November 09, 2007	Friday	Shawwal 27, 1428

SIALKOT, Nov 8: The Sialkot district government has repaired the cracked walls of 147-year-old Iqbal Manzil, the birth place of Allama Iqbal. Iqbal Manzil has now been electrified and an alternative power supply system installed there to provide uninterrupted electricity to the building.

Cracks appeared several years ago in almost all the walls of the building. Now the walls have been repaired and whitewashed, decade-old curtains replaced and the second storey of the three-storeyed building has been carpeted.

After the renovation, over 200 people visit the ancient place every day. Earlier, the number of visitors was limited to a few dozens as the building looked like a haunted place.

The third storey is still closed for visitors as it has not been renovated.

The Punjab government’s promise to establish an advanced research centre at Iqbal Manzil has yet to be materialised.

The management has displayed some rare pictures of Allama Iqbal, his family, teachers, class fellows and other leaders of the All India Muslim League at the building. Most of these photos hold autographs of Allama Iqbal.

A room of Iqbal Manzil houses a more than 4,000 old books, among them 2,000 are on Iqbaliyat. Officials say no funds have ever been allocated by anyone to buy the books written on Allama Iqbal. They said that all the 4,000 books have been donated by the visitors.