It can be said for sure that there is no love story in Lahore that doesn’t have a mention of the Laurence Garden (Bagh-e-Jinnah) which is situated opposite to the Governor’s House on The Mall. Catering to the needs of all those men and women who fall in love in and around the heart of Pakistan – Lahore, this park has been facilitating those experiencing and believing in the divine power of love for almost 160 years.
Photo credit : Rahat Dar
Having its first tree planted in 1862, this park had 80,000 trees in 1876. Though somewhat faded now, it is still there and giving a sense of serenity to those who have a chance to enter it, whether to find a serene place to talk love or spend time in the company of Nature. Perhaps, it is the only place left in today’s roaring and smoky Lahore where one can see and feel the aura of colourful butterflies and fireflies.
In a society where love between a boy and a girl is considered a taboo, it becomes very difficult for such couples to carry on their relationship. They find rare support from people around them and have to survive within a limited space and time. Despite being involved in a positive character-building process devised by God, most of these couples are initially shy and afraid of being noticed by others. It is here the role of the Laurence Garden starts. Lovebirds resort to this park and find a lot of easy spaces for secret and uninterrupted chats. Nobody stops them from sitting close and talking and embracing the feel their partner is causing. Though the trees and plants are not as blossomed today as they used to be, still a semblance of freshness and beauty is there. This refreshing ambience definitely makes people talk positive. If someone visits this park anytime, he can see a lot of people sitting, chatting, exercising, jogging, walking, playing, reading, picnicking, etc.
“Though some other parks and gardens are also present in the provincial metropolis, the aura of the Laurence Garden is found nowhere as this park was primarily designed to give a forest look,” said Yameen, an official doing duty in the park for years. “The park is not being properly looked after as the government focus is on the Racecourse Park (Jillani Park). All major funds are being spent on the uplift of the Racecourse Park and, at the same time, we don’t have even gun showers to wash trees and plants. Also some lawns have partially become barren because of not getting even routine hose water,” said the official while talking to this scribe on April 11, 2025.
There is still a controversy over the name of this park. Officially, it has become the Bagh-e-Jinnah. But all the educated and fact-loving people still love calling it the Laurence Garden which was named after John Laurence, the first commissioner of Lahore and lieutenant governor of the Punjab. This John Laurence later became the viceroy of India from 1864 to 1869. How delicate and mystic-loving John Laurence was can be gauged from the fact that he did not remove the graves of three Muslim saints from the 176-acre site of this park when it was going to be established. The tombs of these three saints are still in the park. They are Syed Turt Murad, his sister Mai Sahiba and Syed Sharfuddin. Adjacent to the park is the 35-acre Lahore Zoo which has been carved out of this park. The routine visitors to this park can sometime amuse themselves with the roars of lions coming from the zoo.
When the world changed its track after 9/11 and security issues developed all around, Pakistan was no exception, and so the Laurence Garden. Before 2001, this park remained open for all and sundry round the clock. The Saturday night used to be special, especially at the park’s Baradari where music nights were held. Both professional and amateur singers and musicians and their fans from all over Lahore would visit this spot at night. The mesmerizing music in the company of awesome trees, flowers and lawns surrounded by dancing fountains created such a mystery which cannot be defined in words as it could only be felt. Now the park is closed at 10pm. I can remember such a night in 1995 when it was drizzling and a famous vocalist from a world-known music band was singing soul-elevating Malhar songs while playing his guitar and the audience was spellbound. Sitting on the neat and well-designed stairs of the park library and having a feel of music and drizzle, it was the best ever night for me at the Laurence Garden. I still evoke this beautiful night whenever I visit this park.
Whenever there is a talk of music, the talk of love must follow. It is natural. And this heavenly combination always adds to the beauty of the soothing atmosphere of this park. People loving each other still seem to be adorning this park with their fragrance, but the weekend music nights are no more. Also there are no flowing fountains for the reason best known to the park administration. But the park’s heavenly disposition even today opens its arms for all those who are in search of tranquility and soul elevation, hats off to Sir John Laurence.
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