Punjab govt defers Lahore road renaming after backlash

The Punjab government in Pakistan has deferred a proposal to restore the pre-Partition names of several roads and localities in Lahore following criticism from religious groups and social media commentators. The plan, which aimed to revive historical Hindu, Sikh, and British-era names as part of a heritage conservation project, has been put on hold after officials said it faced a significant backlash.

The proposal was initially approved in March by the Lahore Heritage Areas Revival (LHAR) committee, chaired by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and backed by his daughter, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. It was subsequently cleared by the provincial cabinet in May. The initiative was part of a larger, multi-billion rupee project to preserve the city's architectural and cultural legacy.

However, the move soon drew opposition from what official sources described as "extremist elements" and social media vloggers, who accused the government of reviving "Hindu and Sikh" names and giving the issue a religious dimension. In response, the administration has stepped back from the plan. Lahore Deputy Commissioner Captain (Retired) Muhammad Ali Ijaz stated that no final decision had...