The century-old Sujan Singh Haveli is an emblem of history and culture in the heart of Rawalpindi. Built by a wealthy merchant and businessman of Rawalpindi, Rai Bahadur Sujan Singh, the haveli resembles a royal place with a majestic golden throne and plenty of ivory furniture. Fast forward 75 years after partition, the haveli is surrounded by the garrison city of Rawalpindi. Since partition, the government has not shown any interest in preserving the historically rich site.
Recently, the team which refurbished the Lahore Walled City has shared plans to preserve the century-old Sujan Singh Haveli in collaboration with Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Rawalpindi. Several administrative authorities have vowed to help the team in restoring the historic haveli. In addition, PHA claims to implement its plan for the beautification of the city and improve the greenbelts and walls along Murree Road.
Globally, historic sites and bazaars are made pedestrian-friendly to limit the entry of motorised vehicles in the area. PHA director announced that with the help of the district administration, Raja Bazaar and the nearby bazaars will be made pedestrian-friendly to attract visitors and increase local tourism. Rawalpindi can be bought at par with the capital city of Islamabad if the historic sites are preserved.
Leave a Reply