Nawaz Sharif has been appointed as patron-in-chief of the Lahore Authority for Heritage Revival by his daughter, Maryam Nawaz. His new role involves restoring colonial-era buildings in Lahore, amidst political criticism from the opposition over his government job following a recent electoral defeat. Nawaz aims to raise heritage preservation awareness in the region.
Pakistan’s former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, has been appointed as the patron-in-chief of the Lahore Authority for Heritage Revival (LAHR) under his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, who is the Chief Minister of Punjab. His new role focuses on the restoration of numerous colonial-era buildings in Lahore, as the provincial administration formalized his appointment.
The Punjab government’s decision to assign Nawaz this position comes after a period of political setbacks for his party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The opposition party, led by imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, criticized this job, suggesting that it was a way for Nawaz to remain active after his party’s electoral defeat in 2024. They claimed that “Imran Khan’s mandate was stolen,” which they argue benefitted both the PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Shaukat Basra, a senior leader from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, stated that Nawaz had been out of the political spotlight since his return from London in 2023, noting that his brother, Shehbaz Sharif, was favored by the military establishment for the prime minister position. He sarcastically remarked that the former leader’s new tasks will involve overseeing the conservation of Lahore’s historical sites.
The Lahore Authority for Heritage Revival has identified over 100 buildings as historical sites, and Nawaz is actively seeking comprehensive restoration plans from the Walled City Authority of Lahore. He emphasized the importance of preserving the architecture of old Lahore, stating that “old Lahore is incredibly beautiful and must be restored to its original form. Preserving our lost heritage is a national duty.”
Nawaz Sharif’s appointment as the patron-in-chief of LAHR marks a shift from his previous role as Prime Minister to overseeing heritage restoration efforts in Lahore. This development illustrates both his family’s continued political influence and the ongoing tensions within Pakistani politics, highlighted by opposition criticism and the context of recent electoral defeats. Sharif’s commitment to preserving Lahore’s heritage underscores the importance of cultural conservation in the region.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
