Preserving heritage: Multan Walled City Project starts

DCO says it will bring more business to the area

MULTAN: The Walled City Project in Multan, estimated to cost Rs250 million, was inaugurated at Haram Gate Chowk on Monday. The project aims to restore the historic downtown area of the Old Multan city.

DCO Nadir Chattha and MPA Ahsanuddin Qureshi inaugurated the project. Chairmen of various union councils, civil society members and traders attended the ceremony.

Chattha said the Walled City Project had been launched in collaboration with the Government of Italy. He said the project would be completed in six months.

The DCO said the Walled City Project aimed to preserve the centuries-old civilisation. It will be completed in three phases, he said.

In the first phase, Haram Gate, Jewellers’ Market, the old hotels and passenger homes will be redesigned and renovated by research and design teams. In the second phase of the project, they will be reconstructed.

The DCO said that the government of Italy had promised Rs110 million for the restoration of the Multan Clock Tower.

The Walled City Project will help boost tourism in Multan, he said. “We are also looking into proposals for building parks and places for recreation after the restoration of Haram Gate,” said the DCO.

Chattha said no businesses will be adversely affected by the project. “In fact it will bring more business to this area,” he said.

The DCO promised the residents and traders of the area that he would renovate the downtown area during his tenure. He requested the traders and citizens to cooperate with the district government to ensure smooth completion of the project.

MPA Ahsanuddin Qureshi said many old buildings in the Old City were in a dilapidated condition. “This project will help in the restoration of the city. The tourism industry will also benefit from it.”

He said the project would help put Multan on the map.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2016.