Heritage In The Shadow Of Progress: Assessing The Impact Of The Orange Line Metro On Lahore’s Historic Architecture

Abstract

This study critically investigates the conflict between infrastructural advancement and heritage conservation through the case of Lahore’s Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT). While the project promises modern urban mobility, it threatens the structural integrity and visual sanctity of several UNESCO-listed and protected heritage sites most notably, the 17th-century Shalimar Gardens. Violations of both local heritage protection laws and international conventions have resulted in widespread alarm among architects, conservationists, and civil society, culminating in a legal petition submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The 11 heritage sites include Shalimar Gardens, Gulabi Bagh Gateway, Buddhu ka Awa, Chauburji, Zebunnisa’s Tomb, Lakshmi Building, General Post Office, Aiwan-i-Auqaf, the Supreme Court’s Lahore registry, the St Andrews Presbyterian Church on Nabha Road and Baba Mauj Darya Bukhari’s shrine. Even mosques and churches, some as old as St Andrew’s Church built in 1860 (located next to the Supreme Court registry), are either pulled down or seriously threatened. The construction of the track has led to a partial or complete demolition of 42 schools and colleges as well The research assesses environmental degradation, loss of architectural authenticity, and socio-cultural disruptions caused by OLMT construction. Drawing upon heritage conservation principles, policy analysis, and environmental impact data, the paper exposes systemic gaps in planning and mitigation. The findings underscore an urgent need for urban development models that integrate preservation protocols and participatory governance to prevent irreversible cultural loss. This paper contributes to the global discourse on sustainable heritage management amid rapid urbanization in historic cities.