Restoration work on the historic Haveli Sujan Sigh, built in 1890 in the heart of Rawalpindi’s most densely populated Bhabra Bazaar, and consisting of seven gurdwaras and a temple could not be started as the Punjab government did not release the funds approved for the restoration project.
The 130-year-old Haveli Sujan Singh, a cultural heritage site, has been in a dilapidated condition due to a lack of maintenance and upkeep.
In 2020, former Rawalpindi commissioner Muhammad Mahmood had gotten approval from the Punjab government to restore the historical mansion for Rs400 million. However, the Punjab government did not release the required and approved funds.
The heritage structure was built by Sardar Rai Bahadur Sujan Singh, a wealthy merchant 131 years ago. Its foundation stone was laid in 1890 and was completed in three years. The 24,000-square feet building has four storeys and 45 rooms. Four of its large halls have Victorian-style furniture. But due to a lack of proper maintenance, this very important cultural heritage is almost on the verge of collapse.
The restoration of a temple and seven gurdwaras was also part of the project. Under the plan, streets of the inner Bhabra Bazaar and balconies of all ancient buildings were to be painted.
Under the plan, a library was to be set up on the ground floor and a cafe on the top floor where tourists could sit and know about the history of the mansion.
Under the restoration plan, electricity poles, telephones and other wires installed in the streets near the Haveli were to be restored and a museum was to be set up on the second floor of the mansion. The museum would house antiquities from the British and Sikh periods.
Sources said that despite the approval of the project, the Punjab government did not release the funds.
The Haveli Sujan Singh belonged to a Sikh family that left for India after the partition. The family's other property was a royal palace on Mall Road, which now houses Fatima Jinnah Women's University.
Prior to this, a plan to make the Badshahi Mahal on Mall Roa, another Sikh family property, a campus of the Fatima Jinnah University was also under consideration but it could not be implemented.
The mansion is a masterpiece of British-era architecture and is a sight to behold. The purpose of opening this mansion for tourists was not only to preserve the cultural heritage and introduce it to the next generation but also to promote the Pothohar culture.
Sources said that despite the approval of the project, the Rawalpindi administration did not get the required funds to start work on the project. The project has been constantly delayed due to the non-availability of funds.
The British-era architecture of the mansion is worth seeing. The balconies of the mansion have wooden arches and doors.
The Rawalpindi district administration said that the Punjab government is attaching great importance to historical buildings, whose protection will also be ensured.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 8th, 2022.
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