FAISALABAD: As many as 45 historical buildings, including those in the villages of Bhagat Singh, Ahmed Khan Kharal, Mirza Jutt and Sir Ganga Ram, have been selected for preservation and restoration. The villages of the said freedom fighters and historical personalities have also been declared historical sites.

The buildings, mostly constructed during the British era, have been selected by the Lyallpur Heritage Foundation, following the task given by District Coordination Officer Noorul Amin Mengal a couple of weeks ago.

Mian Attique Ahmed, secretary of the foundation as well as director of the Lyallpur Museum, told Dawn that Banga, native village of Bhagat Singh, Gangapur of Sir Ganga Ram, Jhamra of Ahmed Khan Kharal and Danabad of Mirza Jutt had been selected as assets and efforts would be made for preservation of historical structures there.

He said Khushpur in Samundri had also been selected as historical site because pastors of the country had been getting training there since 1901. A majority of the structures selected had been raised in the British era from 1901 to 1937.

The selected buildings include Clock Tower, Qaisari Gate, Gumti, Allama Iqbal Library, District Council Building, fountain and monuments at Bagh-e-Jinnah, Agricultural College (now University of Agriculture, Faisalabad), APWA Centre outside Karkhana Bazaar, GCU Faisalabad, Govt Sabriya Sirajia High School opposite Babar Cinema, the temple opposite Jhang Bazaar, Gurdwara (currently Pakistan Model School) Kutchery Bazaar, Mosque Kutchery Bazaar, CPO’s Office and Church opposite Gumti, Arya Samaj Temple Street, Arya Samaj temple Church opposite Chenab Club, Sanaatan Dharam Library Darul Uloom, Abdullahpur, Tomb of Noor Shah Wali and Qila Gift Building, the District Jail, Faisalabad Muslim High School, Faridabad, Railway Station, Railway Hospital, Old Circuit House, Residence of AC Lyallpur, Tuberculosis Hospital, Women Hospital, Sessions Court, Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Old Block Chenab Club, Old Telegraph Office, Irrigation Dept, District Council Hall and Police Station Sandal Bar.

Mian Attique said efforts were still on for searching the historical assets of the district that would be preserved for future generations.

DCO Noorul Amin said a strategy would be evolved to preserve the historical buildings and a notification in this regard would also be issued. Chowks and roads would also be named after the renowned historical personalities, he added.