LAHORE ( Ali Imran Chattah ) The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) is restoring the ancient Koocha Hussain Shah located behind the Wazir Khan Mosque and the restoration will be completed by end 2024.
According to the history provided by the WCLA, this neighborhood is named after the person Hussain Shah, renowned for his ability to treat eye infections and illness. He was reputed to possess a surma (kohl) that could even restore lost vision or blindness. Additionally, he served as the warden of the Rezakar team before the establishment of Pakistan.
The project In Charge Mubashir Hassan explained that at present the restoration work was underway to revive the historical significance of the houses, street infrastructure, and other features around the Wazir Khan Mosque. “The ADP scheme for Kocha Hussain Shah was approved in 2021 and Government of Punjab’s funding is being used for the rehabilitation project”, Mubashar added.
He further mentioned that the rehabilitation included the restoration of 31 buildings and 400 meters of street infrastructure whereas 13 of these buildings held historical significance and could be stated that are almost 200 years old.
Mubashar also said, “Following the approval of the restoration scheme, architectural documentation and rehabilitation proposals were made and 3D scanning of the buildings was done to get to know the exact condition of the buildings. The project was shared with the Heritage Conservation Board of WCLA and later the work began and will be completed by 2024 end and the approximate cost of the project is 90 million rupees.”
Mubashar said,” In this project we will be doing the façade and structural rehabilitation of all the properties along with the infrastructure improvements. We will be taking the wiring underground, improve the sanitation and sewerage systems and similarly all open drains will be covered.”
Moreover, improvement of street surfacing, illumination and improvement of street lighting and fixation of sign boards for tourists/ visitors will also be a part of this project.
The Director Marketing and Tourism, Tania Qureshi from WCLA explained that this place was well connected with the Masjid Wazir Khan and another historical significance of this area was the shrine of Hazrat Imam Gamo, located to the south of the entrance to the Wazir Khan Mosque. “We will be developing a tourist circuit and include this Koocha, which is attractive and holds historic significance in our city guided tours. We would like the tourists to come and see more of the old city and its historic fabric”, Tania explained.
The Director General WCLA, Kamran Lashari said that this was one of the most attractive and interesting Koocha of the Walled City Lahore. “One of its features is the old houses still holding the historic fabric, second is the connection is with the Wazir Khan Masjid and then the close vicinity with the Tomb of Imam Gammo. We are very diligently working on the restoration of this Koocha and we aim to revive it to its original glory. I am sure that once connected in the tourist trail after the rehabilitation, it will be a hotspot for the tourists.”
He further added that the community of the area was also taken on board and several discussions and design sharing of the interventions was done with them as WCLA works with a participatory approach and involves community in all the works.
