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Here’s a thread on #Walton Aerodrome and why it should be preserved as it is.
This is not going to be a pitch for a big Central Park style space, because the area already has mature green-cover, along with deep history attached to it.
This is not going to be a pitch for a big Central Park style space, because the area already has mature green-cover, along with deep history attached to it.
1. Walton was established as the first Private airstrip in Punjab in 1930. Enthusiasts established the Punjab (North India) Flying Club. An area of 158 Acres of Kot Lakhpat rakh forest and Bhabara pind was allotted. It was known as the “Green Runway” because of trees around it.
2. It did not serve as an Official Airport, until the Govt of Punjab transferred 260 Acres more to the Aviation Division of Govt of India (pre-partition). The Govt decided to establish the Walton Aerodrome. Which further saw Royal Air Force deployment because of WWII.
3. It so happens that the first time Quaid-i-Azam MA Jinnah stepped foot in Lahore of an independent Pakistan it was at the Walton Aerodrome, where he flew to from Karachi.
4. He would make more journeys to Walton because the Airport was set to become the largest Refugee Camp in West Punjab. The underwhelming Bab-i-Pakistan monument marks it. One desires it be a more remarkable.
Here Jinnah tours the Camp with Muslim League and Civil Servants.
Here Jinnah tours the Camp with Muslim League and Civil Servants.
5. The Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP) published rare photos from the collection of Faustin Elmer “Chacha” Chaudary, a famous Punjabi Christian photographer of the time who followed Muslim League and the Independence Movement closely.
(TRIGGER WARNING) https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/1947-through-the-looking-lens-the-citizens-archive-of-pakistan/TQIiIj3VI7yzJA
(TRIGGER WARNING) https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/1947-through-the-looking-lens-the-citizens-archive-of-pakistan/TQIiIj3VI7yzJA
6. This is a piece of Pakistan’s history, which I’d rather only be preserved.
The lease granted to Aviation Division, Govt of India, was for 50 years (expiring in 1985). It was inherited by Govt of Pak, but it never paid a penny to GoPB.
https://www.caapakistan.com.pk/timeline/waltan/timeline-waltan.aspx
The lease granted to Aviation Division, Govt of India, was for 50 years (expiring in 1985). It was inherited by Govt of Pak, but it never paid a penny to GoPB.
https://www.caapakistan.com.pk/timeline/waltan/timeline-waltan.aspx
7. Further, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was established in 1982, so it only inherited the lease 3 years before its expiry. By 1962, new Lahore Airport Terminal was also getting ready, so Walton was largely left for PAF, Army Aviation and Lahore Flying Club.
8. Like other cities, this part of Lahore saw unscrupulous allotments for Private Housing, but through institutions of the Military. Walton’s total landholding was 696 Acres (281 owned and 415 leased). In 1999, CAA has 200 Acres in possession, when it settled GoPb Lease payments.
9. Since 1970s, Army Directorate of Housing acquired 168 Acres where it established Askari Villas; PAF also acquired 168 Acres and established the Falcon Complex; and Navy acquired 26 Acres for Navy War College. The GoPB BoR also made erroneous allotments causing disputes.
10. Now comes of the question of current CAA land, of which about 70% is leased from GoPB, which the latter revoked in 2008. The other 30% has various claimants. But in 1997, then PM Nawaz Sharif made a decision to only use area for Aviation purposes, hence it stayed in place.
11. Now comes this tweet. 22 Acres mentioned here as “Qabza” are pointed at the Plant Nurseries. Notwithstanding the fact that the owner of the nursery had been paying rent to CAA: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2283305/walton-airport-may-give-way-to-business-hub
This tweet is in quotes so that he can later claim an official said this. https://twitter.com/mashwaniazhar/status/1359446921312616448
This tweet is in quotes so that he can later claim an official said this. https://twitter.com/mashwaniazhar/status/1359446921312616448
12. Now the 22 Acres has been singled-out at the moment because of the arbitrary dealings between CAA and GoPb, and the Nursery being an easy target. 22 Acres includes 9,000 trees which are going to be lost as well. But 22 Acres is the smallest part here, as detailed above.
13. The whole of Walton is under threat. Flying Clubs have been served notices to vacate as well, who have no place to go because AIIAP can’t accommodate so many private flights. That’s the bigger part of Walton, with no alleged Qabza, not mentioned, but in line to be devil-oped.
14. Of course, all this has happened before and was resisted before as well.
The same CBD was in previous govt’s dreams too in 2008 and 2014. Some reports below.
https://nation.com.pk/13-Jun-2014/bureaucracy-set-for-walton-airport-selloff
https://www.dawn.com/news/1122123
The same CBD was in previous govt’s dreams too in 2008 and 2014. Some reports below.
https://nation.com.pk/13-Jun-2014/bureaucracy-set-for-walton-airport-selloff
https://www.dawn.com/news/1122123
15. What is far more egregious is that all of this is being done to satisfy a Builder who had planned on constructing an elite High-rise for the super rich across Qaddafi stadium, and LDA agreed to lease the land without obtaining CAA NOC in 2008. https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/154289-goodbye-walton
16. The aim is to reassess Land lease, make it more expensive, to suck out more revenue, in billions, so anything “low-cost” is completely out of the question.
At the same time, after nurseries and Aerodrome is gone, the land will be fair game for existing claimants and new.
At the same time, after nurseries and Aerodrome is gone, the land will be fair game for existing claimants and new.
17. This destruction is happening in as Green-washing where new plantations are planned as 10000s of old, mature trees are cut.
This is why this #Walton, as it exists, both green-space and a Heritage site linked with the memory of Pakistan’s Independence has to be preserved.
This is why this #Walton, as it exists, both green-space and a Heritage site linked with the memory of Pakistan’s Independence has to be preserved.
Of the 696 Acres historic land, this is an assessment based on latest Sat-imagery of 650 Acres. Mature vegetation is spread over 503 Acres. It’s not a question of nurseries alone. Lahore’s green-cover has continued to fall since 2018 so about time the Green-washing is called out. https://twitter.com/thelahorewala/status/1358792639143936004
