LAHORE, July 2 The PC-I of a Rs14 million project for the restoration and conservation of Iqbal Manzil in Sialkot has been approved, sources in the federal archaeology department told Dawn.
The sources said a Rs600,000 grant prior to the Rs14 million had recently been granted for the immediate conservation of the national monument protected under the Antiquities Act, 1975.
The amount has been allocated to solve various issues the monument is confronted with. The building was declared a national monument and the government purchased this house at a cost of Rs125,000 in 1971. The control of the building was handed over to the department of archaeology and museums for proper maintenance and upkeep of the monument.
The sources said in 1995, some cracks developed in the building due to subsidence of the structure which had been repaired and structure had been consolidated. A number of supports had been provided to the structure to avoid any settlements in future but recently further cracks developed in the building, therefore a comprehensive structural stability study was needed to be conducted to resolve the issue on a long-term basis.
Presently, the adjoining area of the building is also not in good condition, the drainage and sewerage systems are inadequately managed. Two main drains carrying volume of waste and refused water of the locality flow on both sides of the building, causing damage to its foundations.
At the back of the building, street level has gone up higher than the floor level of the building, putting adverse affects on the structure of the building.
During last three decades, economic advancement, increasing liberalised markets for a variety of commodities, goods and services and intensified traffic load, day-by-day squeezing road spaces, unbridled encroachments, more and more complicated development transition are taking toll in the area.
Iqbal Manzil, already located in the densely-urbanised vicinity, is becoming the victim of juxtaposing surroundings.
They said a complex urban environment with poorly managed civic facilities around this national monument was causing problems to the structural stability and cultural integrity of the monument. While addressing the issues in addition to its structural stability and architectural problems, an overview of the status of the building in its present urban context had also been discussed. Increasing visitation and evolving association of the community had also been observed to be integrated in the overall conservation and upgrading plan for the building.
The PC-I also included acquiring 23-marla land around the monument to develop its surroundings and to provide stability to the monument in terms of its conservation process.
The monument was bought by Allama Iqbal's grandfather Shaikh Muhammad Rafique in 1861. It consisted of 3 small size rooms along with a verandah and courtyard. In 1892, adjoining double-storey building consisting of two rooms built upon each other having a kitchen and verandah were purchased and included in the house. In order to provide a spacious and convenient opening to the house, two shops in the present front of the house were purchased and converted into the house. In subsequent years, Shaikh Ata Muhammad, the elder brother of Allama Iqbal, bought another shop, dismantled the whole building, redesigned and rebuilt the present layout of the house.
Present Iqbab Manzil is a three-storey structure which has 10 living rooms, one kitchen, 2 bathrooms, one store, one verandah terrace and two latrines of country type besides shops on the front and covers an area of 2,350 square feet of land. Iqbal Manzil has been designed and constructed keeping in view the local general traditions of the period, a simple adoption of regional trends amalgamated with British style in each other.
