Governor House, Lahore, Pakistan

In the capital of Punjab province, Governor House is like a huge ship in a vast sea of lawns. It is the most impressive and remarkable building having beautiful gardens. It is a part of our heritage with various styles of architecture.

Different portions added to the House from time to time reflect the history of those periods. The pieces of furniture of olden days are still in use in the House. It is interesting to note that the government House, Lahore, had been built around the tomb of one Muhammad Qasim Khan constructed during the Mughal period.

The original tomb with the grave underneath is still present at the spot. The tomb has four doorways and a stair-case on the northern side to go up. Since long, four columns have been erected in the interior and a mid-roof laid, so that the tomb has become two- storeyed. On the east of it lies the ruined “Dalan” of Kishan Singh. There are twelve arched niches in bricks on the outside and four doors in the interior with eight “mehrabi dar” i.e. “mehrab- shaped niches” all round. In the dome, there are four skylights. After the annexation of the Province, the British purchased this building as well as the land around it for a paltry sum of Rs. 2,500 for the construction of residence for the Lieutenant- Governor of the Province. The mausoleum was kept intact but in place of the rooms built by Khushhal Singh, a number of other rooms were added on top of the square platform which existed all around the mausoleum. This accounts for its height and the reason why the main rooms have to be approached through a pair of curving grand stairs. Ever since the foundation of Pakistan, the Governor of Punjab/ West Pakistan has his residence and office in this building. Mr. Salman Taseer is the 29th Governor in this series.