The Punjab government has approved a Rs. 800 million development package for the restoration and beautification of Ichhra Bazaar in Lahore. The project aims to enhance the market’s infrastructure following the removal of encroachments in the area.
According to government officials, the uplift initiative includes improvements to the sewerage system, street paving, and installation of streetlights. The goal is to revitalize one of Lahore’s busiest commercial hubs and improve public access and safety.
Despite the substantial investment, many shopkeepers and vendors have expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s approach. They allege that ongoing construction work has disrupted business activity and that promised improvements have yet to materialize.
“Work on the streets has been ongoing for two months and remains incomplete,” one shopkeeper noted. “We’ve lost customers and income, and there’s no clarity on when the project will be finished.”
Others claimed that the current uplift effort does little to compensate for the loss of space and footfall caused by the removal of street vendors and stalls during the anti-encroachment drive.
While the government maintains that the Rs. 800 million project is a long-term investment in the city’s commercial infrastructure, calls are growing for transparent timelines and accountability in its execution. Several traders are demanding direct consultation and clearer communication from the authorities as the project progresses.
G mail chrom
The Punjab Government is doing an excellent job everywhere. I see such a vast improvement where ever I go. Wider, cleaner roads in all the congested areas where no previous Government dared to tread. Grumblers and entitled shopkeepers who ruled the roost for many, many years, don’t like the changes as all the places they encroached upon has been removed.