Political or not, Lahoris get a new food spot

The curtain was finally raised on Sharifs’ food street officially named the ‘Fort Road Food Street’ with massive publicity blitz and pump and show on Saturday behind the Badshahi Mosque.
This food street is a part of nine food streets planned by Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif.
Contrary to lofty claims made by the management of Fort Road Food Street that non-political figure would inaugurate it to keep its identity non-partisan, PML-N MNA Hamza Shahbaz, son of CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, formally opened the Fort Road Food Street while Sharifs’ close aide Pervaiz Rashid, Asif Kirmani and other PML-N members accompanied him also. The inauguration proved that the food street was very much a political move and it could, like its ancestor in Gawalmandi, face demolition if a different government comes to power.
Society for Development and Management of Fort Road Food Street Chairman Habib Khan, earlier, characterised the new food street as non-political, saying it would not be associated with any political party. Talking to Pakistan Today, Habib Khan argued that the inauguration was organised by City District Government Lahore which called MNA Hamza Shahbaz as chief guest to open the Fort Road Food Street. “We have nothing to do with the invitation to Hamza Shahbaz and other inaugural arrangements,” he added.
Rashid Ali, resident of the area told Pakistan Today that most of the buildings falling within the premises of food street were either owned by multinationals or people close to the ruling party bigwigs in Punjab. EDO (Finance) Moazam Supra who registered the Society for Development and Management of Fort Road Food Street said it was the first time that special by-laws and Standard Operative procedures (SOPs) were laid down to ensure the longevity of food street. Law department vetted the workability paraphernalia, he added. Management of Food Street arranged a loan from Punjab Bank with the facilitation of government. The CDGL role in the management was just ceremonial and DCO Ahed Cheema had been made its first president.
The Fort Road Food Street is a constant reminder of the city’s vibrant past. Its pathway is lined on either side with kiosks, ready to appease the customers’ appetite with barbecue and freshly cooked handis. With facade lighting of old buildings and projecting balconies, the atmosphere is wonderfully conducive to the enjoyment of the best of Lahore. The food street has made a wide range of cuisines available in a single area. Members of middle class society will prefer them because they are less expensive than hotels or high-quality restaurants. During the inaugural ceremony of the food street, a pictorial was shown at this occasion which explained the statuses of building before and after the establishment of Fort Road Food Street. The pictures showed the differences in the façade of the building used for food outlets before and after the project. The picture also showed the cleanliness and the maintenance of the Fort Road Food Street after the project was finished. Saima Ali, a mother of three said that the street was magnificently decorated and the colour theme was highly attractive. “I think that the main selling point of this food street which sets this apart from others made earlier is the historical location of the street, the Badshahi Mosque has certainly elevated the entire project and has added in to its significance”, she said.
Suleman Azhar said the city had been given a new cultural spot where families could come and spend time together. “There are very few entertainment spots in the city, family usually go to restaurants and hotels for entertainment purposes, as Lahories love food, now that the this street has been made families can have good culture food along with historical sightseeing”, he said. “Now let’s see how the managers of Fort Road Food Street maintain this place, it would be a great challenge”, he added. One of the restaurant owners said he saw great future of his business and area. “Today is the first day but I am very hopeful,” he said.
It may be recalled that Gawalmandi Food Street in Lahore was the first food street in Pakistan that was shut down. Others food streets included Anarkali Food Street, Melody Food Street and the food street in Blue Area in Islamabad, Burns Road in Karachi, the food street at Cunningham park in Peshawar. The idea of food street came to Kamran Lashari, former chairman of tourism development corporation of Punjab, and the project itself came as a joint venture between LDA and TDCP. Recreated by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) to recapture the idyllic, old-time atmosphere of the City, the 200-yard street in the heart of former Gawalmandi at Chamberlain Road had been turned into a street and was thronged by people of all ages.