By Muhammad Saleem
LAHORE–The Punjab government has announced plans to bring Lahore’s legendary Gawalmandi Food Street back to life, hoping to attract tourists, support local shop owners, and create new business opportunities in the city.
For many Lahoris, this news feels like a blast from the past. Once a buzzing hub of traditional food and culture, Gawalmandi has lost much of its shine in recent years. Now, the government wants to change that.
Shopkeepers Want Real Solutions
Aurangzeb Butt, who has run a Baqarkhani shop there for years, welcomed the decision. But he was quick to add that shopkeepers will only benefit if deeper issues are also addressed.
“I get gas bills regularly, but there’s no gas supply. I’m forced to use cylinders,” he said. “The anti-encroachment drives by the administration have already hurt our businesses badly.”
Inflation, high electricity bills, broken roads, and a lack of basic utilities, Aurangzeb explained, have turned customers away from the once-vibrant street. He urged the government to ensure steady gas and electricity, cut utility rates, and control food prices if they truly want to revive the area.
Gawalmandi Food Street Lahore as a Tourist Attraction
Food lovers, however, are optimistic.
Katab Hussain, a self-proclaimed foodie, told this scribe that reviving Gawalmandi could be a “gift for both tourists and locals,” boosting both tourism and Lahore’s economy.
Still, Katab stressed that the revival will only work if there’s a proper system in place. “Cleanliness, safety, and real support for shopkeepers must be guaranteed,” he said. Families, in particular, need safe and welcoming spaces if they are to return in large numbers.
A Heritage Site with High Stakes
He also reminded that Gawalmandi isn’t just any food street—it’s a piece of Lahore’s history, surrounded by century-old buildings that reflect the city’s heritage.
For many small shop owners, though, the stakes are high. “This is about survival,” Aurangzeb said. “Scores of families depend entirely on these shops.”
If the government follows through properly, locals believe Gawalmandi could once again reclaim its place as Lahore’s beating heart of food, culture, and community.
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