Walled City project to be launched next week

Historic gates, jewellery market and old restaurant will be restored in the first phase

MULTAN: Multan city district administration in collaboration with the Italian government is initiating the Walled City project ‘to preserve the centuries old civilization of the area’. All historical gates in the city, the historic gold jewellery market and old restaurants and hotels will be restored in the first phase. The formal launch of the project will be next week. This was stated by Multan DCO Nadir Chattha on Tuesday.

He was speaking at a seminar on the Walled City project at the circuit house on Tuesday.



The Multan DCO said Italian government had agreed to provide Rs110 million for restoration of the Clock Tower. He said the agreement was an outcome of concerted efforts by the district administration.

The DCO said the project would help boost tourism as new parks and recreational places would also be built under the project after complete restoration of Haram Gate, he added.

Chattha dismissed the impression that the project would harm business. He said restoration work would in fact boost business activity. He requested the traders and the general public to cooperate with the district government to make the project a success.



Speaking at the seminar, MPA Ahsanuddin Qureshi said many buildings in the Old City were in a dilapidated condition and needed immediate repairs. He said the project would help restore the city to its original form. He said he hoped Multan would soon become a hub for tourism.

MPA Rana Mahmoodul Hassan said no people could make progress by ignoring their values and traditions. “The decision of restoration of the Walled City of Multan is a welcome development,” he said.

Architect Khalid Chohan, Women University Vice Chancellor Shahida Husnain, Dr Azmat Naz, and Hassan Siddique also addressed the seminar.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2016.