Ewing Hall to be conserved after repossession

LAHORE: The Lahore Heritage Areas Revival Board has said the historic Ewing Hall building in Anarkali will be conserved in its original form after concerns emerged over the Punjab government’s move to take back the property.

The issue drew objections from Forman Christian College University alumni, community members and civil society groups. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also expressed reservations and called for transparent consultations on the future of the building, citing its historical significance and its link to minority heritage.

In its account of the case, the board said the property had originally been leased in 1915 for use as a student hostel. It added that the building has been vacant since 2015 and is no longer serving the educational purpose for which it had been given on lease.

The board further said unpaid rent owed to the government has risen to more than Rs100 million despite repeated reminders and notices. According to its statement, the Punjab Board of Revenue issued a show-cause notice in March and allowed all stakeholders to present their positions. After hearing submissions from the educational institution and the Higher Education Department, the member colonies ordered repossession of the property in favour of the provincial government on April 27. The Lahore Heritage Areas Revival Board maintained that the move was the result of a legal process spread over several years and was not taken abruptly or unilaterally.