NEW DELHI, Nov 29 — The historic city of Lahore, which was the capital of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s kingdom, will recall its glorious past during the bicentenary celebrations of the Sher-e-Punjab.

“The Pakistan government has in principle agreed to the celebrations in Lahore. The modalities on the kind of functions to be held are being worked out,” Mr Tarlochan Singh, the vice-chairman of the National Commission for Minorities and member of the bicentenary celebrations organising committee told The Tribune.

He said the descendants of the family of Fakiruddin Aziz, who was the finance and foreign minister of Ranjit Singh, had set up a museum highlighting the achievements of the Maharaja in their own house in Lahore and some localities in the city still bore the names given two centuries ago.

The descendants of Aziz’s family would visit India during the celebrations which would begin on April 12, 2001, with Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee inaugurating a seminar in the Capital to mark the occasion.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh was coronated on April 12, 1801 and he ruled the sovereign kingdom of Punjab till 1839.

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha member Kuldip Nayyar said the Indian Government should ask the British Government to return the Kohinoor diamond.

The year-long celebrations, which are estimated to cost Rs 1.6 crore, include the installation of the Maharaja’s 18-feet equestrian statue in bronze in Parliament for which the Lok Sabha Speaker has already given the sanction.

A commemorative stamp will be released and a light and sound show on the life of the Maharaja will be organised and it will travel to all important towns of India, Pakistan, the UK and Thailand.