MULTAN, Nov 9: Restoration work on the centuries-old shrine of Hazrat Lal Esan in Karor Lal Esan tehsil, Layyah district, will be completed in December, Dawn has learnt.

The shrine has been protected as special premises under the provision of the Punjab Special Premises (Preservation) Ordinance, 1985, and is under the control of the Auqaf Department.

According to Malik Ghulam Muhammad, in-charge of the Archeology Department, Multan, the Rs4.5 million project, started in March 2012, was scheduled to be completed in March 2013 but preparation of glazed tiles delayed it.

“Preparation of glazed tiles was a sensitive process as fading colours and deshaping of the tiles during the baking was common,” he said, adding the tiles had been prepared and the process of installing them would end in December.

Ghulam Muhammad said the decayed glazed lime plaster (Pucca Qali) of outer walls of the first storey was redone besides removing a modern dado in mosaic on western side on the exterior that was giving a very odd and awkward look.

He said the chipped off decorative glazed tiles on the northern wall and second storey of the shrine had been replaced with new ones, adding many other portions of the shrine had been renovated.

Poet Aslam Javed said Hazrat Lal Esan belonged to Suharwardiah school of thought and his real name was Sheikh Yousaf who, according to the myth, recited Sura Yaseen 10 million time while standing on foot in the Indus to avert the flood that was a threat to the town.

He said although the exact death date of the saint could not be pinpointed, however possibly he was died in 1430AD, while the shrine was constructed by Nawab Ghazi Khan Mirani.