The historic clock tower that identifies Lyallpur or Faisalabad around the world is 115 years old.
Despite the passage of more than a century, its glory remains today, and has left visitors surprised from all over the world. The construction of the clock tower costed Rs40,000 at that time. The historical items used in its construction were collected from Mumbai, Sangla Hill, Chak Ram Diwali and other places.
According to the details, the historic clock tower of Lyallpur, the significant landmark of the British era, has turned 115 years old, and its splendour is still intact today. With its rich culture and historical background, the clock tower has impressed its visitors in every era. With the establishment of Lyallpur, the construction of the historic clock tower in the centre of the city began on June 14, 1903, during the reign of the British Lieutenant Charles Royze, and the structure of the historic clock tower was completed in December 1906. The then Punjab finance commissioner Sir Lyall Topper formally inaugurated the landmark clock tower with the people of Lyallpur.
The idea for the clock tower was taken from the British national flag and was designed by an English architect. According to the idea, after the middle position of the clock tower, eight bazaars were established in the ratio of eight lines in the British flag, which have their own distinct identity. Out of the eight bazaars adjacent to the clock, four bazaars were open. In comparison, four bazaars were kept less available, and this difference was also observed in proportion of the eight lines included in the British flag. The four big bazaars include Kachehri Bazaar, Karkhana Bazaar, Jhang Bazaar, and Aminpur Bazaar, while the less big bazaars include Rail Montgomery Bazaar, Bhavana Bazaar and Chiniot Bazaar.
The decision to build the clock tower was made by then deputy commissioner of Jhang, Sir James Loyal, and at the place where the clock house was built, there was a well-filled with mud, which was brought from Chak Ram Diwali village on Sargodha Road. The clock tower is 95 feet high, and the red stone for its construction was brought from Sangla Hill, 50km away. The construction work was completed under the supervision of Gulab Khan of the famous construction family of Agra, India. In the construction work, Khan carved the red stones into suitable sizes in the same way. Expert carpenters also played an essential role in enhancing the splendour of the clock tower.
The clock in the clock tower was imported from Mumbai and was installed on all four sides, and Rs40,000 was spent on the construction of the clock house. Even after 115 years, the splendour of the historic clock house is still intact; however, maintaining this magnificent historical heritage in its original state is no less of a challenge for the district administration and the Metropolitan Corporation (MC) officials.
In Clock Tower Square, fountains were installed all around to enhance its beauty, but two of these fountains have already been removed, while two fountains are still in the hour cover. But they, too, have been shut down due to negligence from the MC administration, which is why the grass there is now looking desolate. Similarly, two employees have been appointed by the MC to take care of the clock house. Still, they are limited to attending the event or appearing at any VIP’s arrival or event.
No steps are being taken by the MC authorities and the district administration to restore the historic beauty of the clock tower. Anjuman-e-Tajran City, a representative body of traders across the city, had also expressed its concerns. In this regard, the MC officials said that the clock tower is a historical heritage of Faisalabad and all steps would be taken to restore its original beauty.
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