ZIARAT: The reconstructed Quaid-i-Azam Residency is likely to be inaugurated on August 14.

This was stated by the Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Balochistan, Ali Zaheer Hazara, during a media briefing here on Tuesday.

He said 40 per cent work on the damaged residency had been completed and it would be ready in its original shape for inauguration by August 14. President Mamnoon Hussain or Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would inaugurate it, he added.

Ali Zaheer said after destruction of the residency in a bomb attack by militants on June 15 last year, the federal government and several donors offered to reconstruct it, but the Balochistan government decided to do the job from its own resources.

“Ziarat residency is our national asset and monument,” he said.

The project will be completed at a cost of Rs140 million.

Abdul Jabbar Khan, Technical Adviser of Communications and Works Department and Member, Execution Committee on Quaid-i-Azam Residency, said that wooden structure of the residency was gutted completely in the explosion, but some material, including stones used in the walls and metals tubs and others articles were useable.

“We want to restore the residency to its original shape and construction work is going on in full swing,” he said.

He said wood work would cover 7,000 square feet area of 8,000 square feet building. Diaal, Teak and some other precious wood was being used. Renowned architect Nayyar Ali Dada had redesigned the residency and carried out decoding of the damaged building, he added.

Mr Khan said the execution committee faced some problems because masons and labourers did not know the art and techniques used in the original building.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2014.