| F |
aisalabad was one of the first planned cities of British India. A lasting emblem of British grandeur in the city is the iconic Clock Tower, built in the memory of Queen Victoria.
Almost three years after the death of Queen Victoria, on November 14, 1903, the foundation stone of the 100-foot-tall Clock Tower was laid by Sir Charles Rivaz, then governor of the Punjab. Before the tower, the site had featured a well whose water was too salty for drinking. The residents would instead fetch water from Thandi Khooi near Bagh-i-Jinnah. To lay the foundation, the old well was filled with soil brought in from the nearby village of Ram Diwali, as the local soil was deemed too saline for construction.
The tower was completed in nearly two years.It was formally inaugurated on December 13, 1905, by Leo Percy, then financial commissioner of the Punjab, who waved to the public from its balcony in appreciation.
Legend holds it that the idea of building the tower came from Lala Mohan Lal, who had earlier constructed the Qaiseri Gate, located opposite Gumti Bazaar in Rail Bazaar, to commemorate the 60th year of Queen Victoria’s reign in 1897. The inscription on its stone plaque reads: “In commemoration of the 60th Year of the reign of her imperial majesty Queen Victoria.”
Another plaque mentions: “By Lala Mohan Lal, son of Dr Bihari Lal, in the year of the foundation of the town of Lyallpur.”
Lala Mohan Lal’s initiative earned recognition all the way to Britain, prompting other local dignitaries to seek an even greater tribute. They approached British officials with a proposal to build a clock tower in Queen Victoria’s memory, requesting that their names also be inscribed, as with Qaiseri Gate.
However, the British administration decided that the tower would be constructed under government supervision, funded by the citizens and would bear no names. Instead, it would be a collective tribute from the people of the Chenab Colony.
Unlike the Qaiseri Gate, therefore there are no names on the Clock Tower. Instead, the plaques in Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi and English—representing the city’s Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Christian communities—read: “This clock tower was erected by the inhabitants of the Chenab Colony in grateful remembrance of the Empress Queen Victoria 1903-1905.”
Myths, materials and missing records
Another account of the origins of the Lyallpur Clock Tower suggests that before its construction, a meeting was held on the circular edge of the well that had earlier existed at the site. In that meeting, a proposal by Sir Ganga Ram, seconded by Sheikh Allah Bakhsh, led to the passing of a resolution to construct a clock tower in memory of Queen Victoria.
To raise funds for this ambitious project, a committee was formed.It included notable local people including Sheikh Allah Bakhsh, Lala Kaljus Rai, Lala Bhawani Das, Seth Karorimal, Sardar Mahinder Singh and Pastor Wazir Chand. They collected contributions from local landowners at the rate of Rs 18 per square(25 acres). Additional costs were reportedly covered by Hafiz Muhammad Abdullah, Mian Noorullah, sons of Munshi Fateh Din and ColAli Altaf.
Regarding the building materials, historical sources present two divergent accounts: one claims that the tower was built using Agra sandstone and Kashi mortar, the materials used in the Taj Mahal; the other states that the stone was quarried from Sangla Hill near Nankana Sahib. Most sources agree that the architect was Gulab Khan, a craftsman from Agra with ancestral ties to the Iranian architects who had worked on Taj Mahal.
Surprisingly, no authenticated financial records exist. Some sources estimate the cost at Rs 40,000, while others suggest Rs 80,000 or Rs 800,000. A helpful point of comparison might be the Jodhpur Clock Tower, built in 1910 with a similar height (approximately 100 feet) and almost identical design. That tower reportedly cost Rs 300,000 at the time. According to a 2017 Indian newspaper report, the adjusted value of that amount in modern terms, accounting for inflation and currency changes, would be around INR 73 million.
Earlier, in 1869, the city of Bombay (now Mumbai) had seen the construction of the 280-foot Rajabai Clock Tower, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in a style inspired by London’s Big Ben. Completed in 1878, it cost around Rs 550,000. It was the tallest structure in Bombay at the time.
Unlike these monuments, the Lyallpur Clock Tower lacks verified accounts. There is no definitive record of its architect’s resume, the exact source of materials, total cost, or a complete list of major contributors.
It is imperative that institutions like the Lyallpur Heritage Foundation, dedicated to preserving Faisalabad’s cultural heritage, access colonial-era documents and official archives to compile an accurate and credible history of this iconic structure. A well-documented heritage narrative will not only protect the legacy of the city but also educate future generations about the contributions behind its most symbolic monument.
Intriguing detail
The Clock Tower reflects a unique blend of Roman and Mughal architectural styles, embodying both aesthetic charm and symbolic meaning. Notably, the presence of the Christian Trinitarian symbolism in its trefoil designs highlights the diversity of influences. Surrounding the first floor, on all four sides, the royal monogram VR (Victoria Regina)—appears eight times. This emblem was once prominently featured on official documents and postal items during the British Raj, symbolising the British Crown’s rule over India.
Originally, four grand entrance gates were constructed to provide access from Aminpur Bazaar, Kutchery Bazaar, Jhang Bazaar and Karkhana Bazaar. These were adorned with elegant minaret-style pillars on both sides. Unfortunately, during the 1990s, these historical gates were dismantled and replaced with generic iron grills and gates, stripping the area of some of its original colonial-era grandeur.
In keeping with Mughal landscaping traditions, a small circular garden and fountain system was developed around the monument using white stone. Though barely operational today, the fountains still exist.When functional, they enhance the tower’s picturesque appeal.
Standing on the plinth of the tower and gazing upward, one is struck by the cube-shaped monument’s monumental scale and detail. Only one side of the ground floor has an entrance door. The other three are fitted with beautiful arched wooden lattice windows, originally painted white but now green—still preserved from previous restorations. Originally, the internal stairway leading to the upper levels was made of masonry. It was later replaced with a metal spiral staircase to accommodate storage space on the ground floor.
The first floor lacks ventilation grills, while the second floor features deep-red cement latticework on all four sides. The third floor has wooden louvered windows and balconies on each side, offering a panoramic view of the adjoining bazaars. On the fourth floor, four large clock dials face Katchery, Karkhana, Jhang and Chiniot Bazaars. Thanks to the architectural ingenuity of its designer, the time is clearly visible from all eight surrounding bazaars, despite there being only four clocks.
The mechanical legacy
The clock itself is a mechanical masterpiece, an engineering feat of its time. It comprises four dials, three weights, a pendulum, a bell and an intricate mechanism housed within the tower. The entire system weighs over 1,000 kilograms. The clock was manufactured in 1904 by the Bombay branch of the renowned British clock making firm, Lund & Blockley, known for producing timepieces for the British royal family. The company’s manager, Mr Pitman, personally travelled to Lyallpur to oversee its installation.
The same company built clocks for several iconic structures in India and Pakistan, including the Rajabai Clock Tower at the University of Mumbai and the former Victoria Terminus (now CST) Railway Station. The Jodhpur Clock Tower, built in 1910, features a clock identical in appearance to Lyallpur’s—also crafted by Lund & Blockley.
Etched on the metal components of the Lyallpur clock mechanism are the words Lund & Blockley – 1904. The internal machinery spans approximately six feet in length and four feet in width. It is built from a complex arrangement of gears and mechanical parts, weighing over 100 kilograms.
Surrounding it are four clock dials, each weighing approximately 70 kilograms and powered by a single mechanical system. The diameter of each dial measures five and a half feet, with hands weighing between 2 to 3 kilograms. The minute hands are nearly 2.75 feet long, while the hour hands span 2 feet each.
Inside the tower, the clock mechanism relies on three heavy weights—two suspended from the upper floor and one from below. The lower weight weighs 150 kilograms and each of the two upper ones weighs 125 kilograms. A pendulum, weighing over 100 kilograms, regulates the timekeeping. These weights must be wound manually, a task that historically required an hour of labour every week to maintain functionality.
During a 2020 restoration by Rafiq Watch Company, the mechanism was upgraded with electric motors, drastically reducing the winding time to just 6-7 minutes.
The silent bell
For decades, the striking chime of the clock echoed through the city every hour, mesmerising the citizens in all eight surrounding bazaars. People instinctively looked up at the majestic Clock Tower, guided by its timely bell.
Sadly, since 2022, the clock’s hands have stopped moving, and its voice has fallen silent. Though the clock facing Katchery Bazaar has recently been restored, the remaining three stand frozen in time.
On December 31, 2022, a mentally disturbed individual climbed the structure and caused significant damage to its upper portion. The repairs for this vandalism have yet to be undertaken. Additionally, the tower’s base stones and railing remain partially broken and neglected.
Under the Dilkash Lyallpur Project initiated in 2021, the provincial government had planned to restore five key heritage sites in Faisalabad: the Clock Tower, District Council building, Allama Iqbal Library, Qaiseri Gate and Gumti Fountain. The responsibility was assigned to the Walled City of Lahore Authority. Yet, the restoration of the Clock Tower has not begun.
According to Pakistan’s archaeological laws, any structure 75 years or older must retain its original architectural design. Restoration or repairs must preserve the historic integrity of the building. Unfortunately, none of Faisalabad’s heritage buildings are officially listed as protected monuments under the Department of Archaeology. Nor have any been restored in accordance with these standards. In most cases, aesthetic choices made by local administrators have caused further damage.
Although the Clock Tower building is under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation, no separate budget is allocated for its maintenance or restoration and no permanent staff is designated to safeguard the site or guide visitors.
Recently, the Punjab government launched a province-wide plan to revive 170 historical sites and monuments to promote tourism. All Faisalabad’s heritage structuresare glaringly absent from this initiative. This continued neglect and exclusion has been met with silence—both from the local public and their elected representatives.
The Clock Tower of Faisalabad is not just a symbol of the city’s colonial past—it is a living testament to architectural innovation, mechanical brilliance and multicultural legacy. Its preservation is essential not only for historical continuity but also to inspire future generations about the city’s rich and layered identity.
Note: This article draws upon research by Ashraf Ashari, Liaqat Ali Sandhu and Ashfaq Bukhari, along with archival content from newspapers published in Pakistan and India.
The writer has beenassociated with journalism for the past decade. He tweets naeemahmad876