MR Haseeb deserves complements for drawing the attention of readers towards excessive enthusiasm shown by Pakistanis towards changing the names of places (Dec 12). Even the names of benefactors have not been spared. It is relevant to point out that much earlier the name of Jahangir Kothari Park in Karachi too was changed. There has been a mania to change the names of cities and places ever since Pakistan came into being. Cities bearing Hindu and Sikh names have been a particular target. Even, the benefactors have not been spared.

There is a town in Lahore district (now in Kasur) which was until recently known as Van Radha Ram after the name of the father of Sir Ganga Ram who founded many charitable and welfare institutions in Punjab from which we are now benefiting. Its name was changed some years back to Habib Kot. Most of the people do not know as to who is the person whose name it now carries.

In the early 1970s, the name of a well-known town in Balochistan was changed from Hindu Bagh to Muslim Bagh. Even a provincial government of a secular political party that was in power in Balochistan at that time could not resist. The names of Lyallpur and Montgomery, founded by a Britisher who made significant contributions to their development, were changed to Faisalabad and Sahiwal, respectively, without any cogent reason.

We often hear demands about changing the names of Haripur, Abbottabad and Jacobabad.

It is relevant to mention that in India several important cities, including state capitals, continue to bear Muslim names such as Allahabad, Ahmadabad and Hyderabad. There has been no attempt to change them.

Even a well-known road named after Emperor Aurangzeb still exists in New Delhi. Near our border, there are towns called Ferozepur and Faridkot.

We do hope that the PPP government, which believes in enlightened moderation, will not only curb this practice but will also restore all old names.

R. R. ALVI Lahore

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.