circle Mcleod Road Garhi Shahu Mughalpura
Defence Circle New Airport Old Airport Defence
Gulberg Circle Main Market Gulberg Shadman
Ichra Circle Ichra Moazang City Division
Wahdat Road Saddar Division City Circle
Model Town Circle Model Town Kahana Township
Kotlakhpat Green Town
Saddar Circle Khayaban Niaz Baig Shera Kot
Raiwind Nawan Kot

Message from Chief Traffic Officer Lahore

In partnership with the community, we pledge to protect the lives and property of our
fellow citizens and impartially enforce the law, fight lawbreaking – both by preventing it
and aggressively pursuing violators of the law – value human lives, respect the dignity of
each individual, and render our services with courtesy and civility. City Traffic Police
Lahore envisions enhancing the quality of life in the city by working in partnership with
the community to enforce the law, conserve peace, and protect people. The force is aimed
to increase the public preference towards adherence to traffic laws and regulations.

Mr. Muntazir Mehdi

Chief Traffic Officer Lahore

CIVIL DEFENCE DEPARTMENT

The Civil Defence Department was established in 1948 under the name Air Raid
Precaution (ARP) in the aftermath of World War-II. In 1951 the organisation was renamed Civil
Defence under Civil Defence Ordinance 1951 (later amended as Civil Defence Act 1952) and Civil
Defence (Special Power) Rules 1951.
The most important mandate of the Civil Defence Department is responding to
emergencies, either in case of enemy action during war or to combat natural and manmade disaster.
Civil Defence personnel also assist the district administration and police in ensuring security on
important occasions and events like Eid ul Azha, Ashura, Ramzan Bazars, Eid Milad-un-Nabi,
vaccination campaigns, defence day, Kashmir day, etc.
Services Provided
Services provided in District Lahore during the year 2021 are as follows.
Description Number
Technical sweepings 1825
Threat Calls 303
Explosive items disposed of 12
Suicide jackets disposed of Nil
Number of explosive items/material defused after court decision Nil

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Number of Bomb Blasts attended 08

Mock Exercise 55

The number of inspections/visits conducted, challans issued for premises, First Information
Reports (FIRs) prepared and/or premises sealed, matters disposed off by the Court, fines realised,
and challans pending in Court in 2021 are given below.
Premises
Number of Disposed- Fines Challans
Premises FIRs /
Inspections/ off by the Realised pending in
Challaned Sealed
Visits Court in Rs. Court
FIR Sealed
1712 700 620 164 480 31,00,000 243

Warden Service (Razakars)

Total
Razakars Razakars Paid
Razakars Duties performed by Razakars
Enrolled Active Razakars
Authorised
13,350 6652 600 1000 Security duty at various offices and points
Sunday, Sasta Sahulat Bazar & misc. duties
Emergency duty at Civil Defence
Emergency Control Centre, Nasir Bagh
Polio Campaign duty
Vaccination Centres

Training & Awareness

Training and awareness raising carried out in 2021, including the type of training, number of
classes, number of training sessions and number of persons trained is as follows.
Category Type Classes Training Persons
Sessions Trained
School & Colleges Basic General 168 709 7759
Industries Basic 87 223 1483
Firefighting
Commercial Sector Basic 15 44 262
Firefighting
Government/Semi- Basic General 16 66 333
Government Offices
General Public Basic General - - 4617
Civil Defence Organisation Basic Warden 14 121 433
Mock Exercises & Evacuation Drills
Number of Mock Exercises / Evacuation Drills Number of Participants
Mock Exercises Evacuation Fire Drills Official General Public
Drills
03 31 46 264 2218
Address and Contact Numbers
Emergency Service Station Civil Defence Civil Defence Office
Directorate, Punjab, Lahore Outfall Road, Lahore.
35-Lodge Road, Old Anarkali, Lahore. Telephone: +92-42-37149550
Telephone: +92-42-99212111

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PRISONS

Inspectorate General of Prisons Punjab

Training of Staff

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Objectives of Prisons

Functions of Prison

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District Jail, Lahore

Central Jail, Lahore

14

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COURTS AND JUDICIARY

The roots of the current judicial system of Pakistan stretch back to the medieval period
and even before. The system has passed through several epochs, covering the Hindu era, Muslim
period including the Mughal Empire, British colonial period and post-independence chapter.
Pakistan being a Federal Republic, the provinces enjoy wide powers and subjects to administer
including the administration of justice. The High Court is the principal court of the province,
which exercises original jurisdiction (issuing writ for enforcement of Fundamental Rights) and
appellate jurisdiction (against orders/judgments of Subordinate Courts and special courts). The
Subordinate Courts function under the administrative control of the High Court. All such courts
are funded by the Provincial Government.
History of the Lahore High Court
With predecessors fulfilling its purpose since 1866, the Lahore High Court was established
on the 21st of March 1919 and 175(2) of the Constitution of 1973 provides insights regarding the
jurisdiction of the High Court. Essentially based in the city of Lahore, the High Court has benches
in three other Pakistani cities, namely, Rawalpindi, Multan and Bahawalpur.
The History of the High Court at Lahore is spread over the last hundred and fifty years. By
1830, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the famous Sikh ruler of Punjab, consolidated the innumerable small
principalities ruled by independent chieftains in the Province. Before the consolidation, there were
no Judicial Courts, no written laws and no established authority to maintain or enforce them. The
chieftains decided cases according to their own whims and discretion certain rules of customs for
settlement of civil and criminal disputes through arbitrators governed the field, but they were by
no means uniform or reputable.
Even during Maharaja Ranjit Singh's period, no great judicial reforms were introduced. The
Saddar Adulate Court (Chief Court) at Lahore was the sole Court in his realm. There were officers
dealing with fiscal and military matters, but none specifically to dispense civil or criminal justice.
The annexation of the Punjab by the British was immediately followed by the creation of a Board
of Administration in 1849 consisting of three Members. The Board had powers of a Sudder (Chief)
Court of Judicature and a Sudder Board of Revenue.
In 1853 the Board of Administration was replaced with a Chief Commissioner, and two
Principal Commissioners separately appointed for Judicial and Administrative work. The
Judicial Commissioner was the Chief Judge of appeal and his Court was the final appellate
Court.
By the Punjab Courts Act, XIX of 1865, inter alia, seven classes of Courts were brought into
being in the Civil Jurisdiction. Starting from the Court of Tehsildar at the bottom to the Court
of the Judicial Commissioner at the top.
The Chief Court Act, IV of 1866 constituted the Chief Court of the Punjab as the ultimate
Court of Appeal from the Civil and Criminal Courts in the province. The Chief Court was also
vested with Extraordinary Original Civil Jurisdiction and Supervisory Jurisdiction over
Subordinate Courts.
In 1877, the Punjab Courts Act, (XIX of 1865) and the Chief Court Act (IV of 1866), were
repealed by the Punjab Courts Act, (XVII of 1877), which consolidated and re-stated the law
inter alia relating to the Chief Court.
Over the years, it was noticed that the appeals to the Chief Court had increased to
astronomical proportions and the work was greatly in excess of what the permanent and additional
judges of the Court could dispose of. Though additional Judges had been appointed to clear off
arrears, it was thought advisable to give some form of greater finality to the decisions of the lower
appellate courts to stem the tide of appeals being preferred to the Chief Court. It was also thought
advisable to reconstitute the subordinate courts and revise their scope, powers and jurisdiction.

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The Punjab Courts Act, XVIII of 1884, which repealed the Punjab Courts Act of 1877, not
only touched the question of subordinate courts, their reconstruction, jurisdiction and powers,
but also modified and restated the law regarding the constitution, powers and jurisdiction of
the Chief Court as well.
In 1899, the Secretary of State for India in Council, by its Resolution dated 25th April, 1899,
laid down as a principle that all Chief Justices and Judges of the High Courts in India thereafter
to be appointed, would be required to vacate their offices on attaining the age of sixty years.
From 1911 two additional Judges, from 1917, the third additional Judge was sanctioned and
from 1918, the fourth additional Judge was added. This temporary strength of four Judges
continued till the Letters Patent was granted to the Court in 1919.
In 1911 the Imperial Parliament passed the Indian High Courts Act 1911 giving the Royal
Sovereign the power, inter alia, to establish new High Courts in British India from time to time
as the occasion arose and to appoint temporary Additional Judge for a term not exceeding two
years. Since, however, the Chief Court did not come within the category of the High Court, all
additional appointments of temporary Judges to the Chief Court were made by the Governor-
General under various Punjab Courts Acts enacted in 1884, 1914 and 1918 (as amended from
time to time) read with the Acting Judges Act, XVI of 1867.
Four years later, the Govt. of India Act, was repealed by the Government of India Act, 1915.
The new Act provided that:
o all the existing High Courts established by Letters Patent would be treated as High
Courts for the purposes of the said act
o each High Court would consist of a Chief Justice and as many other Judges as His
Majesty thought fit to appoint
o the Governor-General in council would appoint persons to act as Additional Judges
for such period not exceeding two years as where necessary, and
o the maximum number of Judges of a High Court including the chief Justice and the
Additional Judges would be twenty.

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The Act also provided that the Judges would hold office during His Majesty's pleasure and
that Acting Judges would be appointed by the Local Governments. The new Act also granted the
Royal Sovereign authority to establish High Courts by Letters Patent in any territory in British
India and to confer on any High Court so established any such jurisdiction, power, and authority
as were vested in or might be conferred on any High Court existing at the commencement of that
Act. The Letters Patent establishing the Lahore High Court was granted pursuant to the provisions
contained in Section 113 of the Government of India Act, 1915.

The Letters Patent 1919

In 1919, under the Letters Patent creating the High Court of Judicature at Lahore, the
Judges thereof were appointed directly by His Majesty the King Emperor. The Court of the
Province was, for the first time, constituted as a Court of Record with powers to punish persons
guilty of its contempt, a power which the previous Chief Court did not possess. The permanent
strength of the High Court was limited to seven Judges — one Chief Justice and six Puisne Judges.
The jurisdiction of the High Court was laid down by its Letters Patent; it had jurisdiction
over the Provinces of the Punjab and Delhi. It was constituted the highest Appellate Authority in
Civil and Criminal cases and possessed extraordinary Civil and Criminal Jurisdiction. It also
exercised in Matrimonial, Probate and Administration matters Original Jurisdiction. By Clauses 10
of the Letters Patent, Civil appeals were provided against the judgment of a single Judge to a Bench
of two Judges, subject to certain stated conditions.
From 1921 onwards, the Judges were required to give an undertaking upon appointment
to their office, not to resume practice at the Bar on their retirement.
The Government of India Act, 1935 made certain radical changes in the constitution and
powers of the various High Courts in British India. The new Act provided that the Judges would
hold office during good behaviour, whereas previously they held office during His Majesty's
pleasure. Instead of the ceiling of twenty Judges fixed by the earlier Act, the present Act left it to
His Majesty to fix the number of Judges separately for each High Court depending upon their
requirements. All acting appointments of Judges were left in the hands of the Governor-General
and the powers of the Local Governments were withdrawn.
Under the old system, the Chief Justice had always been a Barrister Judge. The new Act
removed this limitation and opened the Chief Justiceship to Civilian Judges as well. The new Act

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also fixed the 60 years age limit for High Court Judges. By the Government of India (High Court
Judges) Order, 1937, the maximum number of Judges fixed for the Lahore High Court was 15.
The said Order also prescribed the scale of pay and rights as to leave, pension gratuity, etc., of the
various judges serving the different High Courts in India including the Lahore High Court.
Partition of the High Court
In the middle of 1947 by the enactment of a master instrument captioned the Indian
Independence Act, 1947, the Imperial Parliament created the two independent Dominions of
Pakistan and India. The High Courts (Punjab) Order, 1947, a subsidiary instrument of the Act,
created a new High Court of Judicature for the territory of East Punjab (in India) as from the 15th
day of August, 1947. Side by side, the High Court (Lahore) Order, 1947, preserved the continuance
of the High Court at Lahore with all rights, powers and privileges as hitherto enjoyed and
possessed by it before the appointed day. The Governor-General of the Dominion of Pakistan
became the substitute of the Crown in matters of appointment etc., of Judges of the Lahore High
Court.
After the Partition, the Governor General of Pakistan fixed the strength of the Lahore
High Court at 6 permanent Judges and one Additional Judge with effect from 28th September,
1948. On 6th July, 1954, Government of India (Amendment) Act, 1954 was passed. By this new
Act, all High Courts in Pakistan were invested for the first time with powers to issue to any person
or authority, including the Government itself in appropriate cases, writ in the nature of Habeas
Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Quo Warranto and Certiorari.

The West Pakistan High Court

On 30th September, 1955 the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan passed the Establishment
of West Pakistan Act, 1955. By Section 7 of the Establishment of West Pakistan Act, 1955, the
Governor-General of Pakistan was invested with the power to establish, by Order, a High Court
for the Province of West Pakistan to replace the High Court of Lahore.
The High Court of West Pakistan (Establishment) Order XIX of 1955, (which came into
force on 14th October, 1955) established the legal foundation for the High Court of West Pakistan
and provided for various matters in relation to its jurisdiction and powers. The Order inter alia
provided that the new High Court of West Pakistan would have such Original, Appellate and other
jurisdiction and such powers and authority in respect of the territories included in the Province of

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West Pakistan as the High Court of Judicature at Lahore had immediately before the
commencement of that Order.
By virtue of Article 6 of the High Court of West Pakistan (Establishment) Order, 1955,
read with Section 7 of the Establishment of West Pakistan Act, 1955, Judges of the Chief Court
of Sind and the Judicial Commissioners’ Court at Peshawar became Judges of the High Court of
West Pakistan, entitled to terms and conditions of service, not less favourable than those to which
they were entitled as Judge of the High Courts from which they were transferred. Persons who
were immediately before the date of the establishment of the High Court of West Pakistan serving
as temporary or additional Judges became, on the interacting day, temporary or additional Judges,
as the case may be, of the High Court of West Pakistan.
The 1956 Constitution
The 1956 Constitution provided for a High Court for each of the two Provinces and
declared that the existing High Court for the Provinces of East Bengal and West Pakistan
functioning before the Constitution Day would be deemed to be High Courts, under the
Constitution, for the Provinces of East Pakistan and West Pakistan respectively. Under the
Constitution, both the Provincial High Courts retained the jurisdiction and powers as were
exercisable by them immediately before the Constitution Day. Likewise, persons holding office as
Chief Justice and Judges of the two Provincial High Courts, continued to retain their offices on
the same terms and conditions as to remuneration and other privileges as were applicable to them
immediately before the Constitution Day.

As previously provided in the Government of India Act, 1935, the new Constitution
declared the two Provincial High Courts to be Courts of Record and provided for the appointment
of permanent and acting Judges by the President of Pakistan (instead of the Governor-General),
for their holding of the office during good behaviour and for their retirement at the age of 60.
Unfortunately, the new Constitution did not provide for the appointment of temporary additional
Judges to any of the two High Courts.

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The qualification for appointment of persons as Judges of the said High Courts were
altered.
Pakistan Citizenship was made a pre-requisite.
The bifurcation previously created between Barristers and Pleaders was removed and both
were grouped into one compartment for eligibility, namely, advocates or pleaders having at
least ten years' standing in both or either of High Courts.
The qualifying period of five years’ service previously laid down for persons holding judicial
offices in British India not inferior to that of a subordinated Judge, or judge of a Small Cause
Court, was raised to ten, but the enumeration describing the two particular types of judicial
offices to be held was removed.
The appointment of all Judges by the President was made conditional on the President first
seeking advice from the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the Governor General of the Province to
which the appointment related, and where the appointment was not that of the Chief Justice,
the Chief Justice of the High Court of that Province.
The Constitution also gave the President the power to transfer a Judge of a High Court from
one High Court to the other High Court after securing the Judge's consent, and after
consultation with the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Chief Justice of the Court of which the
proposed transferee was a Judge.
The two High Courts were given power, throughout the territories in which they exercised
jurisdiction, to issue to any person or authority, including the government directions, orders or
writs (including writs in the nature of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and
certiorari), for the enforcement of all or any of the Fundamental Rights contained in Part II of the
Constitution and for any other purpose generally.

The 1962 Constitution

The second constitution of
Pakistan was promulgated on 1st
March 1962 and came into force on 8th
June, 1962 on which date the National
Assembly met for the first time at
Rawalpindi. Several Orders were
passed to remove difficulties coming in
the way of the effective operation of
the Constitution.
Under the said Constitution,
there was to be a High Court for each
of the two Provinces, consisting of
such number of Judges as had at least
ten years standing, and who had served
as or exercised the powers of a District
Judge for at least three years. The
provision was replaced by one which
enabled only members of such Civil
Services as were specially prescribed by law for the purpose of the said Article and who had served
as or exercised the function of District judges for the period of not less than three years, to be
eligible for appointment. After the Constitution came into operation, the Civil Service of Pakistan
was not included as a Service prescribed by law for the purposes of Article 92.
The new Constitution provided for the appointment of additional Judges, unlike the
previous which did not contain any such provision. Whereas under the previous Constitution the
right to invoke the Supreme Court's jurisdiction was itself a fundamental right, under the new
Constitution, the Supreme Court's jurisdiction to enforce Fundamental Rights was transferred to

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the High Courts with the difference that the right was not one which could be invoked as a
fundamental right but was one which could only be enforced subject to the High Court's
discretion.
The previous Constitution Act gave wider powers to the High Courts for the purpose of
issuing Writ, directions and orders. The new Constitution, while preserving the Writ Jurisdiction,
narrowed down the limits within which it could be exercised and added the pre-requisite that it
should not be issued where other adequate remedies were provided by law. It further contained a
provision prohibiting the issue of writ in relation to persons in the Defence Services of Pakistan
in respect of their terms and conditions of service, or matters arising therefrom, or in respect of
action taken against them as members of such Services, and in relation to other persons in the
Service of Pakistan in respect of their terms and conditions of service, except those as were
specified in the Constitution itself. In many other respects the provisions in the Chapter dealing
with the High Courts in the new Constitution Act were a parallel if not similar to the provisions
existing in the Constitution Act of 1956.
Through P.O. of 1969, the High Court Judges (Retiring Age) Order, P.O. 8 of 1969, the
anomaly created by Article 178 of the Constitution of 1962 was removed by providing that
notwithstanding anything contained in the said Constitution, a Judge of a High Court could hold
office until he attained the age of 62, unless he resigned or was removed from office earlier in
accordance with the procedure prescribed for such removal.
The 1973 Constitution
On 14th August, 1973, the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, came
into force. No special change was made in the term and conditions of Senior Judges. However, a
Special Chapter headed "General Provisions relating to the judicature" was added. This inter alia
provided constitutional protection to the remuneration and other terms and conditions of service
of Judges of the Supreme Court. The High Court barred Judges during their term of office from
holding offices of profit in the Service of Pakistan or occupying other positions carrying the right
to remuneration, or the rendering of services and, after their retirement or resignation, from
holding offices of profit (other than judicial or quasi-judicial offices or the office of Chief Election
Commissioner or of Chairman or member of the Council of Islamic Ideology) till the expiry of
two years after they ceased to hold their offices. It prevented permanent Judges after their
retirement from pleading or acting in Courts in which they were holding office or before Courts
or authority within its jurisdiction.
The said Chapter also provided for the Constitution of a Supreme Judicial Council of
Pakistan, consisting of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the two next most senior Judges of the
Supreme Court and the two most senior Chief Justices of the high Courts, for the purposes of
issuing a Code of Conduct to be observed by the Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court,
and for holding inquires on references by the President into the charges of physical or mental
incapacity of, or misconduct against, Judges of the Supreme Court or the high Courts and, where
such incapacity or misconduct was provided, to recommend their removal.
In April, 1974, certain further amendments were made to the High Court (Traveling
Allowances) Order 4 of 1965, inter alia raising the special rate of allowance admissible to Judges
when travelling on duty and liberalising the travel allowance admissible to them for journeys
from their home town to the place of posting, and on retirement, from their last place of
posting to their home town.
In May, 1974, certain important amendments were made to the Constitution, 1973, some of
which related to the High Court, which permitted the temporary transfer of judges from one
High Court to another.
In December 1974 the Administration Committee, presided by Justice Javed Iqbal, approved
the presentation of arguments in Urdu, if a lawyer so wished to do so, in view of Urdu being
declared the national language under the Constitution.

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

On 13th September, 1976, the Constitution (Fifth Amendment) Act, LXII of 1976, was
enacted. It brought about important changes in the Constitution relating to the Supreme Court of
Pakistan and the High Courts in the provinces. Articles 179 and 195 were extended to provide for
the retirement of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of a High Court,
whether appointed before or after the commencement of the aid Constitutional Amendment, on
their completing a term of office of five and four years respectively, unless they attained the age
of 65 and 62 years respectively sooner. The amendment allowed the Chief Justice the option either
to retire from their offices and receive the pension to which they would be entitled if they had
retired from office on attaining the ages of 65 and 62 years respectively, or to assume the office of
most senior of the other puisne judges of the Supreme Court or the High Court and to continue
to receive the same salary which they were receiving while holding the office of Chief Justice.
The amendments also provided that a person who once held office as Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court or the High Court, and where such person assumed the office of the most senior
of the other puisne Judges, the Judge who was until then the most senior of the other puisne,
would rank next after the person who ceased to be the Chief Justice in order of seniority. Article
206 was also extended to provide that a Judge of a High court who did not accept appointment as
a Judge of the Supreme Court would be deemed to have retired from his office and, on such
retirement, would be entitled to receive a pension calculated on the basis of the length of his/her
service as Judge and total service, if any, in the service of Pakistan.
These amendments were brought about at the insistence of a special request made by the
Chief Justice of Pakistan to the Prime Minister, as some of the Supreme Court had, in the past,
refused to do so on one pretext or the other and had prevented the Supreme Court from receiving
the best talent available, which it was its right to receive in the public interest. The matter came to
a head when Chief Justice Iqbal refused to join the Supreme Court for certain personal reasons.
The amendment to Article 195 directly affected the retention of office of Chief Justice by Mr.
Justice Sardar Muhammad Iqbal, who opted for retirement.
Apart from these, clause (3-A) of Article 199 of the Constitution of the High Court relating
to the enforcement of fundamental rights and the issue of orders in the nature of writs was also
substituted, atrociously circumscribing its jurisdiction. The new substituted clause prevented a
High Court from making
(a) an order prohibiting the making, or suspending the operation, of an order for the detention of
any person under any law providing for preventive detention,
(b) an order for the release on bail of any person detained under any law providing for preventive
detention,
(c) an order for the release on bail, or an order suspending the operation of an order for the
custody, of any person against whom a report or complaint had been made before any Court of
Tribunal, or against whom a case had been registered at any Police Station, in respect of an offence,
or who had been convicted by any Court or Tribunal,
(d) an order prohibiting the registration of a cases at a Police Station, or the making of a report or
complaint before any Court or Tribunal, in respect of an offence, or
(e) any other interim order in respect of any person referred to in categories (a) to (d) above.
The amendment also provided that any such order made at any time after the
commencement of the previous, that is, fourth Constitutional amendment, orders that were
pending before any High Court would abate. The amendment was also made applicable to the
disposal of applications made in petitions for leave to appeal, or in appeals, from orders such as
were referred to in clause (3-A) that were pending before the Supreme Court immediately before
the fifth Constitutional amendment.

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On 21st of August, 1978, the Laws (Continuance in Force) (Sixth Amendment) Order,
C.M.L.A. 1 of 1977, was passed further extending the time under clause (3) of Article 195 of
the Constitution for bringing about the separation of the judiciary from the executive.
In September, the Administration Committee approved amendments in the High Court Rules
& Orders to enable smooth transition to be made from English to Urdu in the mode of address
and filing of documentation etc., before the Court
In December, by the Shariat Benches of Superior Courts Order, P.O.22 of 1978, a Shariat
bench was created in the High Court, as in the other High Courts, in pursuance of the policy
to bring about Islamization of the judiciary. The Shariat bench was to consist of three Muslim
Judges of the High Court, to be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the
Chief Justice of the Court. A Shariat Appellate bench was also created in the Supreme Court
to consist of three Muslim Judges of the said Court to be appointed by the President on the
recommendation of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. The Shariat bench was given powers to
examine and decide all questions relating to whether or not any law or provision was repugnant
to the injunctions of Islam, as laid down in the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy
Prophet.
During May, 1979, as a first step towards the separation of the Judiciary from the Executive,
in order to fulfil the Constitutional requirement of Article 175 (3) of the Constitution of
Pakistan, the Government of the Punjab placed the services of 41 Extra Assistant
Commissioners under the control of the High Court provisionally, for their posting as Judicial
magistrates exercising powers under section 30 Cr.P.C. for the disposal of criminal cases. These
officers otherwise remained under the administrative control of the Government and their
services were repatriable to the Executive. Later, as time progressed, the number of such
magistrates kept dwindling, without any prospects of their being merged in the Judiciary, or
the Judiciary being separated from the Executive.
In November, the Superior Courts (Courts Dress and Mode of Address) Order, P.O. 15 of
1980, was enacted to regulate Court dress and mode of address in the Superior Courts effective
1st November, 1980, which was the first day of the 15th Century Hijra. Under the said order,
a Judge of a Superior Court was to wear, whilst he was attending sittings of the Court, a black
sherwani without bands and, during winter, a black gown, and whilst he was attending State or
ceremonial functions, a black sherwani without bands. In case a Judge used a headgear, the
Order provided that it was to
be a Jinnah cap of black
colour. The use of the
expressions "My Lord" and
"Your Lordship" and the
like, in relation to a Judge
was ordered to be
discontinued and it was
provided that a Judge should
be addressed as "Sir" or
"Janab-e-Wala" or `Janab-e-
Ali" and he was to be
referred in judgments,
correspondence or other
instruments as "Mr. Justice"
so and so or the like.
On 1st January, 1981, by the High Courts (Establishment) Order (Punjab Amendment)
Ordinance, 1 of 1981, permanent benches of the Lahore High Court were established with

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immediate effect at Bahawalpur, Multan and Rawalpindi. The said Ordinance amended the
High Court (Establishment) Order, P.O. 8 of 1970, in its application to the Province of the
Punjab, by substituting clause (3) of Article 3 of the President's Order with new clauses (3) of
Article 3, (3A), (3B) and (3C) and adding a new Article 7-A thereto.
o Under the new clause (3) of Article 3, the Lahore High Court and the Judges and
Divisional Courts thereof were enjoined to sit at their principal seat and the seats of its
Benches, but could hold, at any place in the Province, Circuit Courts consisting of such
of the Judges as the Chief Justice may, from time to time, nominate.
o Under clause (3A) of the said Article, the Chief Justice had the power to nominate,
from time to time, Judges to the three Benches.
o Under clause (3B) of the same Article, all proceedings relating to the Civil Divisions of
Bahawalpur, Multan and Rawalpindi pending in the Lahore High Court immediately
before the commencement of the Ordinance, stood transferred to the benches at
Bahawalpur, Multan and Rawalpindi respectively.
o Under clause (3C) of the said Article, the Chief Justice had the power to make
provisions for assigning the areas in relation to which the Benches were to exercise
jurisdiction; the transfer of proceedings pending in the Lahore High Court, the
Benches or the Circuit Court to a Bench or to a Circuit Court or to the Lahore High
Court, as the case may be; the determination of cases or classes of cases which could
be disposed of by the Judges nominated to the Benches or the Circuit Courts and for
all matters incidental, supplemental and consequential thereto. The Ordinance also
gave the Chief Justice the power by order to delegate from time to time, all or any of
his powers and functions to any Judge and in like manner, to withdraw all or any of
such powers.
On 24th March, the Provisional Constitution Order, C.M.L.A. 1 of 1981, (hereinafter to be
referred to as “the P.C.O.”) was promulgated. Ten out of its eighteen Articles mainly dealt
with the Supreme Court and the High Court.
o Articles 5 and 6 provided for the appointment of ad hoc Judges of the Supreme Court
and the power of the Supreme Court to transfer cases from one High Court to another.
o Under clause (3) of Article 7, the Lahore High Court was provided a Bench each at
Bahawalpur, Multan and Rawalpindi.
Under clause (4) of the said Article, the bench referred to in clause (3), or established under
clause (4) was to consist of such of the Judges of the High Court as would be nominated by the
Chief Justice from time to time for a period of not less than one year.
Under clause (1) of the said Article any High Court in existence immediately before the
commencing day was to continue to have its principal seat at the place where it had such seat
before that day.
Under clause (2) thereof, each High Court and the Judges and the Divisional Courts thereof
were to sit at the principal seat and the seats of its Benches and could hold, at any place within its
territorial jurisdiction, Circuit Courts consisting of such of the Judges as may be nominated by the
Chief Justice.
Under clause (6) of the said Article, the Governor in consultation with the Chief Justice of
the High Court concerned, could make Rules assigning the area in relation to which each Bench
could exercise jurisdiction vested in the High Court and respecting all incidental, supplemental or
consequential matters.
o Article 8 provided for the appointment of an Acting Chief Justice, if the office of the
Chief Justice of a High Court was vacant or the Chief Justice was absent or unable to
perform functions of this office due to any other cause.

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o Article 9 laid down the powers of the High Court to issue writs, parallel and on lines
almost similar to Article 199 of the 1973 Constitution as it last stood, with amendments
prior to the promulgation of the P.C.O.
o Article 10 dealt with the transfer of High Court Judges, on lines almost parallel to
Article 200 of the 1973 Constitution as last amended, except that in the proviso to
clause (3) the expression "High Court" in the Article under reference could also include
a bench of the High Court.
o Article 15 validated the proclamation of the 5th day of July, 1977, all President's
Orders, Order of the Chief Martial Law Administrator etc. on lines parallel to Article
212-A of the 1973 Constitution.
o Article-17 related to the oath of President as well as the Chief Martial Law
Administrator was granted, and was deemed always to have had, the power to amend
the Constitution. Article 17 related to the oath of office of the Judges of the Supreme
Court, High Courts and the Federal Shariat Court.
Under clause (1) of the said Article, a person holding office immediately before the
commencement of the P.C.O. as Chief Justice of Pakistan or other Judge of the Supreme Court,
or Chief Justice or other Judges of the High Court, or Chairman or member of the Federal Shariat
Court, could not continue to hold that office if he was not given oath, or did not make oath, in
the form set out in the Schedule, before the expiry of such time from such commencement as the
President determined or within such further time as was allowed by the President.
Under clause (2) of the said Article, a person who made oath as required by clause (1), was
bound by the provisions of the P.C.O. and, notwithstanding the judgment of any Court, could not
call in question or permit to be called in question the validity of its provisions. The oath prescribed
for the Chief Justice and Judges of the High Court, enjoined upon the Judge concerned inter alia
to discharge his duties, and perform his functions honestly to the best of the ability and faithfully
in accordance with the Provisional Constitution Order, 1981, and the law and to abide by the
Provisional Order, 1981.
On 16th July, the Lahore High Court (Establishment of benches) Rules, 1981, were framed
inter alia providing for the filing and disposal of judicial matters arising within the jurisdiction
of the benches and the establishment of Registries at the benches to deal with all administrative
work. It also gave power to the Chief Justice to transfer pending proceedings between the
principal seat and any of its benches; to determine cases or class of cases which could be
disposed of at the principal seat or a Bench as may be deemed expedient; to require Judges to
sit for a short period at any Bench, Circuit Court or Principal Seat; to redefine the areas of the
Benches; and, to pass such orders as may be considered necessary for the efficient working of
the benches. The Rules also provided for the payment of remuneration to Judges nominated
under Article 7(5) of the Provisional Constitution Order, 1981, to work at the Benches for a
set period of time.
On 23rd September, 1981, the Acting Chief Justice, by a notification, directed that all classes
of cases arising within the areas assigned to the three permanent Benches would only be filed
before and disposed of by those respective benches, excepting certain classes of cases which
would be disposed of at the principal seat at Lahore. The latter category inter alia included
constitutional matters requiring the interpretation of the Constitution, all tax matters, all cases
under the Companies Act, all land reforms cases, all cases in which the original orders were
passed by a Secretary of the Federal or Provincial Government or by a member of the Board
of Revenue, all Murder References (at Lahore) and in need of immediate relief. The object of
the notification was to remove all doubts as regards the cases that could be dealt with at the
principal seat and partly to accommodate requests made by certain Government departments

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to permit cases relating to their departments to be dealt with only at the principal seat, where
they could be more effectively dealt with by the departments concerned.

On 28th February, 1982, by the Constitution (Amendment) Order, P.O. 2 of 1982, an

Explanation was added under clause (1) of Article 181 of the Constitution of Pakistan to enable
a Judge of a high Court, who had retired, to be appointed as an Acting Judge of the Supreme
Court.
On 10th April, 1982, the Acting Chief Justice by a Notification issued in partial modification
of an earlier one, directed that all classes of civil, criminal and constitutional matters arising
within the areas assigned to a Bench could be filed before and disposed of by that Bench,
excepting certain classes of cases which could be disposed of at the principal seat at Lahore.
The latter category inter alia included murder references at the choice of the appellants. Inter
Court appeals arising out of decision of a single Judge sitting at a Bench where a Division
Bench was not available at that Bench, and there was urgent application seeking transfer of
proceedings from a Bench to another Bench or to the principal seat, pre-arrest bail matters
where the petitioners were at Lahore and were in need of immediate interim relief, and
applications seeking transfer of proceedings from a subordinate Court in the area assigned to
a bench to another subordinate Court in the area assigned to another Bench or to the principal
seat.
During the period from 1988 till 1999, the constitution of Pakistan 1973 was governed under
the political regime and except some confrontation between the Executive and the Judiciary,
the Court worked under the said Constitution. The question of appointment of judges with
reference to relevant Articles of the constitution was deliberated in the Supreme Court of
Pakistan to ensure the principles of independence and separation of judiciary. Through a chain
of authorities pronounced by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, it has been held that the political
executive has to appoint the judges after active consultation with the Chief Justice of Pakistan
in matters relating to the appointment in the Supreme Court and in case of a High Court, the
consultation of the Chief Justice of the High Court has to be given due weight.

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In 1999, martial law was enforced wherein the constitution of Pakistan 1973 was held in
abeyance by the then Chief of Army Staff. A new P.C.O was issued wherein it has been
provided that the affairs of the states shall run in accordance with the P.C.O as nearly as
possible to conform with the Constitution of Pakistan 1973. The judges took oath under the
P.C.O in the year 2001. Those who were not administered oath or those who opted not to
take oath under the P.C.O were relieved of their positions as judges of the superior Courts.
In March 2007, the Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was
deposed by the President of Pakistan and a reference under Article 209 was sent to the
Supreme Judicial Council against the Chief Justice of Pakistan. By virtue of a landmark
judgment of Supreme Court of Pakistan, the reference was declared mala fide and Mr. Justice
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was restored to the office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
The Chief of Army Staff/President of Pakistan took another step on 3rd November 2007
whereby emergency was imposed in the country and a number of judges of Superior Courts
including Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry the Chief Justice of Pakistan placed under
house arrest and were deposed from their offices as a result of the enforcement of the
emergency. In a historic movement bringing together the Bar, public, civil society and media,
the Chief Justice of Pakistan and other deposed judges of the Superior Courts were restored
to their respective offices on 16 March 2009.15

The Subordinate Judiciary

The Subordinate Judiciary may be broadly divided into two classes: one, civil courts,
established under the Civil Courts Ordinance 1962, and two, criminal courts, created under the
Code of Criminal Procedure 1898. In addition, there also exist other courts and tribunals of civil
and criminal nature, created under special laws. Their jurisdiction, powers and functions are
specified in the statutes, creating them. The decisions and judgments of such special courts are
assailable before the superior judiciary (High Court and/or Supreme Court) through revision or
appeal.
The provincial governments fund the justice sector. The civil and criminal courts judges
and their terms and conditions are regulated under the provincial rules. The High Court, however,

15
Source: [Link]

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exercises administrative control over such courts. The civil courts consist of District Judge,
Additional District Judge, Senior Civil Judge and Civil Judge Class I, II &amp; III. Similarly, the
criminal courts comprise of Sessions Judge, Additional Sessions Judge and Judicial Magistrate Class
I, II & III. Law fixes their pecuniary and territorial jurisdictions. Appeal against the decision of
civil courts lies to the District Judge and to the High Court, if the value of the suit exceeds a
specified amount. Similarly, in keeping with the quantum of penalty, appeals against criminal courts
lie to the Sessions Judge or High Court.

NATIONAL JUDICIAL POLICY FOR DISTRICT COURTS

Statistics for the implementation of the National Judicial Policy for District Courts for
Lahore District from 1st May 2022 to 15th May 2022 is as follows.
Old Cases New Cases
Filed up to
Criminal Cases Filed from 01.01.2018
31.12.2017
Pend Disp Bal Pend Inst Disp Bal
Time Fixed Bail Applications
0 0 0 37 817 735 119
Magistrate (3 Days)
Sessions Court (5 Days) 0 0 0 3219 1298 1102 3415
Cancellation of bail (15 Days) 0 0 0 77 9 10 76
Imprisonment up to 7 years (6
940 17 923 35445 1870 2013 35302
Months)
Imprisonment above 7 years
including death sentence (1 342 4 338 16968 396 425 16939
year)
Preventive detention cases (As
3 0 3 31 3 1 33
early as possible)
Transfer Applications u/s 256,
0 0 0 5 8 9 4
258 Cr.P.C (7 Days)
Misc. Applications i.e.
superdari, disposal of property 2 0 2 202 237 212 227
etc. (7 Days)
Prioritised Narcotics Cases 4 2 2 1430 69 79 1420
Criminal Revisions 0 0 0 203 26 40 189
Anti-Terrorism Cases 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Women’s Cases 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Juvenile Cases 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Cases of Overseas Pakistanis
(either complainant or 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
accused)
Others 43 2 41 10897 1276 1632 10541
Total 1334 25 1309 68514 6009 6258 68265

Old Cases New Cases

Civil Cases Filed up to 31.12.2017 Filed from 01.01.2018
Pend Disp Bal Pend Inst Disp Bal
Time Fixed Stay
33 2 31 3893 64 70 3887
applications (15 Days)
Rent Cases (4 Months) 409 1 408 1563 57 44 1576
Appeals in rent cases (2
1 0 1 279 36 33 282
months)

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Revision petitions (3
2 0 2 1030 43 74 999
Months)
Family Cases (3-6 months) 1368 15 1353 13625 742 955 13412
Appeals in family cases (30
0 0 0 1012 51 59 1004
Days)
Appeals in insolvency cases
0 0 0 4 0 0 4
(30 Days)
Review applications (30
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Days)
Negotiable instrument
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
cases u/o 37 CPC (90 Days)
Cases of the Overseas
368 2 366 1036 42 45 1033
Pakistanis (6 Months)
Prioritised Women’s Cases 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Juvenile Cases 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Small Claims and Minor
0 0 0 75 6 1 80
Offences
Trade, Commercial,
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Investment
Civil Executive Application 3180 40 3140 11548 158 149 11557
2564
Civil Suits 25916 277 49161 2086 2452 48795
0
Others 7517 71 7446 45042 1411 1171 45282
3838 12826 12791
Total 38794 408 4696 5053
7 8 1
Grand Total 3969 19678 1070 1131 19617
40128 433
(Criminal + Civil) 6 2 5 1 6

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Political & Administrative Challenges

The administration of a district like Lahore poses immense challenges, of a systemic and
everyday nature. As the provincial and divisional headquarters, there is an added significance and
complexity to the issues faced by administrators. Some challenges are spelt out below in greater
detail.
PROTECTION AND UTILISATION OF STATE LAND
Protection of State land is the primary responsibility of the district administration. State
land is precious land owned by the Government in every tehsil and district of the Punjab. In
District Lahore, Tehsil Shalamar has been facing problems since its inception. Land here has been
encroached upon for years in the form of small dwellings in urban localities and through illegal
cultivation in rural areas. Encroachers have been reaping benefits from this land without any
accountability. Encroachers are often hardened criminals and revenue staff has jeopardised their
own lives to protect the interests of the State. Recently, however, on the direction of the Board of
Revenue, a campaign was started across the Punjab. As a result, hundreds of acres have been
retrieved along with fines/tawan from illegal occupants. The increasing proliferation of housing
societies also exacerbates this problem as unscrupulous elements try to encroach on both public
and private property especially in rural areas in the suburbs of Lahore.
Anti-encroachment is an on-going task for the District Administration: while the drive has
led to the retrieval of State land under the command of the Chief Minister of Punjab and SMBR,
the same land is encroached upon repeatedly. Therefore utilisation of recovered land is very
important. Wherever such land is vacant, encroachers find it easy to occupy it again and again. To
utilise the land, the Government of Punjab issued a comprehensive policy in September 2019
wherein several modes are proposed to sell, lease, or rent out these public properties. This policy
initiative is a step in the right direction but the process also faces some legal lacunae.

LIAISON WITH DEPARTMENTS

The day to day public administration of any district requires a collaborative effort from all
sectors and government departments for the system to function smoothly. In order to facilitate
and provide maximum relief in resolving the public’s issues, the District Administration continues
to liaise with different departments and agencies of the Government including WASA, LDA,
MCL, and PTCL. Creating synergy for effective linkages with multiple departments is a serious
challenge for any District Administration. These departments include several provincial and federal
departments, where failure in effective coordination can create grave impediments to public service
delivery. Taking line departments on board for various projects every day requires complex and
intricate channels of communication at all levels which, more often than not, causes delays. The
District Administration has successfully managed these complexities over the years with effective
liaison that gets tasks done for the benefit of the public. However these linkages need to be
systemised in order to ensure smoother delivery of public services.

WASTE MANAGEMENT
Over the years, waste management has become the biggest challenge for every city in
Punjab. In the provincial capital in particular, unplanned growth combined with lack of
infrastructure development is one of the largest contributors to the environmental degradation
currently being faced everywhere. Over the past few years, Lahore has not had any addition to its
waste disposal station which is situated at Lakho Der, and space at this disposal station is depleting
day by day. Efforts are now being made to create another such waste disposal station. Planned
urban growth combined with an efficient waste management system is therefore a critical
requirement of the district. In this regard Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) is doing

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a commendable job, but this issue is complex and a number of stakeholders, including the general
public, are involved. Cooperation from the general public is crucial for Lahore to make it a garbage
free city. The LWMC has recently initiated a robust public awareness campaign to partner with the
general public for the cleanliness of the city, but it will take efforts at all levels to create sustainable
solutions to what is now a critical global issue.

RAPID URBANISATION OF THE CITY.

Lahore is a city that is full of opportunity, yet it also hosts a range of urban planning
problems. With a population of 51,43,495 in 1998, the city is now home more to than 11.3 million
people. Though urbanisation per se is not a problem, rapid urbanisation that is usually not
manageable is a massive problem. Rapid urbanisation has resulted in haphazard development in
urban areas and on the periphery of the city, which has changed its form.
Uncontrolled urbanisation creates challenges for urban managers and town planners,
raising issues of how to manage the urban population and decentralise urban activities to make
urban centres free from congestion, encroachment, traffic jams and pollution. Haphazard
development has resulted in urban sprawls, katchi abadis, and slums and squatters in Lahore City.
This is largely because of less affordable housing provision by the government and law
enforcement authorities like Lahore Development Authority (LDA).
Lahore does not have a housing problem; it has a land speculation problem. Put simply,
land speculation is the practice of buying land expecting to sell it for a higher price in the future.
It is a worldwide phenomenon and many developed countries have been suffering from this
tumour for many years. Right now, Lahore is the hub of real estate in Pakistan. This phenomenon
has led to serious housing affordability problems for the urban poor. There is already a backlog of
more than eight million housing units, which is growing by approximately 300,000 units every year.
The international standard of per-room density is 1.1 persons while in Pakistan, it is 3.5 persons.
The provision of housing has remained a core task for planning agencies in Lahore. Lahore
Development Authority (LDA) has developed a number of schemes in the city for the welfare of
its inhabitants; Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA) has also developed similar
schemes in Lahore.

DETERIORATING ENVIRONMENT
Environment has been a concern for both public and the government, especially during
past few years. Air pollution is damaging the lives and health of urban populations all over the
world and accounts for over three million deaths around the globe. Once the city of gardens, it is
unfortunate that Lahore has now been in the news for being the most polluted city of the Asia and
sometimes of the world. The safe level set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for air
pollution is 10 —g/m3 of PM 2.5 particles. Lahore has an annual average of 68 —g/m3: that is 6.8
times greater than the given safe level. The disappearance of green belts from the city has further
exacerbated matters. The District administration has responded to the problem with the creation
of an anti-smog squad, conversion of brick kilns, and smoke emitting industries.

RECOVERY OF GOVERNMENT DUES

Lahore is a metropolitan city with a complex structure of government departments and
agencies. The District Administration is the centre of coordination, a focal point for all agencies,
and under statutory obligations of The Civil Administration Ordinance 2017, engages in the day
to day affairs of the city for the welfare of the public. The Deputy Commissioner is the head of
the revenue hierarchy of the District, entrusted with the recovery of government dues as assigned
by the Board of Revenue. The agricultural sector is the largest contributor to Pakistan’s economy.
Being an agrarian state, Pakistan derives most of its revenue from the agricultural sector. Similarly,
the most tax revenue is also collected from the same sector.

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Due to rapid urbanisation and as provincial capital, revenue officers with a minimal number
of revenue officials have to face challenges posed by the modern world with a workforce that was
originally designed for an agrarian society. Revenue field staff has faced mobs and mafias; they
have been beaten, bruised and battered, and they have been left to face these mobs and mafias
alone. Tax collection and recovery of government dues is what drives the economy and the State.
However, revenue field formations that work day and night to perform their duty are vulnerable
and unprotected. Additionally, the revenue hierarchy lacks the necessary resources for tax recovery
from a city the size of Lahore, with an ever-growing population that needs to survive and thrive
in it and because of it.

These are some of the salient issues facing administrators in the city. Given the size and
scale of the district, the challenges continue to multiply and it is hoped that administrative strategies
and resources will be able to address the same.

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Appendix A
DC Office Directory & Branches
Distribution of work & duties of various branches at DC office

Directory of Officers
Office Name
1. Addl: Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Touqeer Ilyas Cheema
2. Addl: Deputy Commissioner (HQ) Dr Atiyab Sultan
3. Addl: Deputy Commissioner (General) Dr Mujtaba Arfat Khan
4. Addl: Deputy Commissioner (Finance & Shahid Abbas Kathia
Planning)
5. Senior Administrative Officer Vacant
6. Assistant Commissioner (HQs) Sufyan Dilawar
7. Assistant Commissioner (HR/Coord.) Izhar ul Haq Bajwa
8. Office Superintendent Anwer Sajid

DC Office Branches:
The following table lists DC Office Branches and their functions.
1. GENERAL ASSISTANT Assists ADC (R), Lahore in revenue matters
(REVENUE-I & Officer-In-Charge of the branches assigned by the
REVENUE-II) ADC (R)
Enquiry Officer appointed by the ADC (R)
2. OFFICE Overall Supervision of:
SUPERINTENDENT Establishment Branch routed through ADC (HQ)
BRANCH NOC Branch routed through ADC (HQ)
General Branch routed through ADC (Rev)
Diary & Dispatch Branch of DC Office routed through
ADC (Gen)
3. ESTABLISHMENT Posting/Transfers
BRANCH Recruitment
Promotion Cases, any miscellaneous issue related to
establishment
Preparation of bill of pay & allowance etc.
Pension Case
G.P. funds cases
Leave etc.
All sorts of Enquiry (Departmental as well as any
complaint of official)
Maintenance of Service Books of officials.
Maintenance of personal file of officials
4. REGISTRATION Registration of property sale deeds
BRANCHES Scrutiny of stamp duty according to Valuation Table
Issuing of Certified Copies

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 Appendix A

Issuing of NEC & Verification Report

Present record before all court or any other department
Maintain all inquiries and pending references
5. JUDICIAL RECORD Maintenance of record.
ROOM Maintenance of decided cases.
6. GENERAL BRANCH Stamp vending license cases
B-Class prisoner cases
Security cases
Notary Public Cases
Non-official visitor’s cases
Mosque and Imam Bargah cases
Christian Marriage
7. DRA BRANCH Recovery of Government dues
Recovery of Maintenance cases
Recovery of Government dues from other department
8. NTO BRANCH Overall supervision of urban and rural record
Preparation of inspection report
Maintenance of record of land reform cases
Issuance of copies of mutation, Register Haqdaraane-e-
Zamin, AqshMasavi, Aqsh Shajra and Field Books
9. NAZUL BRANCH Deals with Nazul land
Litigation matters, Lahore High Court and Provincial
Ombudsman
Any Misc. Revenue Work
10. DIARY DISPATCH Dispatch of Dak of office to different offices
BRANCH Receipt of Dak of various offices
Maintenance of record
11. NAZARAT BRANCH Supervision of whole office
Provide stationery to the office branches
Removal of audit object paras
Provide the POL
12. HVC BRANCH All kinds of court cases
Correction of Revenue Record cases
Maintenance of court cases record running and decided
13. REFUND BRANCH Refund of judicial cases
Refund of court cases
Refund of adhesive stand
Non-Judicial Paper
14. LAC BRANCH Deal with acquisition matters etc.
15. PRESS BRANCH Declaration of all Newspapers, all kind of Magazines.
Relative to press
16. BENEVOLENT FUND Benevolent cases of all Govt. Employees.
BRANCH Monthly aid to widows of Employees

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

Appendix B
DEPUTY COMMISSIONERS OF LAHORE
The incumbency board shows the colonial and postcolonial officers who have worked in this august office.

310
Appendix B

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Gazetteer of the Lahore District 2022

312
 DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OFFICE
DISTRICT COURTS, LOWER MALL, LAHORE
Ph No: 042-99211003-04 Email: dclahore01@[Link]

[Link]
ISBN-10: 9 6 9 - 3 5 - 3 4 4 5 - X
ISBN-13: 978-969-35-3445-0

Sang-e-Meel Publications
25-Lower Mall, Lahore 54000, Pakistan.
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