Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) leader Altaf Shakoor on Wednesday called for the renaming of all public infrastructure and institutions currently bearing the names of former British colonial rulers, labelling them as reminders of a period of subjugation.
In a statement, the PDP chairman asserted that numerous streets, roads, buildings, and educational establishments across Pakistan still carry names from the colonial period, which he believes are inappropriate for a sovereign nation.
Citing a recent move in India where the government removed a bust of British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens from the president”s official residence, Shakoor described such remnants as “a symbol of slavery.”
He argued that these names constantly remind citizens that they were once subjects of the British Empire.
Shakoor proposed that all such places should be renamed to honour Pakistan”s national heroes, placing special emphasis on the figures who fought for the country”s freedom.
He stressed that it is “high time” to educate the younger generation about the legacies of national icons and forgotten freedom fighters, suggesting Pir Pagara Syed Sibghatullah Shah Soriah Badishah as a prime example.
To implement this change, Shakoor urged the national and provincial assemblies to pass resolutions on an urgent basis.
He further called upon the country’s political parties to launch a unified national campaign to support the initiative.