The power and gas outages have caused an indefinite delay in the launch of the Fort Road Food Street, being awaited anxiously since Muharram 10, a probable date announced by the administration for its dazzling inauguration.
The food street has missed its launch twice. It was intended to be launched on November 19 but later was put off till after Muharram 10. Now under much public criticism, the food street still has no fixed date for its launch. In the gloom, the people who were hankering to see the dawn of the new Food Street, after unfortunate end of the Gawalmandi Food Street, are suspicious about the prospects of the Fort Road Food Street.
All the eateries, housed in the food street, are completely dependent on the supply of gas and electricity. Most of their ovens function with gas, while some run on electric power. Even the mega lighting system, to illuminate the buildings and its surroundings, considered the real attraction of the food street, demands the supply of electricity. There is no system to ensure sustained supply of gas and electricity for the restaurants to operate on the food street. The 1.4-kilometre food street desperately needs uninterrupted gas and power supply, without which it would not see the light of day.
The arrangements had been finalised to showcase the food-cum-tourist destination right behind the Badshai Mosque and in the proximity of the Lahore Fort, Roshnai gate, Gurdawara, De Montmorency College of Dentistry and the Lady Wellingdon Hospital (affiliated with the King Edward Medical University). The works in the exterior and interior of the buildings to rehabilitate them, while keeping their original look intact, had been completed. The administration had also ensured the drainage and sewerage system, established a parking lot, completed the lighting of the street’s paraphernalia, installed waste bins and erected gates at the entrance. However, before the curtain could be raised, the gas cuts raised their ugly head and the unscheduled load-shedding jeopardised the entire plan.
Society for development and management of Fort Road Food Street Chairman Habib Khan told Pakistan Today that the sudden energy crises had disturbed the launch. He said, “We were not prepared for the power and gas cuts and had planned to inaugurate the iconic food street as early as possible. However, the things turned unfavourable later.”
However, he dispelled the impression that power generators and an alternative supply for gas were unavailable, adding that the food street was fully equipped with the substitute gears. “Though load-shedding and gas woes are the problem, but the alternative system is in place to be used according to demand,” he added. He said that the delay had also been due to some restaurants that had some unfinished works still and were busy in giving final touches to their arrangements.
He said that District Coordination Officer (DCO) Ahad Cheema, the first president of the Fort Road Food Street, was going to hold an important meeting in a couple of days, when the final date for the inauguration would be decided according to the present situation. He also hinted at inviting a public figure, possibly a politician, to inaugurate the food street on December 31 perhaps, declining to give a fixed date.
The establishment of the Fort Road Food Street was a part of the Punjab government’s plan to raise 9 food streets at various locations, including the Gulberg Town, Shalimar Town, Nishtar Town, Samnabad Town, Allama Iqbal Town, Wahga Town, Aziz Bhatti Town, Ravi Town and Data Gunj Baksh Town.
In a bid to prevent the new food street from any untoward incident and political sway that had caused downfall of the Gawalmandi Food Street, once known as the best tourist attraction in Pakistan, the Fort Road Food Street is being established privately at an estimated cost of Rs 40 million. The Punjab government and the City District Government Limited (CDGL) have nothing to do with its management and operations. The government has not allocated any funds for its development.
With a view to develop the Ford Road Food Street, a society, consisting of the area residents, was formed under the Punjab Co-operative Societies Act 1961. It was named the Society for Development and Management of Fort Road Food Street which constituted a management committee, formally tasked to develop the Fort Road Food Street.
The committee arranged a loan from the Punjab Bank with the facilitation of the government. The CDGL’s role in the management has been ceremonial only as DCO Ahad Cheema was made its first chairman. While Habib Khan, a businessman who owned property on the Fort Road, assumed charge as the society’s first president. As many as 25 buildings in a V-shaped street have been restored, hiring the services of renowned architects and fine arts experts.
Finance Executive District Officer (EDO) Moazam Supra, who had registered the Society for Development and Management of Fort Road Food Street, said that it was the first time that special by-laws and standard operating procedures (SOPs) were laid down to ensure the longevity of the food street. The Law Department had vetted the workability paraphernalia, he added. Zeeshan Gul, a resident of the walled city, said, “The plan has kindled a hope among the residents of the adjoining areas, in expectation of having business and employment opportunities soon.”
