RAWALPINDI, Feb 28: Renovation work on Saint Paul’s Church is in progress as it completes 100 years of its existence. The church is the second oldest in Rawalpindi after Christ Church which was built 150 years ago.

Former federal minister for minorities and culture S. K. Tressler, who is the patron of the Church Committee, told Dawn that the decaying bricks of the church’s outer portion had been replaced with grey tiles.

Engineers and experts were also repairing the cracks that had developed in the structure of the church.

Mr Tressler said the government had allocated Rs2 million for the renovation work and hoped that an additional amount would also be provided for the renovation of the building’s interior.

A number of plants had grown on the roof of the church which were weeded out.

He said the most difficult phase was the renovation of the church’s tower, where bricks were reinforced through beams and iron to preserve its original grandeur.