Lahore the Next Metropolis

I am a proud Lahori and obviously have a concern what is happening in this city. City has transitioned from its traditional outlook to a more western; I would attribute this very change because of a dramatic paradigm shift in the mindset of Lahore’s middle class. Recently organized Lahore Marathon has been in the limelight for past many days,

Some advocating the mix marathon (both genders) it as against our values, and some proponents asserting it as a healthy activity, this caused the definite friction between govt. and the opposition, and this even invited some clashes between security forces and opposition supporters. I was shocked the way the opposition supporters behaved, they damaged public property which is simply mind boggling, there may be the difference of opinions but nobody has the right to violate laws, perhaps Pakistani religious right needs to be taught ethics, even hundreds of French marched against ban on scarves but nobody behaved in this manner.  

Lahore commonly known as the PARIS OF THE EAST, THE PEARL OF PUNJAB, declared as the city PARALLEL TO CORDOBA in 60’s, its burgeoning growth has been the issue for past many years. Lahore is popular among masses because of host of reasons, Lahore is known as the country’s Silicon Valley being the centre of IT industry is playing an important role in the country’s economy and the recently started construction of IT Tower on Main Boulevard adjacent to Hafeez Centre is important development in the city, construction of highly sophisticated Tricon Centre that would accommodate corporate offices would make it heaven for financial activities, the much awaited construction of Expo Centre has also commenced, that would make Lahore prominent on international trade map. Lahore’s underpasses on Canal Road along with flowing lake and trees which belong to pre partition era, making the experience of traveling in Lahore wonderful, manmade stuff augmenting the natural beauty, such a beautiful blend is truly rare. MM ALAM Road boasting city’s most expensive restaurants including international food chain brands, Food Street on Gowal Mandi making local food culture even richer. Celebration of Basant festival with ever high degree of entusiasm has now become the common tag of the city, with colorful kites making its way on Lahore’s sky, the recent opening of night club in Defence Society has been received with enthusiasm especially among youth, on the other it has come under fierce condemnation calling it as a cultural invasion of the west. World Arts Festival organized at Alhamra Arts Academy located nearby Gaddhafi Cricket stadium, has put the city on the forefront of entertainment activities, with Light Rail transit project still in its embryonic stages promises easy traveling for locals, and renovation of pre-partition walled city undertaken by Italian company is also very essential for the preservation of our heritage, the inauguration of IMAX theatre by Canadian company that would house four cinema houses that would show case educational and entertainment movies especially for children, those who belong to the lower strata of the society, who are deprived of not from quality education but are also entertainment starved. The construction of China Centre in the city after being in Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, with increasing Chinese presence in the city adds to its metropolitan character. Display of McLaren F1 on Main Boulevard provided a thrilling experience to locals to watch their fellow countrymen in action. This time winter gave a chilling experience to Lahoris with temperature dropping below subzero temperatures to -6 Celsius, lowest in 71 years forcing locals to remain inside their homes. Lahore also has some of the finest educational institutions in the country such as LUMS (Lahore university Of Management Sciences) ranked as world’s eight university (according to LUMS marketing dept.) and National College of Arts, one of the best educational centre producing quality graduates in Arts and Architecture, here are several others high quality engineering and medical institutions. Lahore also has fine hotels and the mushroom growth of shopping malls is incredible, at which Lahore’s increasing brand conscious middle class takes a ride. Industrial estates in the outskirts of the city picking up the pace of industrialization, and real estate values of city on the rocketing heights, augments its economic importance. Lahore is attracting almost 30% of the investment happening in the country, and the trend to divert investment from Karachi to Lahore as the result of deteriorating law and order in Karachi in the last decade is just picking up.   

Lahore is included among the 100 MOST BEAUTIFUL CITIES OF THE WORLD, but this is not enough, it is a long way to go, it is just the tip of the iceberg, time would come when Lahore would be the Pride of Asia, the symbol of Pakistan’s economic powerhouse.