LAHORE: Punjab Walled Cities and Heritage Areas Authority (PWCA) Director General Najmussaqib has said that the Neela Gumbad project is an important initiative aimed at improving the urban landscape while preserving the historical character of the area.
He expressed these views during his visit to the project site on Saturday; he was accompanied by Punjab Local Government Secretary Zaid Bin Maqsood, Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Tahir Farooq, Deputy Commissioner Lahore Capt. Ali Ijaz (retd), the TEPA Chief Engineer and Assistant Commissioner Amir Liaqat. The purpose of the visit was to review the progress of ongoing development works at the project site.
During the visit, the officials inspected the project site and reviewed the progress of ongoing works, with particular focus on improving the surrounding area, infrastructure, and urban environment. The team discussed measures to ensure effective coordination among the relevant departments for the timely and efficient completion of the project.
Speaking on this occasion, the PWCA DG Najmussaqib stated that the project will also play a significant role in revitalising underutilised /dead urban spaces by transforming them into vibrant public places through social, cultural, and community activities. The Punjab government is actively working towards reviving such spaces, and PWCA is taking practical initiatives to translate this vision into reality, he added.
He further stated that the government is keen to restore, conserve, and safeguard the province’s historical heritage through sustainable conservation initiatives and coordinated development efforts. He emphasised that all ongoing works must be carried out in accordance with approved plans and required standards, ensuring quality, sustainability, and due consideration for the site’s heritage significance.
The Neela Gumbad Uplifting and Heritage Restoration Project, a major urban regeneration and traffic management initiative led by the Punjab government in Lahore’s historic Anarkali area near Mayo Hospital, is now reaching advanced stages of completion, with over 80 to 90 percent progress achieved by late 2026.
Jointly driven by key entities including the Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency, the PWCA, the Lahore Development Authority, and NESPAK at an estimated cost of around Rs 2.4 billion, the project’s core components centre on a multi-level underground parking plaza and comprehensive heritage restoration.
The subterranean parking structure spans three basement stories designed to accommodate roughly 374 to 375 cars and 790 to 800 motorcycles to relieve severe local congestion, while its surface level features a public park alongside food and cafeteria points. Concurrently, the heritage uplift encompasses the restoration of surrounding historical landmarks, including the 350-year-old Neela Gumbad built around 1673, the Deori, the historic Ewing Hall formerly serving as the FC College hostel, and the First Bank of India building, alongside the reorganisation and relocation of local commercial spaces like the cycle market to modernise the urban landscape.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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