Protesters say Lahore train construction puts historical monuments at risk

Pakistan’s ‘City of Gardens’ is being threatened by a planned metro train system, according to many activists and Lahore residents. On Monday, members of Lahore’s civil society demonstrated at the Chauburji historical monument, where construction of the train line has already begun.

Protesters argue the train will block the view of the monument. A petition with more than 700 signatures alleges a number of other historical areas will be affected, and part of the colonial-era General Post Office will be demolished with the train running underground. 

Chief Minister of Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif, denied the activists’ claims in a Facebook post, insisting that “all such landmarks are protected and preserved in their actual condition”: