Havelis of Pakistan

some Links to photographs may not work in my reply # 10 , hence I put them again.

Here is the photographs of historic Frontier House in Abbottabad, Hazara, NFWP, which is going to be demolished:

http://static.flickr.com/61/198397068_23419ef254_o.jpg

Following is photograph of a British Built bungalow in an Indian Hill Station, where it is a part of well protected Indian heritage.

Here is the link:

http://static.flickr.com/71/198404173_fc60547cc7_o.jpg

Dear Ameer Hamza

before your article disappears from the front page, I wanted to share some crucial information with you and other readers about the destruction of one of the famous hill station of sub continent known as Abbottabad, Hazara, NWFP.

Why can`t government keep the originality and antiquity intact by using the same chieseled stones ,dormer/ bay windows,solid pipes, brass door handles and hinges, bathroom faucets and architecture during the reconstruction of such historic buildings??

Daily dawn of july 25, 2006 reported:

PESHAWAR: Frontier rest house to be rebuilt
Bureau Report

PESHAWAR, July 24: The NWFP government has decided to reconstruct the historic Frontier rest-house in Abbottabad, says a handout. The rest-house was badly damaged in the October 8 earthquake.
The decision was taken at a meeting held here on Monday. It was attended by Governor Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai, Chief Minister, Akram Khan Durrani, chief secretary Ejaz Qureshi and senior officials.
The meeting reviewed condition of government buildings, particularly rest-houses in Abbottabad and Nathiagali, and decided to take emergency measures for their rehabilitation and renovation.
The governor said that the original architectural pattern of the rest-house should be preserved during reconstruction.

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This frontier house was basically the residence of the deputy commissioner,Hazara region and after Sikh rule and anarchy,Britishers established law and order , so this building with huge lawns and massive deodars, pines and fragrant camphor trees became symbol of state, discipline and law and order.

During British Raj, ordinary buildings were built with bricks and plaster, but important and expensive buildings were built with dressed stones.
Local craftsmen touched heights of craftsmanship and architectural refinement and built those buildings as per code of honesty and British Standard specifications (BSS).

Recent earth quake produced cracks in this building and now per style of works department, the stones, bay windows and dormer windows of this building and other surrounding government buildings will be auctioned and probably influential officers and contractors (MPAs) etc will buy that material from their ``own`` contractors for few thousand rupees.

Here is the link to the photograph of Frontier House in Abbottabad, which was taken in 2005.

http://static.flickr.com/61/198397068_23419ef254_m.jpg

Following is the link to a similar government building in one of the hill station of India, where such buildings are part of national heritage and they earn billions of rupees from tourism industry.

http://static.flickr.com/71/198404173_fc60547cc7_m.jpg

Even before this earth quake, works or C&W department of NWFP had declared the neighbouring Abbottabad civil surgeon`s bungalow and office as dangerous and applied for funding for newer shiny, brick,plastered and white washed construction at that place.
In the following photograph of that dangerous bungalow of civil surgeon of Hazara,please note chieseled stones, dormer windows, double ventilation system with towering chimneys and surrounding landscape contains trees of evergreen fragrant camphor, which were brought from England, and in Pakistan they are only found in Abbottabad.

Here is the link to the photograph of civil surgeon`s bungalow in Abbottabad.

http://static.flickr.com/36/106544125_cecd7d281a_m.jpg

Following is the link to the residence of civil surgeon in one of the Indian hill station, and this building is part of protected Indian heritage.

http://static.flickr.com/58/198404172_faf47c239e_m.jpg

Following is the link to one of the court houses of Abbottabad, which were left to crumble and now after this earth quake and new money, government officers have decided to auction and steal the chieseled and historic stones etc.

http://static.flickr.com/28/103963615_a562229ad2_m.jpg

Here is the link to a court house in one of the hill station in India, which has been refurbished and which plays important part in the history and tourism of the country.

http://static.flickr.com/59/198397063_c9a18d9661_m.jpg

Following is the link to majestic town hall of Indian hill station Shimla, where as in Abbottabad`s town hall ,overseers of TMA removed historic photos and wooden fire places and broken back doors and falling structural stone pieces tell us that they want to get rid of it.

http://static.flickr.com/77/198397579_89db21f76f_m.jpg

Following photo is showing recent chopping of centuries old oak, pine and pistacia trees in palace hotel of Abbottabad, here is the link:

http://static.flickr.com/40/109432914_06becf4725_m.jpg

Following is the photo of one of the cantonment hospital of Indian Hill station, where as in Abbottabad, builders mafia has already demolished a beautiful stone built cantonment hospital and plans are ready to build a commercial plaza there.
Here is the link to the photo of well protected Indian cantonment hospital:

http://static.flickr.com/78/198397578_268ee406cd_m.jpg

Following is the photograph of historic landscape of the saint luke`s church in Abbottabad, and its landscape got bulldozed and ruined and cantt executive officer offered to build shops there as well.
Here is the link to that photo:

http://static.flickr.com/43/103956058_7f064400a8_m.jpg

Following is the photograph of that portion of Abbottabad cantonment, where citizens could walk in the cool shades in the sizzling months of summer, Now Army officers and their contractors have placed barbed wire around the green belt visible on the left hand side of this photo and plans are being made to build a commercial plaza there.
Here is the link to that photograph:

http://static.flickr.com/42/106534144_a2288a275f_m.jpg

Following is the photograph of government revenue building in Abbottabad,which was built in 1860 AD and interior and this building is in shambles and government authorities are waiting to get rid of it.
Here is the link:

http://static.flickr.com/38/103959757_62ebc84839_m.jpg

Following is the photograph of the Victoria memorial school of Abbottabad, which was initially built around 1860 and various prominent personalities of India and Pakistan resided in this building, Instead of rebuilding the same building by using the same mterials and design, C&W experts and contractors will play havoc in that area and build a new ugly cementless monster with the help of bull dozers.
Here is the link:

http://static.flickr.com/52/107101159_3b017cb600_m.jpg

Following is the photograph of historic lady garden of Abbottabad, and Head Mali cum contractor of cantt board has cut all the historic hedges of the garden, ruined the landscape, bulldozed various sections, pulled down pavilions and hand made iron gates with climbing roses etc.
Cantt Executive officer and some of his friends wanted to build a commercial playland there, with the help of a phoney construction company.

Instead of using some other neighbouring disputed properties,Station commander felt it easy to allow the construction of a new police and fire brigade station inside the Lady garden.

Here is the link to an old photograph of Historic lady garden where Massive DYING Lebanese cedar trees are also visible on both sides.

http://static.flickr.com/38/106545323_e8eaeb242a_m.jpg

Following is the overview of Abbottabad which was taken in 1982 and Abbottabad was covered under the thick canopy of centuries old trees, which were documented with the cantt board and Estate office, but after Marshal Laws of people like uncle Zia, Qabza groups ignore those records and consider trees as a hurdle in the rapid mullah-ization and commercial development of Abbottabad.
Here is the link:

http://static.flickr.com/33/103956056_34d0c114d7_m.jpg

Following is the photograph of moth eaten Abbottabad of today, and this photograph was taken before the earth quake and after new constructions of Government buildings,these few leftover trees, which are visible in this photograph, will be gone also.Qisa Katam.
Here is the link to the moth eaten Abbottabad of today.

http://static.flickr.com/33/103956056_34d0c114d7_m.jpg

Following is the photograph of modern day architecture and landscape of that hill station where town administration Engineer with a bogus degree in mining engineering, and backing of some ``pious`` MPAs, approved such buildings just behind the historic court houses of that fargile national asset known as Abbottabad.
Here is the link:

http://static.flickr.com/39/106544465_3f9ae2c481_m.jpg

We mourn slow death of that Abbottabad, which was once, an unforgettable experience for heads of states, commander in chiefs, poets, statesmen, writers, and thousands of nature loving souls.
At the end I quote following words of Captain Thomas, in which he describes magic of Himalayan hill stations, he writes:
`` From March, when the sleet and snow may have passed away, to the middle of July, the climate is heavenly. There is nothing like it on earth. Nothing! Nothing in Italy! Nothing in France! Nothing anywhere that I know off. Recall the finest day, nay hour, of sunshine you have ever known in English spring, and concieve the beauty and gladness of that sunshine, brightened by continuing without a storm, and deck the fruit trees and bushes in a Thousand English blossoms;and spread violets and daises and berry blossoms and wild roses over the bright close emerald turf; over crags amid the pine roots, and far away down amid the ferns and you may fancy some thing....``
One of the gazetteer mentioned that places like Abbottabad, Srinagar, Murree and Shimla were pieces of Heaven on this earth and there were times of the year when these towns offered the world best climate.

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Are we completely helpless?? will some sons or daughters of Pakistan of pakistan will come forward to claim this heritage and ask government to protect these assets for the appreciation of future generations ??

A view of Abbottabad taken in 1980, with 150 years old pine and chinar trees, looking towards Shimla hill.


http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geupYzLclEPRsAZhNXNyoA/SIG=12altek5p/EXP=1154121395/**http%3a//static.flickr.com/41/103959234_3768314d4b_m.jpg

A view of Abbottabad taken in 1980, Looking towards Shimla hill.


http://www.static.flickr.com/41/103959234_3768314d4b_m.jpg

Reply to #5

Dear Ameerhamza, I never got a chance to see heritage of Shikarpur or Sukkur , but after reading your report, I will visit them one day.

Filming heritage buildings will bring tremendous awareness among our otherwise indifferent and biased officials and influentials.

Heritage buildings belonging to Hindus, Sikhs and Britishers are like a ``mal-e-ganeemat`` or war booty and they are easy loots for our developer and power mafia.

Proper documentation along with architectural details, inner details and surrounding landscapes and historic trees etc. is of utmost importance.

National heritage registry is needed on emergency basis.

As most of the colluding corrupt government officers have failed to protect priceless heritage of Pakistan, and they will never do any thing against their personal selfish interests hence citizens with aesthetic sense must come forward and protect the heritage.

Pakistan has history of 5000 years and we could have eradicated poverty and earned billions of rupees from tourism industry and it would have improved our image and relations with rest of the world as well, but Alas! Mullah and qabza mafia...selfish cheap masters of orphan and voiceless Pakistan.

I quote an informational report about heritage of Kohat, NWFP , which got published in daily Dawn of july25, 2006:

KOHAT: Historical sites lose original look

By Abdul Sami Paracha

KOHAT, July 24: The 17 historical sites identified in Kohat for inclusion in the ‘travel guide of Pakistan’ by the federal tourism ministry have lost most of their grandeur because of corrosion and plunder by smugglers.

The document includes sites such as Tanda Dam, caves of Aad Samud dynasty, Kohat springs visited by Guru Nanak, shrines of Zinda Pir famous as Ghamkol Pir, Hazrat Haji Bahadar and Pir Baba Kabli, family graveyard of Ahmed Shah Abdali, the Kohat Fort where Alexander camped with his army, the Municipal Committee building, Cavagnari House, the cemetery where the mother of Miss Ellis, who was killed by Ajab Khan Afridi during the colonial period, lies buried, Guava gardens and hilly track.

The Handy Side Gate at Darra Pass erected in the memory of then regional army chief who subdued the Afridis, Toi Banda rest-house from where Shah Khwarzam crossed the Indus in the 12th century to save his life from the chasing army of Halaku Khan, Khushal Garh rest-house, Mir Kheli and a 16th century mosque in Shahpur village are also in the list.

The list prepared by the district government and approved by the nazim skipped a number of places like the palaces of the Durrani king and princes, the hilly track used by the army of Alexander to cross the Darra Pass, the Dhoda ground where Emperor Zaheeruddin Babar camped, eight of the 12 remaining gates of the walled city of Kohat and the Khushal Garh iron bridge. Most of the sites which have tourism potential have lost their original look because of negligence of the archaeology department and the district administration.

The Durrani family graveyard and the ruins of Aad and Samud have been robbed of precious tiles, gravestones, coins and statues, while some graves have been demolished and reconstructed by their caretakers. The 16th century mosque in the graveyard of the family of King Ahmed Shah Abdali has been repaired and whitewashed by members of the Tableeghi Jamaat to save its sanctity. The old mosque has become a den for drug sellers and addicts. Despite repeated requests by the heirs of the former king, the provincial archaeology department has not taken any steps to preserve it.

The shrine of Zinda Pir, visited by millions of people, has been reconstructed by his grandsons and followers.

The Kohat Fort constructed by the Durranis on the hilltop where Alexander camped with his army before marching towards north serves as the headquarters of the IXth army division. Only the tunnel which served as its only entrance and the trench surrounding it are in their original form.

Experts say the archaeology department should seek funds on emergency basis for preserving and developing the national heritage.

Re: # 4 - Hello there. Thank you for so much information. I visited Peshawar some years back and where I was staying only behind it were the splendid Sethi havelis.

Do you know about the havelis/mansions/palaces of Sind; i mean belonging to cities like Sukkur or Shikarpur. I would very much like to capture them on film.

If we want to save leftovers of heritage buildings and surrounding landscapes of Pakistan then we will have to create a national heritage registry on urgent basis.

Random venting out here and there or in newspapers will not help much, as it will fall on corrupt and deaf ears as usual.

Good news is that government of NWFP has procured one of the Sethi palaces in Peshawar.

We have to make sure that all items and details like original electrical fittings,faucets, paintings (if any) , chandeliers, stained glass etc. etc. of Sethi palace and other heritage buildings of Pakistan,get documented with the archaeology department and no overseer of C&W department should be able to steal any item in the name of replacement or renovation.

C&W department has recently painted and removed original brass ``made in England`` switches of Palace hotel Abbottabad at the cost of 24 lacs rupees.

Original electrical fittings and washroom faucets of the historic bungalow of Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan have also been replaced by one MPA cum contractor of our country.

Heritage buildings of India are being taken care off, and they earn billions of rupees from tourism industry, where as in Pakistan, Mullahs, who are kept dogs and touts of feudal masters, scare foreigners and tourists, hence giving billions of rupees losses to Pakistan.

If we want to save dignity of Pakistan and ourselves, then we will have to liberate Pakistan from the clutches of lawless bullies, ``qabza groups`` and their tout black sheep in government offices and blackmailers kind of fake Mullahs etc.

Have you seen the Khans Klub in Peshawar it is a converted Sikh haveli.

Where are the photographs?