| Clock Tower, Multan | |
|---|---|
تل گھر | |
 | |
 Interactive map of Clock Tower, Multan | |
| Former names | Northbrook Tower |
| Alternative names | Tall Karr |
| General information | |
| Type | Clock tower |
| Architectural style | Indo-Saracenic |
| Location | Multan,Punjab, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 30°11′55″N71°28′04″E / 30.19861°N 71.46778°E /30.19861; 71.46778 |
| Construction started | 1884 |
| Completed | 1888 |
| Owner | Government of Punjab |
Clock Tower (Punjabi:تل گھر), formerly known asNorthbrook Tower, is aclock tower and city government headquarters ofMultan in thePunjab province ofPakistan.[1][2]
Ghanta Ghar or Clock Tower of Multan was built in 1884 inBritish India.[1] After passing the municipal act of 1883 British needed offices to run the city. They started constructing Ghanta Ghar in Multan on 12 February 1884 and it took 4 years to completely build this building. It was constructed over the ruins ofHaveli of Ahmad Khan Sadozai which was completely destroyed duringSiege of Multan. The hall and building were named 'Ripon Hall and Ripon Building' after the name ofRipon, viceroy of India at that time. And clock tower was named Northbrook Tower after the name ofNorthbrook, a former Viceroy of India (1872–3).
This building was completed, opened and offices shifted in 1888. Hall was named 'Jinnah Hall' after theindependence ofPakistan in 1947 and is used for office meetings, cultural programs, and is open to the public. With the passage of time, this building became insufficient for offices and a small hall was also insufficient for meetings, so offices were shifted from here. Now it is said that plan for the future is to change this historic building into a museum.[1]
On 27 October 2011, three clocks of Ghanta Ghar were repaired and started again showing the time of PST which is +5GMT.[1] This effort was done by a watch companyRado Watchmaker. The machinery and needles of the clocks were changed while the clock's main dial was unchanged. It runs on solar energy. The clock had stopped working in 1985.[1]
Ghanta Ghar Multan is made a museum by the city government calledMultan Museum.[1] Funds have been allocated and work has been started but the site remains closed to the public as each new government that comes erases the previous government's plans and promises.
