Lahore, February 07, 2020 (PPI-OT): Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar today visited Lahore Fort and reviewed the restoration project of Barood Khana. Director General Walled City of Lahore Authority Kamran Lashari briefed the chief minister about the project. The chief minister appreciated the project of revamping of Barood Khana. A meeting was held under the chair of chief minister in Barood Khana, which decided to take further initiatives in the light of rules and regulations framed by judiciary for establishing restaurant in royal kitchen.
The chief minister directed that next strategy for setting up of restaurant in royal kitchen would be devised according to the guidelines provided by judiciary, heritage board and UNICO. Usman Buzdar also gave approval to regularization of contract employees of WCLA. The meeting decided to expand the scope of WCLA to the whole of the province and final approval would be given by Punjab Cabinet. The meeting also gave approval of 250 new posts for WCLA and 50 percent allowance for the regular employees of the authority and summary will be sent to finance department.
The meeting also considered to give engineering and technical allowance to the engineers working in WCLA and a committee constituted under the supervision of Add. Chief Secretary will present its final recommendations within 15 days. Proposal of upgradation of the post of Tour Guide from grade 7 to grade 12 was approved in the meeting. The meeting also gave approval of notifying the committees to settle the matters of Walled City affectees. A committee was constituted under the supervision of law minister Raja Basharat, comprising all the stakeholders, for reviewing the possibility of shifting the rim market to some other place.
The committee will present its recommendations with timeline regarding shifting of rim market to another place and other allied matters within one month. Proposal of relocation of Archaeology Department’s Shahdara Complex to WCLA was also considered. Addressing the meeting the chief minister said that scope of WCLA will be expanded to every city of the province and their historic buildings will be restored in their original form which will increase the beautification of cities besides promoting tourism. Many cities of Punjab including Lahore is of historic values and can play a vital role for promoting tourism, he added. PTI government is working for the development of tourism sector on strong footings.
Chief Minister was informed during the briefing that Barood Khana was made armory during the British Raj and this building was a no go area. WCLA worked day and night for the restoration of Barood Khana in its original shape. He was further informed that all the buildings from Dehli Gate to Chowk Kotwali have been restored in their original shape. Restoration work of Bhatti Gate has been approved and soon work will be started on this project. There is need to shift rim market to another place. 115 wrecked buildings have been revamped.
Work is being carried out on the projects including Dewan-e-Khas, Shah Jahanian Khawab Kha, Moti Masjid, Alamgiri Gate, Dewan-e-Aam, Dolat Khana Khas and Akbari Haham in Lahore Fort which comprise over an area of 40 acres. Project of restoration of Mir Chakar Azam Rind’s tomb in Okara has been started.
DG Walled City of Lahore Authority Kamran Leshari gave the briefing to the meeting regarding measures taken for restoration of walled city in its actual form as well as performance of the authority. Additional Chief Secretary, Chairman Heritage Conservation Board Mian Yusaf Salauddin, DG walled City Lahore Authority Kamran Lashari, Commissioner Lahore Division, Secretary Law, Principal Secretary to CM, Secretary Local Government, Secretary Information, head of special monitoring unit and concerned authorities attended the meeting.
For more information, contact:
Directorate General Public Relations, Punjab (DGPR)
Government of the Punjab
21-Mahmood Gaznavi Road (Abbot Road), Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-99201390-1-2
Fax: +92-42-99201371-2
E-mail: info@dgpr.punjab.gov.pk
Website: www.dgpr.punjab.gov.pk