Preservation & development work on historical Mai Qamro Mosque underway

Islamabad


ISLAMABAD: Preservation and development work on historical Mai Qamro Mosque and Muqarab Khan Tomb are in full swing at ‘Bagh Jogian’ in the vicinity of Islamabad.

Senior official of Department of Archaeology and Museum (DOAM) told reporter that the historical heritage sites would be upgraded and revamped, giving a fresh look.

The Mosque is believed to have been built by Mai Qamro, Hathi Khan Ghakkar’s wife, a Ghakkar dynasty scion in which women occupied a prestigious and influential position.

According to some architects, this Mosque was constructed in the early 16th century, a great specimen of Ghakkar architecture.

It was built on a rectangular plan and crowned with three squat domes.

The southern dome of the mosque has caved in but the two others are in fairly good condition.

The central entrance is flanked by two recessed arches which lend an amazing beauty to the façade of the structure.

Above the arched entrance, one finds a beautiful cut-brick ornamentation.

Such embellishments cannot be found
elsewhere in Potohar.

Dressed stone has been used to construct the mosque. Formerly, it was plastered, traces of which are still visible on the façade of the mosque.

Parts of the boundary wall of the mosque have survived the ravages of time. The northern boundary is still standing. The remains of the southern and eastern walls are also visible.

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