FORT ABBAS: Mir Garh Qila, an ancient fort in Cholistan, is in complete disrepair as a result of years of neglect on the part of the relevant authorities.
Pakistan is teeming with historic places that are very rich in ancient culture and history. These are widely dispersed over the Cholistan Desert. One of these is Mir Garh Qila, which is smack dab in the middle of Cholistan, nine kilometers or so from Fort Abbas tehsil.
One of the forts erected at Bahawalpur under the rule of the Abbasi clan was the fort, which Noor Muhammad Khan built. The building’s walls are about 28 feet tall and feature impressively rounded corners on all four sides.
The fort includes four minarets in addition to one entrance that is split into two halves. There used to be two sweet water wells and a few tiny homes erected within the courtyard. The dwellings, however, have been reduced to ruins by the passage of time, and the wells have dried up. Even the door has broken down.
The effectiveness of the archaeological department has come under scrutiny given the plight of the once majestic fort. Visitors who come from far and wide to view the fort are disappointed and saddened by its dilapidated condition.
Many have urged the government to rebuild the fort in order to preserve this priceless piece of history for next generations.
According to Yasir Siddique, general secretary of Fort Abbas Public Welfare, the medieval forts are what give the Cholistan Desert its true beauty. He continues by saying that Mir Garh Qila was once a lovely sight to see.
However, he said, “the government’s lack of interest and the apathy of the archaeology department are slowly bringing it to ruin.” He said that the fort’s reconstruction is a significant undertaking and cannot be handled at the government level. He also said that a non-governmental organization (NGO) should be given the task.
Waseem Thakar, a social worker, said that these forts would have been kept in excellent shape if they were situated in any other significant city, such as Lahore. The archaeological agency “has not expressed even an iota of interest in their preservation because the fort is located in a backward area,” he said.
In order for local NGOs to be able to safeguard and maintain the qila before it is too late, he stressed that it should be given to them.
Another local, Naveed Gulzaib Chaudhry, said that the present administration should focus on Cholistan and its ancient forts, six of which are found in the Fort Abbas tehsil alone, in addition to boosting tourism in the nation’s major cities.
This will conserve cultural history and encourage tourism in the region, bringing in a significant sum of money, he said.