Pakistan Restores Pre-Partition Names in Lahore as Islampura Reverts to Krishan Nagar

In a monumental shift to reclaim its multicultural history, Pakistan restores pre-partition names across the historic city of Lahore, reversing decades of Islamic and local rebrandings. The sweeping decision, formally cleared during a Punjab Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, targets the revival of Lahore’s layered Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and British colonial-era heritage. 

Driven by the Lahore Heritage Areas Revival Project, spearheaded by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the initiative has already seen old signage pop up across major thoroughfares. Officials say the cultural preservation drive is an attempt to restore the city’s original identity, before 1947, and to bridge the long-standing divide between the formal administrative title and the local colloquial name that is cemented in the minds of residents.

Which Lahore Street Names are Being Reverted to Pre-Partition Identities?

The newly approved administrative mandate officially targets several prominent localities, intersections, and colonial roads. For nearly eight decades, these historic spots carried titles meant to reflect local Islamic or nationalistic figures, yet everyday citizens routinely used their ancestral names.

Under the newly approved guidelines, nine core locations have officially reclaimed their historical titles:

• Islampura has officially reverted to Krishan Nagar.

• Sunnat Nagar has turned back into Sant Nagar.

• Mustafaabad has reclaimed its identity as Dharampura.

• Babri Masjid Chowk is once again Jain Mandir Chowk.

• Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Chowk has taken back its popular name, Lakshmi Chowk.

Additionally, major British-era roads that were altered over the decades have been restored to their original colonial nomenclature to preserve the city's architectural and historical timeline.

Image Credit: The Tatva (via x.com)

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What is the Lahore Heritage Revival Project?

The main objective, official provincial spokespersons said, is to make Lahore a pluralistic historical hub. "The restoration is a conscious celebration of the city’s multiple historical layers – Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Christian, and British," said Kamran Lashari, former director-general of the Walled City of Lahore Authority.

Beyond road signs, the Nawaz Sharif-led initiative is heavily focused on restoring physical sports heritage at Minto Park (now Greater Iqbal Park). The government has mandated the reconstruction of three historical cricket grounds and a traditional akhara (wrestling arena). 

This specific move carries immense cultural weight, as these grounds historically trained legendary subcontinental wrestlers like Gama Pehalwan and iconic modern Pakistani cricketers like Inzamam-ul-Haq. The restoration also serves as political damage control; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif faced severe local backlash in 2015 when these very sports grounds were demolished for urban infrastructure projects.

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By returning to its roots, the Punjab government’s cultural reclamation initiative marks a progressive chapter in preserving South Asian history. Reclaiming names like Krishan Nagar and Sant Nagar ensures that Lahore’s architectural landscape accurately mirrors its rich, multi-faith legacy for future generations.