Bids for conservation of tomb to open on November 18

Dept officials hope execution of project begins in December

MULTAN: The Punjab Archaeology Department will open bids from contractors, on November 18, for the conservation of the five-century-old mausoleum of Hazrat Shah Ali Akbar in Suraj Miani, Multan. The Rs27.104 million project entered the tender stage after its technical sanction and officials hoped its execution may begin sometime in December 2019. However, it is to recommendations of the tender committee and approval from the Punjab Archaeology director general.

Hazrat Shah Ali Akbar was 8th in line as a descendant of Hazrat Shamsuddin Sabzwari and the mausoleum was built in 1585, Multan Archaeology Department In-charge Malik Ghulam Muhammad told APP on Monday.

Govt approves Rs30m to restore historic Multan site

Located at Suraj Miani, also known as 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 the appearance and architectural features with the mausoleum of Hazrat Shah Rukn-e-Alam which included an octagonal plan, 3-storey and tapering angle buttresses crowned by turrets. The walls of the mausoleum 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.

The plan proposes underpinning with fine dressed brick masonry at the salt affected parts of walls, providing and fixing wooden 'jaali' of sheesham wood, inserting sheesham wood  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, November 5^th, 2019.