Historic buildings to get facelift

Lahore, three other cities selected for Rs2 billon project

LAHORE:

The Punjab government has started work on a Rs2 billion project to renovate dilapidated buildings in Lahore and four other districts of the province.

Millions of rupees have reportedly been released for the Dilkash Lahore scheme to give the city an attractive look. Officials said other districts would also start receiving the funds soon, but a new city was likely to be added in place of Muridke.

Provincial Local Government Secretary Dr Naeem Rauf told The Express Tribune that the historic buildings in Lahore and other districts would be restored to their original form and the culture of Punjab would also be highlighted.

Construction and renovation work at shrines in Multan will be done by the Auqaf department, in Bahawalpur by the metropolitan corporation and Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) after release of funds by the finance department.

Funds for beautification of the cities will be released in phases.

Plans have been made by the Punjab government to restore the dilapidated old buildings in different districts to restore them to their original condition so that the beauty of the cities may attract foreign tourists along with visitors from the country.

Several government entitiess, including the Auqaf and local government departments, metropolitan corporation and PHAs, have been involved to complete the project.

Lahore, Bahawalpur, Multan, Faisalabad and Muridke have been included in the project in the initial phase.

Sources said former secretary Noorul Amin Mengal had assigned responsibilities to all the departments to complete the project and completed the survey and cost estimates. Now the construction work is set to begin.

Under the scheme to make Lahore attractive, all the buildings from GPO Chowk to Charing Cross will be restored to their original condition so that The Mall road can be made more beautiful.

Estimates have been sought from various firms for the restoration of the buildings, which reportedly amount to Rs500 million.

On the directives of Punjab government, the finance department has initially released Rs500 million for the project in Lahore and the work is likely to begin soon.

Similarly, Rs287.5 million will be spent for the rehabilitation of buildings in Faisalabad.

The Clock Tower will be repaired and arrangements will be made to protect it from rainwater. Repair of the Tehsil Council Office, Allama Iqbal Library, Gumti Fountain, maintenance of Qaisari Gate and Gora Qabristan ate also planned.

The Eid Gah and historic buildings of Bahawalpur will be renovated by the Auqaf department, a fountain and art and craft bazaar in Uch Sharif will be repaired by the metropolitan corporation, while the PHA will construct a theme park at a cost of Rs300 million.

An art gallery in Multan will be renovated by the local government. The Auqaf department will carry out repair of mausoleums at an estimated cost of Rs297 million.

Read: "MCL to liven Lahore up"

A cost of Rs600 million has been estimated for beautification of historic buildings in Muridke tehsil.

However, sources in the relevant departments say Muridke is likely to be removed from the project and its replacement by some other city is under consideration.

The estimates of expenses on the project has been approved by the departments concerned and the release of funds has started.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2022.