BAHAWALPUR, May 7 — The Punjab Archaeology Department has announced the completion of a major conservation project at the historic Derawar Fort in the Cholistan desert. The over Rs120 million initiative focused on restoring the secretariat and residential quarters of the late Nawab of Bahawalpur, Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi V. Sub-Divisional Officer Sajjad Ahmed confirmed that while modern materials were used for reinforcement, the original architectural integrity of the 9th-century landmark has been preserved. The renovated portions, including a restored fortification wall, are expected to be opened to the public soon.
The work on the project, which also included the restoration of a fortification wall close to the late Nawab’s civil buildings, was taken in hand during 2022-23. https://t.co/nc3Leu1JqY
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) May 7, 2026
Quick Facts
- A Rs120 million restoration project at Derawar Fort has been successfully completed.
- The work focused on the late Nawab’s secretariat, residential areas, and the fortification wall.
- The department previously spent Rs141.8 million on the fort’s eastern bastions, mosque, and main gate.
- Derawar Fort was originally built in the 9th century and later rebuilt by the Nawabs of Bahawalpur in 1733.
- The structure features 39 massive bastions and was built primarily with small-size burnt bricks.
- The fort has been on UNESCO’s Tentative World Heritage List since 2016.
Archaeology officials noted that the project is part of a long-term effort to halt the decay of the massive structure, which began deteriorating after the death of the last ruling Nawab in 1966. Due to its location as a landmark of the Cholistan desert and its unique square-plan architecture, the fort attracts thousands of tourists annually.
The latest phase of restoration ensures that the “lofty bastions” and inner masonry, which rely on traditional mud mortar as a binding material, are stabilized against the harsh desert environment. The Bahawalpur divisional administration continues to allocate periodic funds to maintain the site, which was officially declared a protected antiquity in 2005.
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