The palatial mansion of Sheikh Niaz Ahmed in Wazirabad town still stands with unrivalled grandeur and grace on Lt Arif Shaheed Road, serving as an undeclared monument to its master’s professional fame and the wealth he displayed by constructing this swanky house.

Sheikh Niaz Ahmed was a renowned leather merchant in this part of the subcontinent during the British era. At that time, there were only two leather tanneries, one in Cawnpur (now in India) and the other in Wazirabad, owned by Sheikh Niaz. His remarkable business success, and the respect and reverence he earned during the British era, inspired him to construct a large house designed in Victorian style, amalgamated with a continental demeanour.

The two-storey mansion, consisting of over 60 large rooms and halls, sprawls across a vast compound, with a Victorian-style driveway bordering a park lined with palm trees. Orchards at the back and sides, with large mango and orange trees, seem to silently await the return of their master.

The outer boundary of the palace is constructed with specially designed baked clay bars and bricks, which are now broken at some points and need repair.

The facade of the mansion is marked by a tall porch with high arches and columns, bearing the stamp of architectural craftsmanship. The specially designed baked bricks, giving beautiful patterns from top to bottom, the oval-shaped ventilators decorated with baked clay grilles, and the rows of windows and ventilators, all shaded with wooden shelters and shutters, add to the grandeur typical of large office buildings of the British era.

Sheikh Amir Mumtaz, grandson of Sheikh Niaz Ahmed, while speaking to this reporter, said that his grandfather had two sons. Arif Niaz was an army officer who embraced martyrdom in the 1971 war, while his father, Sheikh Mumtaz, looked after the family business. Sheikh Amir said the road was named after his uncle as Lieutenant Arif Shaheed Road, and the family continued to live in the legacy of his grandfather.

He added that his grandfather had a great taste for architecture and constructed the house at a cost of Rs100,000 at that time.

Responding to a query about the future of the house, Sheikh Amir said, “This is a great legacy of our grandfather, who built and lived in it. It will continue to serve as a symbol of our family’s success in business and society for the coming generations.” He added that renovation and refurbishing of the interior was underway, with all expenses being borne by the family. Sheikh Amir is also a prominent businessman of Wazirabad and Gujranwala.

He said that his grandfather enjoyed considerable respect from both the British government and the government of Pakistan, owing to his honest business practices and social standing. He added that his grandfather was appointed an Honorary Magistrate by the Queen and was also gifted a pocket watch by the British government.

Sheikh Amir said that both the family and the wider community acknowledge Sheikh Niaz’s hard work, honesty and dedication to his profession, and that the house remains a gift for coming generations and a token of respect for the town.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2026