Lahore: Lahore’s deep heritage echoes through a diverse cultural past, where the calls to prayer from Mughal mosques, the quiet recitations of gurdwaras and the distinct ringing of temple bells once blended into the city’s soundscape. According to oral traditions, various accounts link the city’s founding to Prince Lava, son of Rama, while remnants of ancient and pre-Partition Hindu mandirs continue to quietly anchor Lahore’s layered and multicultural history.
In the digital era, the idea behind the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) is largely associated with senior bureaucrat Kamran Lashari. The semi-governmental organisation, established and funded by the Government of Punjab, is responsible for the preservation, planning, development, regulation and management of the Walled City of Lahore.
The organisation functions autonomously and was formally established in 2012 after the Punjab Provincial Assembly amended the Walled City of Lahore Bill 2011 to create the authority.
Since its establishment, the WCLA has been entrusted with safeguarding the heritage sites of the old city, regulating development, defining penalties for damage to historic buildings and overseeing conservation and rehabilitation works across Lahore’s historic core.
Over the past 13 years, the Walled City of Lahore Authority has completed numerous projects aimed at reviving the city’s culture and preserving its architectural legacy. It is currently working on the renovation and restoration of Haveli Kharak Singh inside Lahore Fort, Haveli Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Gujranwala and St. Mary Magdalene Church in Lahore Cantt.
Over the years, the authority has also completed several projects across Punjab to restore important minority-related heritage buildings. These include the Presbyterian Church (Naulakha) on Nicholson Road, Cathedral Church on The Mall road, Sacred Heart Cathedral Church on Lawrence Road, Catholic Church St. Francis Asiatics in Sahu Wala, Sialkot, Shawala Temple in Sialkot, St. Mary of the Virgin Cathedral Church in Multan Cantt, Christ Church on Jinnah Road in Rawalpindi Cantt, Christ Church on Janjua Road in Rawalpindi, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lal Kurti, Rawalpindi, and Christ Church in Okara.
In December 2025, several important development, conservation and restoration projects were also launched under the WCLA. The initiatives aim to preserve Lahore’s historical heritage, improve urban infrastructure, promote tourism and provide better facilities to the public.
Among the projects initiated in 2025 are the conservation and restoration of Gurdwara Rori Sahib, Jhaman and Gurdwara Paheli Patshahi Manak Lahore.
The authority has also undertaken the historical restoration of several zones, including the facades of New Anarkali and Old Anarkali, Jain Temple, Pan Gali, Bakhshi Market and the Bible Society. Other projects cover Mall Road and historic landmarks and zones, including Blue Dome (Neela Gumbad), King Edward, Pak Tea House and Ewing Hall, as well as areas around Wazir Khan Community, the National College of Arts, Tollington and Lahore Museum.
Another major initiative involves the conservation and restoration of four ancient gates of the Walled City of Lahore, helping preserve some of the most recognisable remnants of the historic city.
Following Kamran Lashari, the institution has continued to evolve under the direction of Director General Najam Al-Saqib. With improved and dynamic planning, the authority is currently playing a prominent role in heritage conservation, urban rehabilitation and the promotion of sustainable tourism.
Its work is no longer confined to Lahore. In other historic cities of Punjab, several development and conservation projects are being undertaken simultaneously, strengthening the WCLA’s position as an active and nationally prominent institution in the field of heritage preservation.
Among the major ongoing initiatives is the restoration of the Spice Market corridor from Delhi Gate to Akbari Gate, through which the grandeur of the Walled City’s ancient commercial centre is gradually being revived.
Conservation work is also continuing at the Shahdara Complex of Monuments and Lahore Fort, helping safeguard some of the region’s most significant historical sites. Restoration and conservation at Shalamar Garden are similarly underway, reflecting sustained efforts to protect the world heritage site.
Beyond the city’s best-known monuments, the authority is also focusing on lesser-known but historically valuable assets. Projects involving the ancient steam pump house of Pani Wala Talab, historic passages, old mansions and the four historic gates demonstrate an effort to preserve not only celebrated landmarks but also the smaller architectural fragments that collectively form Lahore’s cultural identity.
At the same time, restoration and improvements at important locations such as Wazir Khan Baradari, Lahore Museum, National College of Arts and Samadhi Ranjit Singh are helping transform Lahore into a modern cultural and tourism centre without severing its connection with the past.
The Walled City of Lahore Authority’s work extends beyond bricks, fa§ades and monuments. Tourism has become an important part of its strategy to reconnect people with the city’s history.
Among its prominent tourism initiatives is the ‘History by Night’ tour at Lahore Fort, where participants explore the illuminated fort after sunset while learning about its historical significance, architecture and stories.
Similarly, the ‘Moonlight Nights’ tour at Shalimar Bagh offers visitors a distinctive evening experience in the historic Mughal gardens, allowing them to encounter the monument in a different atmosphere.
The authority also organises guided walking tours through the historic streets and narrow lanes of old Lahore. These tours introduce students, researchers, tourists and ordinary citizens to historic buildings, traditional markets, local culture and the everyday lifestyle of the old city.
In line with the vision of the Government of Punjab, the WCLA is also working to revive the traditional culture and customs of old Lahore as part of its broader effort to promote and preserve cultural heritage.
Throughout the year, the authority organises cultural and social events under this objective. These include traditional sports festivals such as ‘Khedan Lahore Diyan’, poetry recitals, exhibitions featuring artisans and craftsmen, cultural fairs, folk music concerts, storytelling sessions and demonstrations of local arts and crafts.
Such activities provide artists, writers, craftsmen and cultural figures with opportunities to showcase their talents while bringing the city’s history closer to the public.
Lahore’s heritage is not confined to its monuments. It lives in its streets, markets, places of worship, gardens, crafts, stories and traditions. From the sounds that once travelled across its diverse neighbourhoods to the restoration projects now breathing new life into its historic buildings, the city continues to carry its past into the present.
In that sense, the Walled City of Lahore remains more than a geographical space. It is a living record of Lahore’s culture and civilisation – and the authority’s continuing work is helping ensure that this story is not merely remembered, but experienced by generations to come.
