Heeramandi is the latest rage after the series of the same name was released on the internet. The show had some big names and it was entirely inaccurate historically. It still was able to captivate fans and was the most searched Netflix series in Pakistan as well. It also started a lot of conversations about the Heeramandi and red light area culture of Lahore.
Yousaf Salahuddin is a prominent figure of Pakistan who has worked on the culture of Punjab and he owns the iconic Haveli Barood Khana. He has seen the real Heeramandi in the 80s and shaed that the dancers were professional dancers and not prostitutes. Prostitutes live in a separate street and people nowdays unfortunately mix the two.
Talking to Aamna Haider Isani, he went on to share that since General Zia ul Haq clamped down on Shahi Mohalla, it had a net negative effect. Today Heeramandi does exist but in DHA. He added that most of the ill-gotten wealth is in DHA and that is where Heeramandi exists now. It cannot be stopped and spread throughout the city due to unplanned clampdown by the government.
Here is what Yousaf Salahuddin shared about today’s Heeramandi:
