What happened
A soft launch of the Akbari Gate and the Curator’s House took place at the Lahore Fort on Wednesday, marking the completion of conservation work at two historic sites within the fort. The work was carried out under the Heritage and Urban Regeneration: Tourism Development in Lahore Fort and its Buffer Zone (HURL) project, launched in 2022 as a collaboration between the Walled City of Lahore Authority — now the Punjab Walled Cities and Heritage Areas Authority (PWCA) — and Agence Française de Développement (AFD). Implementation is by the PWCA’s Project Management Unit and Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan (AKCS-P).
The Curator’s House, the first monument inaugurated, is a British-era structure that served as the fort’s guard room and was later used for administrative purposes. Until recently it had been divided into two houses where local residents lived, with multiple walls added to the rooms; it will now be repurposed as an eatery, giving visitors a new public attraction inside the fort. The Akbari Gate, one of the fort’s main entrances, had been cordoned off during British rule; its conservation is now complete, and a ticketing booth will be added in the near future so it can serve as a fully furnished entry point, restoring easy access for residents of the Walled City as well as visitors. PWCA Director General Najmus Saqib said the reopening of the gate will reconnect the Walled City to the Lahore Fort. The visiting delegation also reviewed conservation progress at the Akbari Mahal, Kala Burj and British Barracks.
What it means for travellers
Lahore Fort is already a must-visit on any Lahore stop, and this soft launch changes how visitors will enter and experience it. Once the ticketing booth is in place, the Akbari Gate becomes a working entrance again, reconnecting the Walled City and the fort — which means a more natural walking route between the old city’s streets and the fort, rather than a detour to another gate. The Curator’s House becoming an eatery adds a practical bonus: a place to eat and rest inside the fort itself.
For travellers combining Lahore with a northern trip, the timing is good: Lahore is the usual first or last city stop on a Gilgit-Baltistan journey, and the fort’s restored entrance and new eatery make a Lahore day more rewarding. The key caveat is the word “soft”: this is a soft launch, not a full opening, and the ticketing booth is still to come — so check on the ground whether the gate is operating as a visitor entrance on the day you visit.
Source: Dawn
