Lahore Division

Lahore Fort’s historic Akbari Gate has been restored after remaining closed since British rule, paving the way for a new public entrance linking the fort with the Walled City. Authorities plan to install a ticketing booth before opening the gate for visitors and local residents. A soft launch ceremony was held to mark the restoration of the gate and the Curator’s House, another historic structure within the fort. The conservation work was carried out under the Heritage and Urban Regeneration: Tourism Development in Lahore Fort and its Buffer Zone (HURL) project. Launched in 2022, the project is supported by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and implemented by the Punjab Walled Cities and Heritage Areas Authority (PWCA) in partnership with Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan (AKCS-P). PWCA Director General Najmus Saqib said the restored entrance would improve public access to heritage sites, attract tourists and create economic opportunities. Reopening the gate is expected to provide a more direct connection between Lahore Fort and the surrounding Walled City. The Curator’s House, a British-era building that was previously used as a guard room and later for administrative and residential purposes, is set to be converted into an eatery for visitors. AKCS-P Chief Executive Officer Tausif Khawaja said the conservation work was intended to preserve Lahore’s cultural heritage while supporting local communities and economic activity.

The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has begun developing a new green belt along Shanghai Road. The strip will stretch 3.3 kilometres from the Ferozepur Road link to the Kamahan Motorway and will be 12 feet wide. PHA Managing Director Ahmed Usman Javed said the project would include 2,000 native trees, including Sukh Chain, Arjun, Terminalia, Tabebuia and Kachnar. Grass and local flowers will also be planted along the green belt. Javed said the project was expected to help improve the local environment. He added that the PHA was continuing to develop and maintain green belts under its “Green Lahore” vision. The authority has urged residents to help protect the city’s green belts and plants so the new plantation can be preserved and the area can remain green.

The Punjab government has launched a citywide cleanliness and anti-smog campaign, “Chamkta Lahore,” to reduce airborne dust, improve sanitation and keep roads and public spaces clean. Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique inaugurated the campaign at Liberty Chowk. It was launched on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. Under the initiative, authorities have identified 100 major roads, locations and commercial markets for targeted cleaning. The plan calls for washing around 648 kilometres of roads each week, with a daily target of 100 kilometres. The cleaning operation will use 16 mechanical washing machines for roads and 46 rickshaw-mounted washers for footpaths. Ten rickshaw-mounted anti-smog mist guns will also spray water into the air to help suppress dust particles. Speaking to the media, Zeeshan Rafique said anti-smog measures introduced over the past two years had produced encouraging results. He claimed that smog levels in November were noticeably lower than they had been two years earlier, and said the new campaign would further improve Lahore’s air quality and cleanliness. The minister also highlighted development projects under way across Punjab, including work on roads, healthcare, education and urban beautification. He said initiatives were being carried out in major cities and union councils to improve public facilities and residents’ quality of life.