Rung Do Multan aims to inspire environment, mood

Under the campaign, over 300 historical buildings will be painted in colourful themes

MULTAN: The old and historical city of Multan has started presenting a colourful look since ‘Rang Do Multan’ campaign, an Italy-funded project, kicked off and painted the oldest walled city buildings in eye-catching rainbow colours.

"One of the key objectives behind ‘Rang Do Multan’ campaign is to revive the centuries old Bethak culture when people used to sit in circles to discuss issues of mutual interest. The socialisation of youth is another objective to make them aware of ancient history and culture,” Multan Deputy Commissioner Nadir Chattha noted.

“Rang Do Multan is a part of project Urban Regeneration and has been designed to attract visitors with aesthetic sense through paints. It could also contribute in the process of urban regeneration and urbanisation to boost socialisation and tourism,” he said.



Haram Gate Square is located on Circular Road and it is one of the ancient gates when the city was limited in the walled area, hundreds of years back.

Zeeshan, a resident of Ghantha Ghar, said everything looks different and enchanting in the area. “Historical buildings in the area painted in colourful shades, promote ancient cultural heritage in the area,” he remarked.

Rang Do Multan Project Manager Dr Hassan Siddiqui said over 300-400 buildings would be painted around Haram Gate Square, Ghantha Ghar and the walled city. An amount of Rs5 million has been allocated for the completion of the project. The walled city residents say colour of buildings deeply affect human lives, improve working environment and also its impacts are reflected in manmade architectural environment.



“The Rang Do campaign has changed our environment by reducing depression, bringing happiness and enhancing business activity,” Shabir Qureshi, a citizen said. He runs a butcher shop in the walled city.

The campaign ‘Rang Do Multan’ has focused old buildings across the historical Haram Gate Square, Ghantha Ghar Square and Damdama resort in the city. The campaign has magnified the historical importance of Multan, attracting thousands of tourists. After new and colourful themes, the historical monuments and buildings have become distinct and visible.

Citizens have welcomed ‘Rang Do Multan’ and said the campaign has changed the look of the old and densely populated residential areas in the walled city.

“We feel happy as colourful exteriors of buildings present quite a new and different look and the tourists are really inspired with the work in different colours and designs,” Wasif Butt, a businessman said.

Colours have significant impact on human psychology, culture and life. The colourful environment has influenced work performance, moods and emotions. Medical physicians say colours play key role in motivating brain on subjective and objective basis of environment.

“The environment and its colours always play an important role in revolutionary process of human brain. The brain receives environment and its colours, process and judges what it perceives on an objective and subjective basis,” Dr Imran, a senior physician at Multan Nishtar Hospital said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2017.