LAHORE: The restoration of the British era Barood Khana inside Lahore Fort by the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) is almost 70 percent complete whereas the restoration of the entire structure would be completed by December this year. It was further learnt that the total cost incurring on the project was Rs 18.40 million, since the project began in May 2018 and almost 123,000 cubic feet of debris was removed to expose the complete structure of the Barood Khana after which the conservation team of WCLA started the restoration work. Barood Khana was initially hidden under heaps of debris which had gathered over a period of time, resulting in seepage, cracking and weakening of the structure and the tourists visiting the fort had no idea of such a structure existing there. Sources added that the previous conservation schemes for Lahore Fort did not include Barood Khana and as a result, the monument lost its historic function and the architectural appearance, becoming a no go area for tourists and even the staff refrained from going to that part of the fort fearing the presence of snakes. Talking about the history of Barood Khana, WCLA Media & Marketing deputy director informed Daily Times that it was constructed in 1857 as per the inscription on the building. “The purpose of Barood Khana was to store gun powder and other arsenal material because when the British came to Lahore Fort, they had changed most of the places into Army barracks. Barood Khana is located at the western side of Lahore Fort near Alamgiri Gate and Musaman Gate, but it was hidden under piles of debris due to which no one could locate its existence. Barood Khana is built with brick masonry and lime mortars and reflects colonial architecture. We still see bullet marks and arsenal stains in the interior of the Barood Khana. Previously during Mughal rule, this place was a garden which connected the Musaman Gate with Shah Burj Gate but the British divided this place by constructing a steep road, which now we use to enter the fort. After the road, fort was divided into two parts one having the Alamgiri Gate and other with rich structures like Sheesh Mahal, Elephant Stairs, Deewan-e-Aam, etc,” she said. She further mentioned that once the monument is restored, it will be turned into a museum and a meeting hall but the re-use plans were still under discussion. WCLA Conservation Director Najam Saqib said while talking exclusively to Daily Times, “So far, we have completed almost 70 percent of the restoration work and the remaining will be completed by the end of this year. We have restored the interior and exterior of Barood Khana and at present, we are laying the brick flooring. Different pits were excavated approximately six feet deep for archeological findings. Arches and chambers like structure were found during excavation and removing of debris from the site and we also plan to restore those. I think these structures were of Mughal era as the entire space was connected with other Mughal structures and as Barood Khana is a little sunken area, therefore it can be said that the space was filled for constructing Barood Khana.” Najam Saqib mentioned that Barood Khana was buried under 123,000 cubic feet of debris surrounded by wild plantation and during the inspection and documentation the team found that there were cracks, bulging in plaster, dismantled brick masonry, missing cornices, damages in wooden doors and ventilators, blackish surface, graffiti on internal side and biological growth around Barood Khana whereas the doors and windows were damaged due to aging, neglect and termites. “We will be illuminating this building after restoration and it will be made a part of night tourism. Also the plans for its re-use are under discussion and the options are for turning it into a museum and meeting hall,” Saqib concluded. Published in Daily Times, November 24th 2018.