CHINIOT: The Chiniot Badshahi mosque will be rehabilitated under a district administration plan.

The 16th century old Badshahi mosque, a replica of Badshahi mosque of Lahore was built by Chiniot resident Nawab Saadullah Khan, a close aide to Mughal Emperor Aurang Zeb Alamgir. It is one of the historical monuments and tourist attraction sites in the district which is visited by thousands of people from all over the country and abroad.

There were 17 halls around the ground floor of the mosque which were residential quarters for the employees of the mosque but when the mosque was handed over to Auqaf Department some 50 years ago, these halls were converted into shops. Of them, eight were leased while the remaining were illegally occupied by the vendors.

They opened iron sheets shops, poultry shops and vegetable shops which was causing odor and noise of pressing iron sheets with hammer and rush in the area, which created a public nuisance at the site.

The mosque is situated in the center of the old city.

Narrow streets leading to the mosque are always clogged discouraging the tourists to visit the site.

A few weeks ago, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar visited Chiniot and wanted to visit these historical monuments but could not due to narrow streets and bazaars.

Deputy Commissioner Aman Anwer Kedawii has initiated this plan in which the mosque will be rehabilitated, renovated to past glory by civil works and improving landscape around the mosque.

He said the project will be executed by Auqaf Department, Archeology Department, municipal committee, district administration and local NGOs working for the preservation of historical monuments. Vendors will be evacuated from shops and given alternative places away from the mosque.

A food street offering traditional Chiniot foods like mutton kunna will be set up by the mosque. A museum has also been planned to be constructed there which will showcase the glorious past heritage of Chiniot people, its wooden carving work and historical items.

An oxen-driven water well in the courtyard of the mosque will also be rehabilitated The work on renovation of the mosque has already started and lighting work is underway to give a fantastic look to mosque in night.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2019