Govt approves Rs30m to restore historic Multan site

Monument’s interior has been damaged considerably by smoke from mustard oil lamps

MULTAN: The Punjab Archaeology Department has sent a Rs30 million proposal to the authorities concerned for conservation and restoration of the 5 centuries old mausoleum of Hazrat Shah Ali Akbar, situated at Suraj Miani in Multan on Monday.

The in-charge of Archaeology Department Multan Malik Ghulam Muhammad said, "The saint is a descendent of Hazrat Shamsuddin Sabzwari and the mausoleum was built in 1585." Located at Suraj Miani (Kabuli Mohallah) in Multan city's suburbs, the tomb of Hazrat Ali Akbar is a smaller version of the tomb of Hazrat Shah Rukn-e-Alam.

It shares architectural features with the mausoleum of Hazrat Shah Rukn-e-Alam which includes an octagonal plan, three storeys and tapering angle buttresses crowned by turrets. Its walls are also decorated with brick designs and tile work. The monument is an example of fine cut and dressed work with the combination of Multani glazed kashi tiles.

The interior of the monument has been damaged considerably by the smoke of mustard oil lamps and the candles' smoke has spoiled the fresco painting or Naqashi work and the lime plaster. Glazed tiles on its exterior were also found chipped off and missing and needed restoration while salt affected brick work also needed restoration.

The openings are provided with modern metallic grilles which needed to be replaced by terracotta 'Jali'. Some of the openings in the second storey have lost their wooden grilles and are now blocked with brick work. The walls have horizontal wooden beam courses. In faience embellishment and tile inscription, this tomb is richer than the tomb of Rukn-i-Alam, as mentioned in the report sent to Punjab Archaeology Department.

Internally, there are original specimens of Naqashi though all in very precarious positions and some of the rarest examples are Arabic designs in relief which can be seen in the interior walls. The floor of the tomb is laid in bricks on edge but in the entrance large square tiles with glazed designs have been laid.

The platform on which rests the edifice has been plastered with cement. In close vicinity are Mosque of Ali Akbar and Tomb of Ali Akbar’s mother. The latter is in a more precarious condition. The plan proposes underpinning with fine dressed brick masonry at the salt affected parts of walls, providing and fixing wooden 'jaalis' of Shisham wood, restoration of old wood doors, providing and inserting Sisham wood beams in brick masonry, application of lime plaster on exterior and interior of dome, restoration of Fresco work, Stucco tracery work, glazed kashi tile work, upgradation of platform and graves, brick flooring, and electrification of tomb.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2019.