Estimates revised for restoration of Nawab Ali Mohammad Masjid

MULTAN: Punjab archaeology department revised estimates for restoration of historical mosque, Majid Nawab Ali Mohammad in walled city area, officials said Friday.

Rs 5.6 million scheme was under execution by the archaeology department through funding provided by the Auqaf department.

However, it had to be revised up to Rs 7.1 million after eight wooden beams of the main chamber of the historical mosque were found damaged, Incharge archaeology department Malik Ghulam Mohammad told APP.

The revised estimates detailing more funding worth Rs 1.6 million has been sent to Punjab Auqaf department for administrative approval.

The scheme was already under execution and presently the craftsmen were restoring the floral designs in fresco buono work on the verandah of over 250-year-old monument.

The family of Nawab Ali Muhammad Khan Khaugani,Khakwani hailed from Qandahar who migrated to Multan in the times of Akbar (1556-1605). He was appointed as governor of Multan by Ahmad Shah Abdali. In 1165/ 1751 he started a mint in Multan and issued the first coin (now in Lahore Museum). Ali Muhammad was made the governor twice-the first time from 1751 to 1758 and second time from 1761 till his murder in 1764.

Nawab Ali Muhammad Khan contributed substantially to the development and beautification of Multan. First of all he repaired the fortification wall of the city and built what is today known as the Alang originally built by Prince Murad Bakhsh, son of Shah Jahan. He also dug a canal, Nala Ali Muhammad for bringing water to the city often miss-named as Nala Wali Mohammad.

In 1761 he also repaired the mausoleum of Hazrat Bahaul Huq Zakriya. This mosque was built in 1758 and became one of his outstanding contributions to Multan. A marble inscription still preserved in the mosque records that the mosque complex built by Ali Muhammad, which included, besides the mosque, a hammam, a well and a traditional hauz or tank. (APP)