Colonial-era buildings crumbling
Ruins is all what remains of the rest houses and police outposts built in the region during British rule. Photos: express
Government bungalows, rest houses and police outposts built in the region during British rule are in a dilapidated condition due to the government's inattention.
Local people say in addition to preserving the heritage, the buildings may also be used that maintenance of the buildings would not only contribute to preserving the heritage of the area but the premises may also be turned into schools, colleges and hospitals after repair.
Hundreds of thousands of rupees in revenue can be collected by repairing the old rest houses and building new ones in Soan valley. An archaeologist, Zahid Malik, told The Express Tribune about the historical background of the bungalows. In 1865, Sargal, District Board and Civil rest houses were built in Khushab district.
Later, the DSP Bungalow in Noorpur Thal, Civil Rest House Groot, District Board Rest House Matha Twana, Saraikand and Saraikatwai, Civil Rest House Sodhi Jaiwali and Kabiki, Nowshera Police Station, Deputy Commissioner's Rest House, Phulwari Police Post and Matha Twana Police Station were constructed.
Most of the buildings built under the British rule in Khushab district were constructed between 1862 and 1867 when Captain Davis was the deputy commissioner and revenue collector of Shahpur district. At that time, Shahpur district included Khushab and Sargodha. The buildings and roads constructed during the period are exemplary, the expert said. The next deputy commissioner, Colonel H Dyer, built a check post and a bungalow at Burj Mehra in 1874. The same year, a bungalow was also built for the assistant commissioner in Jabi.
All the buildings had ample facilities comparable even with modern standards.
Muhammad Akbar, a local resident, said that even after 150 years, the bungalows and other government buildings are still in use.
Only the buildings that were not in use or neglected by the government have decayed. If schools, colleges and hospitals are set up in the unused buildings, they will become beneficial for the people, Akbar said.
He said the region's heritage could also be preserved if the government opens museums and other sites of public attraction with the help of local people.
Khushab DPO Muhammad Naveed told The Express Tribune that the buildings of Noorpur Thal, Nowshera and Matha Twana police stations were built during the British rule. Noorpur and Matha Twana police station have now shifted to new buildings.
Read More: Residents told to evacuate dilapidated buildings
"I wish that a museum be set up in the old building of Noorpur police station, in which antiquities related to police and pictures of martyrs should be displayed to create awareness about the sacrifices of the police," he said, adding that the suggestion had been sent to the higher authorities.
A resident of the valley, Malik Khawar Awan, said the Sodhi, Kanhati Garden, Nowshera and Phulwari rest houses were still an important source of revenue for the government, while funds are needed to maintain the Nowshera police station and Sakesar post.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2021.