ARCHITECTURE OF SIALKOT

GENERAL INFO:
Sialkot is a city in Punjab, Pakistan. Sialkot is Pakistan's 12th most populous city,
and is located in north-east Punjab — one of Pakistan's mostly highly
industrialized regions.
LOCATION:
It is a city situated in the north-east of the Punjab province in Pakistan at the feet
of the snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river.
FAMOUS FOR:
The city has been affected by the wars of 1965 and 1971 because of its location; it
is located near the border of India. Sialkot is known for manufacturing and export
of many items such as surgical instruments, musical instruments, sports goods,
leather goods, textile goods etc.
INSTITUTIONAL OR GENERAL BUILDING CATEGORIS:
Before proceeding any discussion on its architecture, I have categorized it as;
1] INSTITUTIONAL BUILDINGDS.
2] PRIVATE SECTORS.
3] HERITAGE BUILDINGS.
4] ICONIC STRUCTURES.
5] GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.

GENERAL ASPECT OR GEMRAL OBSERVATION;

According to me as far as the architecture is concern I think it’s a domination of
colonial style and yet it is to be considered as a vernacular architecture of that area.
Whenever a new house is to be built it seems to follow that same colonial format
that some of the old buildings also resembles with. And is often seen in the
architecture of houses of that area.
INSTITUTIONAL BUILDINGDS:
In these buildings the colonial isn’t that popular as in the residential ones. The
architectural works evolves and the community has to adapt that as the time passes.
The old buildings does have a bit touch of that colonialism and there are lot of
buildings still existing that depicts the colonialism
For example; THE CITY SCHOOL, SIALKOT MEDICAL UNIVERSITY and
SECONDARY HIGH SCHOOL CANTT.
PRIVATE SECTORS:
In private sectors the buildings like SIALKOT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE is
the best is the best example to see the influence of colonial period.
HERITAGE BUILDINGS:
Some of the old buildings show a conflict between the Sikh, Mughal and colonial
architecture. For example; THE CLOCK TOWER OF SIALKOT and the
SIALKOT CATHOLIC shows the colonial period, THE SIALKOT FORT is
sharing its similarities with the SIKH as well as the MUGHAL architecture.
ICONIC STRUCTURES:
Iconic structures are the buildings by which the city is renowned over the world are
the great SAGA SPORTS PVT LTD and THE QSA SURGICALS are actually
designed by AR. MANSOOR DURRANI and the fact that both structures
don’t have any resemblance to any of the pre used architecture styles.
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS:
The NADRA OFFICE and the MURRAY COLLEGE SIALKOT depicts the
Mughal as well as the colonial architecture. More precisely the NADRA OFFICE
is more towards the Mughal and the MURRAY COLLEGE have more
resemblance with the colonial architecture.

Therefore, we can say that the Sialkot is a truly a showcase of colonial

architecture.