LAHORE: The first-ever clock tower, constructed after 1947, was inaugurated here at Mozang intersection on Thursday. Punjab minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman inaugurated the tower.

The 55-foot tall tower has been constructed by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) at a cost of Rs14m in three and half months, officials said.

“All the clock towers across Pakistan were constructed during the British era before the Partition, hence Lahore clock tower is the first one constructed after 1947,” a PHA spokesman claimed.

Talking about the features of the project, he said the tower was visible to everyone from all the four sides of the intersection and the people travelling in metro bus. He claimed the project was not a replica of any clock tower in the world and that it had been designed on the pattern of Mughal architecture.

“The clock installed in the tower is also a unique one because it was made locally. It will ring bells after every hour. People within a half kilometre radius will easily hear and know the time,” he explained.

The spokesman said the PHA had also completed horticulture work at the ground along the tower and deputed three security guards in three shifts to protect the premises.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2014