Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been appointed chairman of the Lahore Heritage Area Revival Board. The appointment marks his first official government position since he was removed from office in 2017.
According to a notification issued by the Punjab Local Government and Community Development Department on July 23, the appointment has taken effect immediately. The board was established to focus on the preservation and revival of Lahore’s historic areas.
The Lahore Heritage Area Revival Board was formed by Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan under Section 8-A of the Punjab Walled Cities and Heritage Areas Authority Act, 2012. The body will oversee different projects related to heritage protection and urban development.
Nawaz Sharif, who is the president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), will lead the board’s efforts to protect Lahore’s cultural and architectural heritage. He also represents NA-130 in the National Assembly.
The board has been assigned several responsibilities. These include the conservation, restoration, and development of heritage zones across Lahore. It will also work on urban renewal projects aimed at improving historic locations while preserving their original identity.
Officials said the initiative is part of the Punjab government’s wider heritage conservation programme. The campaign was launched in 2025 under the Lahore Authority for Heritage Revival (LAHR).
The main objective of the project is to strengthen protection for Lahore’s historical sites. It also aims to promote the city’s cultural importance and maintain its position as one of South Asia’s major historical centers.
Lahore has a rich architectural and cultural history, with many landmarks representing different periods of the region’s past. The heritage revival programme focuses on protecting these locations while supporting planned development.
The appointment of Nawaz Sharif comes as the provincial government continues efforts to improve heritage management and restoration work. The board will coordinate with relevant departments to implement projects in designated heritage areas.
The government believes that preserving historical sites can support cultural tourism and increase public awareness about Lahore’s heritage. The revival programme is expected to focus on balancing modern urban needs with the protection of historic structures.
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With Nawaz Sharif leading the Lahore Heritage Area Revival Board, the government has placed emphasis on accelerating conservation efforts. The board’s upcoming activities will determine the direction of future heritage preservation projects in the city.
