Under the spotlight: Parliamentary secretary visits Dilip Kumar’s former residence

Promises to preserve the structure for coming generations.

PESHAWAR: Parliamentary Secretary for Culture Arif Yousaf paid a visit to the house of legendary Bollywood film star of Pakistani-origin Dilip Kumar and expressed concern over the condition of the historic structure.

The parliamentary secretary visited the house in Qissa Khwani on Tuesday at the behest of the Culture Heritage Council (CHC), a civic organisation dedicated to preserving the heritage of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). Arif Yousaf was accompanied by CHC President Younas Qiyasi, General Secretary Shakeel Waheedullah Khan, Peshawar Press Club President Nasir Hussain and others.

Addressing the group during the visit, Yousaf expressed grave concern over the dilapidated condition of the house. “I do not know why such a historic house was not preserved for the new generation of Pakistan in general and the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Peshawar in particular.”

He said the province had produced a lot of legends who won laurels for their great performance on the soil of others, adding these people had now become part of K-P’s history.

Yousaf said he would discuss the matter of preserving the house with senior officials and the chief minister on priority basis.

“Dilip Kumar’s house will be preserved at any cost because it is an asset for the province,” he promised.

CHC president and general secretary demanded the parliamentary secretary to not only purchase the house, but also protect it under the Antiquity Act, 1997. They hoped the house will be preserved by the government and a ‘symbolic key’ presented to Dilip Kumar as a gift from Peshawarites on his upcoming birthday on December 11.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2013.