Ewing Hall Demolition Reports Denied Amidst Government-FCCU Property Dispute in Lahore
The Lahore Heritage Areas Revival Board (LHAR) has refuted claims of impending demolition for the historic Ewing Hall, asserting plans for its preservation and restoration. This denial comes as the Forman Christian College University (FCCU) and the Punjab government are embroiled in a dispute over the property's ownership and outstanding rent. The government claims the lease expired years ago with Rs107 million in dues, leading to a legal process that concluded with an order on April 27, 2026, to resume the land. FCCU, however, challenges rent demands from 1975 to 2003 when the institution was nationalized and argues the building was used until COVID-19, not vacant since 2015, and was undergoing renovation plans following a structural assessment.
The Lahore Heritage Areas Revival Board (LHAR) has denied reports suggesting the demolition of the historic Ewing Hall, located near Neela Gumbad. Following the government's repossession of the property, the board stated that the structure would be preserved and restored, not destroyed. LHAR emphasized its mandate, along with the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA), is to protect and restore historical buildings to their original form.
This statement by LHAR follows protests from the Forman Christian College University (FCCU) and activists who raised concerns over the government's takeover and fears of demolition. The controversy centers on the property's lease and outstanding financial obligations.
The Punjab government maintains that the lease for Ewing Hall expired years ago and that Rs107 million in outstanding rent remained unpaid despite repeated notices. The building was originally leased in 1915 to FC College for use as a student hostel. LHAR claimed the hall had been vacant and unused for its original educational purpose since 2015.
Conversely, FCCU has questioned the demand for rent payments for the period between 1975 and 2003, arguing that the FC College was nationalized and under government control during that time. The university also disputed the claim that the building was unused since 2015, stating it functioned as a hostel until concerns about structural soundness emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. A hostel guardian was maintained, and FCCU intended to return it to hostel use.
According to FCCU, it commissioned a comprehensive structural assessment of Ewing Hall at a cost of Rs5 million, resulting in an engineering report in March 2026. Based on this report, the university planned renovations and was engaged in discussions with the WCLA regarding the building's facade.
The legal process, as detailed by LHAR, involved the Board of Revenue issuing a show-cause notice to the lessee in March 2026. Following hearings with representatives from FCCU and the Higher Education Department, an order was passed on April 27, 2026, resuming the land in favor of the government. LHAR stated that its actions are related to legal and heritage conservation issues, not targeting any specific institution or community, and expressed respect for Forman Christian College and its history.
FCCU has affirmed its belief that a cooperative approach, involving dialogue rather than legal processes, could lead to a fair resolution, ensuring the protection and restoration of Ewing Hall for its original purposes and future generations.
(Source: Dawn Pakistan)
