(adapted from official Sindh Provincial Government Brief, with thanks)
The building stands on the original site of Government House in Karachi, which was constructed in the year 1843 by Sir Charles Napier when the British annexed Sindh.
The old Government House was originally built by Sir Charles Napier for his own use but the Government of India bought it from him when he left in 1847 after which it was occupied by Commissioner of Sindh. Then it was known as official residence of the Commissioner of Sindh.Later on, in 1935, Sindh was 'promoted' as a full governor's province by order of the then Government of India, and it was decided that the ex-Commissioner's House would become the new Governor's House.
The construction of present Governor House started in year 1936 by the architect R.T. Russell. The first Governor of Sindh , Sir Lancelot Graham was expected to live here. At the Foundation-laying Ceremony Sir Lancelot Graham expressed the need for a new house as the previous Government House (Napier’s Government House) was in dilapidated condition and no longer safe for habitation.
The new building was expected to cost seven hundred thousand rupees and was to be completed in two years. In the year 1939 the Indian and Pakistani Independence Movement was at high pitch when it was finally completed and Sir Lancelot Graham came to live in it. It was thought fit by the Governor and the Government of Sindh and the Government of India that a quiet, simple opening ceremony should be held instead of a grand inauguration.
After Sir Lancelot Graham, Sir Hugh Dow and Sir Frances Mudie ruled Sindh from here. On 7th August 1947, the Father of the Nation,Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, first Governor-General of newly-independent state of Pakistan, resided in this monumental and prestigious abode till he breathed his last on 11th September 1948.
Since then, it has been occupied by various governors of Sindh province of Pakistan, from time to time. It's a valuable asset and is well-maintained by the Sindh Government.
The building stands on the original site of Government House in Karachi, which was constructed in the year 1843 by Sir Charles Napier when the British annexed Sindh.
The old Government House was originally built by Sir Charles Napier for his own use but the Government of India bought it from him when he left in 1847 after which it was occupied by Commissioner of Sindh. Then it was known as official residence of the Commissioner of Sindh.Later on, in 1935, Sindh was 'promoted' as a full governor's province by order of the then Government of India, and it was decided that the ex-Commissioner's House would become the new Governor's House.
The construction of present Governor House started in year 1936 by the architect R.T. Russell. The first Governor of Sindh , Sir Lancelot Graham was expected to live here. At the Foundation-laying Ceremony Sir Lancelot Graham expressed the need for a new house as the previous Government House (Napier’s Government House) was in dilapidated condition and no longer safe for habitation.
The new building was expected to cost seven hundred thousand rupees and was to be completed in two years. In the year 1939 the Indian and Pakistani Independence Movement was at high pitch when it was finally completed and Sir Lancelot Graham came to live in it. It was thought fit by the Governor and the Government of Sindh and the Government of India that a quiet, simple opening ceremony should be held instead of a grand inauguration.
After Sir Lancelot Graham, Sir Hugh Dow and Sir Frances Mudie ruled Sindh from here. On 7th August 1947, the Father of the Nation,Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, first Governor-General of newly-independent state of Pakistan, resided in this monumental and prestigious abode till he breathed his last on 11th September 1948.
Since then, it has been occupied by various governors of Sindh province of Pakistan, from time to time. It's a valuable asset and is well-maintained by the Sindh Government.
Governor's House, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please leave a constructive comment, which will be only posted after approval of admins.