Lahore Canal (

Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
''

Punjabi: لاہور نہر) begins at the Bambawali-Ravi-Bedian (BRB) Canal that runs through the east of the city of

Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...

Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

. The long waterway was initially built by the Mughals. It was then upgraded by the British in 1861. It is an important part of the city's cultural heritage. The canal is managed by Lahore Zone of the

Punjab Irrigation Department Punjab Irrigation Department (), Pakistan, is a provincial irrigation department in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Punjab Irrigation Department irrigates of agricultural land in Punjab. Rai Manzoor Nasir, Secretary to the government of the Pu ...

. The canal, aside from its importance in

irrigation Irrigation (also referred to as watering) is the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow Crop, crops, Landscape plant, landscape plants, and Lawn, lawns. Irrigation has been a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,00 ...

purposes, forms the centre of a unique linear park that serves as one of the longest public green belts and popular recreational destination spots. The average depth of the Canal is and it is bounded by roads on either side called the

Canal Bank Road Canal Bank Road ( Punjabi, ur, , ''Sarak-e-Nehr'') also known as Khayaban-e-Annemarie Schimmel, is a major eight-lane east–west signal-free road which extends along the banks of the Lahore Canal in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The road serves a ...

. On local and national festivals, the canal is illuminated with lights and décor.

Construction

The Bambawali Ravi-Bedian (BRB) Canal at the east of the city of Lahore was already constructed in

Mughal Era The Mughal Empire was an early-modern empire that controlled much of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries. Quote: "Although the first two Timurid emperors and many of their noblemen were recent migrants to the subcontinent, the d ...

, however, during the

British Raj The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent; * * it is also called Crown rule in India, * * * * or Direct rule in India, * Quote: "Mill, who was himsel ...

, the British sliced the Bambawali-Ravi-Bedian (BRB) Canal and extended it on the west side (city of Lahore) till the town of

Raiwind Raiwind ( Punjabi & ur, ) is a town (now promoted to Tehsil Head Quarter) located within union council 149 (Dholanwal) in Allama Iqbal Town of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The town serves as the headquarters of Tablighi Jamaat and hosts the annua ...

, located in south of Lahore. The idea to extend the canal may have possibly emerged because an irrigation system was felt necessary after a disastrous famine hit the Subcontinent in 1837-38 in which nearly ten million (one crore) rupees was spent on relief works, resulting in considerable loss of revenue to the

British East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and Southea ...

Route

It starts from BRB canal, few yards away from the Khaira Village, dividing the old neighborhoods of Lahore (on the west-side of the Canal) from the trendy areas of the privileged rich (on the east side of the Canal). Metrobus (Lahore) also crosses it through a flyover on the way.

Muslim Town Flyover Muslim Town Flyover ( Punjabi, ur}, ''Shahrak-e-Musalmaan Sar Pul'') is a flyover and interchange between Ferozepur Road, Wahdat Road and Canal Bank Road in Lahore, Pakistan. Muslim Town Flyover is the longest flyover of Pakistan Pak ...

is also present over the canal. After crossing the Thokar Niaz Baig, it turns left and moves parallel to the

road. Flowing between the main highways, the canal also serves as the chief artery of the city.

Culture and arts

The canal is an important part of Lahore's culture. During summers, its very sight is a relief to the Lahoris. In those hot, simmering days hundreds of people come to swim. They eat watermelons and generally have good time in the canal. Young boys make the crowd but in the evenings one sees a good number of families sitting on the banks, the women with their feet in the water. On local, national and religious festivals, such as Jashn-e-Baharan (the welcoming of

spring Spring(s) may refer to: Common uses * Spring (season), a season of the year * Spring (device), a mechanical device that stores energy * Spring (hydrology), a natural source of water * Spring (mathematics), a geometric surface in the shape of a ...

), Basant, Eid, Pakistan's

Independence Day An independence day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or more rarely after the end of a military occupation. Man ...

and

Pakistan Day The Resolution Day ( ur, , translit=Yawm-e-Qarārdād), also known as the Pakistan Day ( ur, , translit=Yawm-e-Pākistān) and Republic Day, is a national holiday in Pakistan primarily commemorating the adoption of the Lahore Resolution by the Mu ...

the canal is illuminated with lights and different types of décor are laid out into the water - relevant to the festival. Many companies like OMORÉ have also used the canal as a great way to promote their brand.

Problems

Unhealthy water

The canal water is said to be toxic and unhygienic. The samples of the canal water were examined at the Environment Department’s specialized laboratory in Lahore and showed “excessive limits of sulfide, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand (COD), total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, chlorine and sulphate; a disturbed pH balance and several other imbalances” because of the chemicals being thrown into the canal. The report found that all of the pollutants were in excess of the limit set by national environment quality standards. Regrettably, lower-class citizens swim in that water and some even drink from it, oblivious to the fact that this polluted water can cause diseases like

hepatitis Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver tissue. Some people or animals with hepatitis have no symptoms, whereas others develop yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice), poor appetite, vomiting, tiredness, abdominal pa ...

and various skin diseases.

Desiltation

In early 2008, water was stopped from flowing into the canal to carry out de-

silting Siltation, is water pollution caused by particulate terrestrial clastic material, with a particle size dominated by silt or clay. It refers both to the increased concentration of suspended sediments and to the increased accumulation (temporary or ...

and cleaning up any mess from the canal-bed. Cranes were seen digging out all the mud and filling truck-loads on the canal banks. After the process has been completed and the canal bed looks beautifully uniform, the irrigation officials announced to allow water in from February 10, 2008; all to the joy and relief of many Lahoris and the villagers alike. The canal is de-silted annually by the Punjab Irrigation in the closure months of December and January.

Criticism of government

''Lahore Bachao Tehreek''’s ''(Save Lahore Movement)'' case against the widening of the Lahore Canal was still pending before the

Supreme Court A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

. Up till now, no steps had been taken to purify the waters of the canal, seeing that political and public interests were being mixed and the country’s rulers were not bothered about the issue at all. “''The water in the canal is made to look clean and purified when VIPs have to go along the canal route, after which there is a return to the dismal conditions'',” Dr Ijaz (Lahore Conservation Society Information Secretary) said, adding that the government was not sincerely concerned about the welfare of its people and was exposing them to the harmful water of the canal.

Mustansar Hussain Tarar Mustansar Hussain Tarar ( ur, ; ) S.I. (born 1 March 1939) is a Pakistani author, travel enthusiast, mountaineer, writer, novelist, columnist, TV host and former actor. Early life Mustansar Hussain Tarar was born in Jokalian on 1 March 1939 a ...

and others have criticized the road-widening project in Express News documentary fil
Bahao

Developmental projects

Swimming areas

Plans have been brought to convert parts of the canal into a proper swimming area. Experts believe that the plan will have a positive impact on the lifestyle of the citizens who have been deprived of any such facility for a long time. Under the proposed plan, the government will stop the flow of water for a few weeks to properly clean the basin of the Canal and design it to avoid any accidents. Stairs would be built in the Canal at different points with boards set up on sides mentioning the Canal’s depth to prohibit children from swimming in some places. Moreover, proper lifeguards, lifejackets, medical teams, swimming accessories and other required facilities would also be made available at the swimming points. Proper food stalls and greenery in sitting places with proper maintenance will also be ensured to entertain visitors who do not know how to swim. The government will provide facilities at par with international standards, keeping in mind the domestic cultural norms at the same time. The facility will be provided on selected points depending on the depth of the Canal. Photo 26-02-2017, 11 45 32 AM

The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) will be spearheading the plan while other departments including Tourism, Communication and Works and Irrigation will execute the proposed development work later. “''We will develop a state-of-the-art facility for the public with a lot of trees, which will not only beautify the spots but improve the environmental condition of the historic city'',” PHA Director General Dr Raheel Ahmad Siddiqui said.

Recreational picnic spots

The former

Chief Minister

Shahbaz Sharif Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif (Urdu, Punjabi: , ; born 23 September 1951) is a Pakistani politician and businessman who is currently serving as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan, in office since 11 April 2022. He is the current president o ...

had said that back in time, their government had paid special attention on the development of infrastructure including the development of picnic spots at the Lahore Canal. The former CM said that provision of recreational facilities was of paramount importance in the present age of stress and tension, therefore parks and playgrounds were being developed on priority basis. He said that

recreational Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure ...

facilities of international standard would be made available at Jallo Park whereas attractive

picnic A picnic is a meal taken outdoors ( ''al fresco'') as part of an excursion, especially in scenic surroundings, such as a park, lakeside, or other place affording an interesting view, or else in conjunction with a public event such as preceding ...

spots would also be developed at the Lahore Canal.

References

External links

BAHAAO A documentary on Lahore Canal Part 1

Lahore – A Canal Runs Through It

The canal — a blessing or a risk not worth taking?

* ttp://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\12\05\story_5-12-2009_pg13_1 ‘Custodian’ guilty of ‘dumping’ Canal By Afnan Khan
On Lahore’s canal

Lahore Canal Desilted by Hasan Mubarak (February 10th, 2008)

Part of Lahore Canal to be swimming, picnic area

Shahbaz for modern picnic spots along Lahore Canal
{{coord missing, Lahore Canals in Lahore