RAWALPINDI: After three years, the district administration has moved to launch work on the restoration of Sujan Singh Haveli and improvement of Bhabra Bazaar Food Street in the current fiscal year.

Former commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood had started work on the conservation of the historical Sujan Singh Haveli and establishment of a food street in Bhabra Bazaar. However, after his transfer over the Rawalpindi Ring Road project scam, the projects were put in cold storage.

On Monday, Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) Director General Kamran Lashari visited Sujan Singh, Bagh Sardaran Gurdwara and Bhabra Bazaar along with Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema, Assistant Commissioner City Hakim Khan and others.

Mr Lashari said there was a dire need to restore the old buildings in the garrison city to present the local culture to visitors from abroad and other parts of the country.

District admin also decides to start work on improvement of Bhabra Bazaar food street

He gave suggestions to the district administration officials for the restoration of the old buildings. The district administration officials said they wanted to improve the condition of the historical buildings and bazaars to attract tourists and restore the culture of Potohar region.

It may be mentioned that in 2021 the PC-I was approved for the restoration of Sujan Singh Haveli. Funds for the project were to be provided by Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC).

According to a plan, the one-kilometre-long Bhabra Bazaar Food Street was to be restored in the form of the street that existed in 1857. The exteriors of the surrounding old houses would also be restored to the old styles. Moreover, electricity, telephone and other utility cables would be laid underground.

However, after the Ring Road project scam, the former PTI government started seeing all schemes launched by the then commissioner Rawalpindi with suspicion and halted the work. The project was to be executed by the WCLA and the RMC was to facilitate and provide funds for it.

A senior official of the district administration said the WCLA had agreed to start work and completed an initial survey of the area.

Sujan Singh Haveli is a historic building in Rawalpindi which has been neglected. The 134-year-old four-storey building located in the narrow streets was constructed by Sikh political figure Sardar Sujan Singh in 1890. It is a fine specimen of brick masonry, facing the street with a front verandah and a central entrance. The building has a majestic woodwork over its doors and windows. It has English tiles and Kashmiri wood carving in all its 45 massive rooms.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2024