Restoration: The lost grandeur of Gumti

FAISALABAD: The Gumti has been renovated and its fountain repaired under Sohna Lyallpur project – a development that has lifted the mood of many in Punjab’s textile capital. Built in the early 19th century, the Gumti sits on a busy downtown junction facing Qaiseri Gate. The Gumti and the gate are located on Railway Road, which has a large market of bathroom accessories. During the colonial days, the Gumti served as a meeting place. The Gumti has been renovated by Lyallpur Heritage Foundation, a body formed by District Coordination Officer Noorul Amin Mengal to take care of historical buildings. The foundation is working on a dozen sites. “Gumti was always a landmark,” said Iqbal Haidar, a citizen. “The Gumti sits on the middle of a chowk from where four routes emerge – one leading to the railway station, one to Aminpur Bazaar via Katchery Chowk, one to Chiniot and one to Factory Area,” he said. He regretted that the monument had been neglected in the past. “I am happy to see its beauty restored,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16^th, 2014.