April 21, 2008	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 14, 1429

SIALKOT, April 20: The repair work of the dilapidated Iqbal Manzil, the birthplace of poet-philosopher Allama Muhammad Iqbal, has abruptly been come to a halt.

It is learnt that the former provincial government had started the work with the repair of outer walls of Iqbal Manzil in November last year. Before launching the renovation project, a detailed survey was conducted under the supervision of senior architects and engineers. The main aim was to preserve this national heritage in its original shape.

Sources said though only Rs0.5 million were required for the renovation of the 145-year-old Iqbal Manzil, neither the provincial nor the district governments have allocated even a single penny for preserving this national heritage.

While the Sialkot business community has also failed to honour its commitment in relation to bearing all renovation expenditures of Iqbal Manzil.

Meanwhile, the death anniversary of the poet of the East will be observed with solemnity here on Monday (today).

Quran Khwani will also be held at the Iqbal Manzil.

The people will lay floral wreaths at the graves of Allama Iqbal’s parents at the Imam Sahib graveyard.