Lahore Museum Restoration Cost Rises To Rs6.59 Billion

The approved cost of the Lahore Museum restoration and upgradation project has increased sharply, with the revised scheme now cleared at Rs6.59 billion. The new figure is around 50 percent higher than the original cost approved last year, making the project a significantly larger public-sector undertaking than first planned.

The earlier approval, issued in September 2025, placed the project cost at Rs4.39 billion. After review, the Tourism Department sought approval for Rs7.02 billion, but authorities approved the revised plan at Rs6.59 billion. The completion target has been set for June 2030, indicating that the work will move over several years rather than as a short-term upgrade.

The project covers restoration of the museum's historic main building as well as new construction and facility improvements. Under the revised plan, around Rs3.28 billion has been allocated for conservation and restoration work on the main structure. Approximately Rs1.07 billion has been earmarked for the construction of new eastern and western blocks.

The revised approval also changes parts of the original design. Proposed mezzanine floors for the Islamic, Indus and Gandhara galleries have been removed after a review found that they did not fit the proportions and historic character of the museum's 1929 layout. This change shows that preservation concerns are being treated as a core condition of the project rather than a secondary matter.

The authorities have also made UNESCO consultation a requirement before work begins on areas affecting the historic character of the building. The condition is important because the project is not only a construction exercise but also a conservation effort involving one of Lahore's major cultural institutions.

Several cost heads will face further scrutiny before implementation moves ahead. Officials have ordered a reassessment of consultancy estimates where allocated amounts are higher than reported actual expenditure. These include museology consultancy and museum conservation consultancy, where combined allocations were reported to exceed actual costs by about Rs21.8 million.

The revised plan also calls for checks on projected spending for imported items, furniture, equipment and consultancy services. Authorities have been told to avoid unnecessary duplication of facilities between the existing building and the proposed new blocks, and to examine whether some needs can be met through existing government resources or contractors.

The project includes four vehicles at an estimated cost of about Rs35.8 million, comprising two hybrid cars, one van and an electric cart. Thirteen project-related positions have also been approved, while officials have stressed that structural stability and long-term preservation of the museum building must remain central throughout implementation.

The latest approval points to a wider attempt to modernise visitor facilities while protecting the museum's historic structure. With completion scheduled for June 2030, the next steps include required no-objection certificates, UNESCO-related consultation, expenditure reviews and detailed implementation planning before major restoration and upgradation work proceeds.