LAHORE, Aug 23: The Punjab archaeology department will renovate the southern part of the historic Wazir Khan mosque with the US aid of $30,000. The officials of US embassy in Islamabad visited the mosque last year and had expressed serious concern over its decay.

US ambassador Nancy J. Powell who visited the historic mosque on Saturday last announced the fresh aid. The aid would be given from the US Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation.

The renovation of the northern part of the mosque has already been done with the US aid ($18,000) in October last year. Under the proposed project, the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) had to establish a craft bazaar there but no progress has so far been made.

Punjab archaeology department director general Farzana Qurieshi told Dawn on Monday that the renovation would begin next month. She said the department would open the craft bazaar after the completion of the southern part. The shops would be rented to wood workers.

She said the renovation would be carried out on its original pattern. The department was also planning to carry out the repair of the other parts of the mosque, including its minarets, she added.

Ms Qurieshi said the department would press the auqaf department to take certain measures to vacate its encroached area. Some 35 shops have been built on the mosque land since long.

Several parts of mosque are under threat from termites, surface erosion, environmental pollution, and wear and tear from visitors. The fresco work and red-sand stone of the northern and southern parts of the mosque stands completely damaged.

The mosque is located in a thickly-populated area of the Walled City. It is one of the two most spacious mosques in the provincial metropolis, the other is the Badshahi Mosque.

The mosque was built by Chiniot-born Hakeem Aleemuddin Ansari, known in the history as Nawab Wazir Khan. He was a physician by profession. He had a strong interest in the public welfare projects. He sponsored the construction of several hamam, bazaars, places, shops and gardens in the city.

Wazir Kahn mosque reflects a blend of Persian and Indian styles of architectures. Its foundation stone was laid by the Nawab in AD 1634 and the construction was completed in 1635.

Built with bricks and tiles, it is entirely covered with arabesque painting and lacquered tiles, and the inlaid pottery decorations and panelling of the walls are vivid and glowing.

The panels of pottery are set in hard mortar and the leaves and flowers, tress and goblets, decorate the exterior of the walls. Students of the art painting are often seen copying these decorations.

The plinth level was a storey higher than the ground. The facade of the main entrance of this imposing structure from the eastern side is laid with gazed tiles, which are bedecked with numerous inscription of the Kalima right up to the ceiling in Kashikari.

Two wells had also been dug for drawing fresh water to fill the pond at the centre of the courtyard. Only one of these is currently in use. One of the striking features of the mosque is its four minarets, which were built on the four corners of the courtyard.

The floor of the mosque is paved creatively with symmetrical designs made of bricks. The material used was the same that of Mughal monuments. All the houses and shops built up to the Delhi Gate were the personal property of the Nawab. He had desired that the income generated from the rental of these properties be used for the proper maintenance of the mosque.