It seems that practicing good judgement is a quality that rarely comes with the governance package in our country. The decision of the Punjab government (PML-N) to discontinue the famous Gawalmandi Food Street was an ill-advised move on their part and is seen as their attempt to undo an initiative of their antecedent and rival party, the PML-Q. The Gawalmandi Food Street was famous for its traditional Pakistani food amidst a historical and old-fashioned setting in Lahore’s inner city. It invited food lovers from all walks of life and was a unique tourist attraction for all those seeking an enjoyable outdoors dining experience. Gawalmandi, known for its cultural significance, had raised the profile of Lahore all over the world. Due to the immense popularity of the previous food street with the locals and outsiders, the City District Government of Lahore (CDGL) has announced the launch of a new food street at the rear of the Badshahi Mosque. However, this initiative has incurred the disapproval of the imam (prayer leader) of the mosque, Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad, who has claimed that the green belt on the land adjacent to the mosque, where there is to be seating arrangement for visitors, belongs to the mosque and therefore this usage would be illegal. While the green belt issue may be a disputable one in this whole development, the government must hold talks with the imam and try to reach an agreement that is acceptable to both the sides, as per the proper standard procedure. Besides the above-mentioned reason for opposing the venture, the imam also said that the construction of the food street would trigger un-Islamic activities in the area. How exactly does a street set up for the sole purpose of providing food be thought to elicit un-Islamic activity? Such an argument is not only nonsensical but startling. Where these clerics gather the intellect to relate a food street to Islam is anyone’s guess. It is hoped that in due time the imam will realise that a ‘food’ street is no threat to Islam and the mosque. Nevertheless, in order to pursue this worthy project, the government must discuss the matter with the imam and the mosque officials and ensure that they are on board with the decision to use the green belt as part of the food street before the launch of this venture. Also, parking arrangements must be made so as to not disrupt the flow of traffic and cause inconvenience to visitors who will have to find parking spots at a distance from the food street, which could ruin their otherwise enjoyable experience. *