Pakistan: Metro train project construction not to affect Churches

(Vatican Radio) The Lahore Development Authority has announced that none of the four churches coming in the route of the Orange Line Metro Train project will be affected as a result of the construction.

An official handout issued on Wednesday said that the LDA was not acquiring any piece of land for the project nor boundary walls or any other structure of Cathedral Church, The Mall, and Nolakha Church, Nicholson Road.

"Rumors regarding demolition of the building of churches and protests on this pretext were totally baseless and uncalled for," the statement by the authority said.

“About 1.5 kanals of open land and 62 meters length of boundary wall of the Saint Andrew’s Church, Nabha Road, will be temporarily used during construction period for underground track in the area. This temporarily used land will be restored to its original condition and boundary wall will also be reconstructed after the completion of construction works.

“Almost 10 marlas of open land and 18 meters of boundary wall of Saint Paul’s Presbyterian Church, near Bohar Chowk, will be utilized for the stairs to railway station of the project. Building or any other structure will not be affected by the Orange Line Metro Train Project and the effected boundary wall will be re-constructed,” the statement concluded.

“A meeting to apprise of details in this regard to the Pastors of these churches had been convened on 2nd May 2016 under the Chairmanship of Kh Ahmad Hassan, chairman of the steering committee for Orange Line Metro Train Project and the pastors were briefed in detail about the construction work being carried out in the vicinity of church buildings. So there should not be any doubt that the buildings of these churches are fully safe and secure," the statement said.

The statement has come after Christian protesters took to the streets of Lahore against the project which had allegedly proposed demolition of two churches to clear the way for the train project. The demonstrators had demanded that the government review its plans, saying they would not give up their holy places.

Rights groups have also warned the Punjab government against demolition of churches and other historical buildings for the project. The UNESCO has also reportedly, opposed the Rs365 billion project for being a serious threat to Lahore’s architectural heritage.