JARANWALA:
In an effort to preserving Faisalabad’s rich heritage, the Walled City Authority of Lahore is currently engaged in the rehabilitation of five pre-partition heritage buildings.
Under the banner of “Attractive Faisalabad,” the initiative is receiving substantial financial backing, totalling Rs279 million, from the Punjab Government.
Architects Azeem Dad Khan, Muhammad Ayaz Siddique, and Ahsan Mahmood, representing the Walled City Authority, shared these developments in a meeting chaired by Abdullah Nayyer Sheikh, Deputy Commissioner Faisalabad.
The meeting, attended by various district administration officers, emphasized the urgency of completing the restoration work on key buildings—Allama Iqbal Library (formerly Coronation Library), District Council, Ghumti, Qaisari Gate, and Gora Graveyard—by June 2024.
Superintendent Ahsan Mahmood disclosed that the Punjab Government has disbursed Rs130 million for the rehabilitation of historical buildings, with the remaining funds expected soon.
Additionally, maintenance, repairs, and other essential works on the Clock Tower and the mausoleum of Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal are in the pipeline, pending release of funds from the government.
Ahsan Mahmood further clarified that the Haveli of Bhagat Singh has not been included in the current initiative, as charitable organizations have already provided substantial funds to preserve this historic site.
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The targeted buildings, constructed between 1890 and 1905 during the levelling of Sandal Bar (old Lyallpur) by the British colonisation regime, hold significant historical value.
Speaking anonymously, a District Government official acknowledged the challenge of insufficient funds for local government to undertake heritage rehabilitation.
The expansion of the Walled City Authority’s jurisdiction to encompass the entire province of Punjab has facilitated the adoption of these old buildings for preservation, contributing to the safeguarding of Sandal Bar’s rich history.
With the impending initiation of the rehabilitation work on the Clock Tower and its surroundings, optimism is high that Faisalabad will transform into a thriving tourism hub, stimulating local revenue generation.
The Walled City Authority’s ambitious endeavour aims not only to restore architectural gems but also to showcase Faisalabad’s cultural legacy to a wider audience.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2023.
