The future of the Gawalmandi Food Street is tied with the general elections because of ongoing political tug of war in the area, the Pakistan Today has learned. The food street was a pilot project of the City District Government Lahore (CDGL), which was opened when Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) was in power in the Punjab. The project met a huge success after which several other such streets were opened up on its model. The food street was, however, closed down in 2009 over objection that it presented ‘traffic hindrance’. The food street was a center of traditional Pakistani food. The site was surrounded by several old buildings like the Mayo Hospital and Baansan-wala Bazaar. It was open for traffic in the morning but in the evening it became a hub of cultural activities. The site was attracting hundreds of locals each day as eating out is one of the well-known characters of Lahore’s metropolitan life. The site was a tourist attraction for foreigners as well who visited it in large numbers to taste the traditional food items. Keeping it view its success, the Pakistan Muslim League-(Nawaz) (PML-N) had opened up a similar food street near the Lahore Fort. Earlier, the District Coordination Officer (DCO) Rizwan Mehboob visited the area and ordered to install the main gate at the entrance of the food street so that it could be inaugurated. This move has sent a good message to food freaks in Lahore but still the future of the street remains in limbo. Inauguration of the food street by the PML-Q had become a moot point between the two political parities. The issue became so hot that it got involved top-notch politicians, which ultimately got the food street closed down, the Pakistan Today has learned. “Even if that was not the case, the local rivals made it a point to involve the top political leadership and made sure that the project was shut down despite its success,” said Gullu Butt, a resident of Gawalmadi. In this backdrop, announcement by the CDGL of the opening of the food street has yet to see which political party manages to get into power in the Punjab and whether the inauguration of the food street would see a long future or not. When contacted the CDGL, its spokesperson said that the food street had been closed down after the local residents objected that the street had made their celebrations and funerals impossible to be held properly. “Now we have conducted a survey in the area and even the Tehsil Municipal Administration officer and the district coordination officer have gone from door to door to take each household on board. The project has been initiated after addressing the reservations of the residents,” he added. Answering to a question, the CDGL spokesman said the initiation of the project was solely initiative of the DCO and it had no political context. The inauguration will roughly cost Rs 3 million, which will be mainly spent on improving sewerage system, seating, and repairing buildings on the roads. The budget has, however, not yet been finalised or allocated.
