Sir Ganga Ram’s great-granddaughter Kesha Ram Hansdale meets with Chief Minister Parvez Elahi
Sindh Courier Report
Lahore
The Punjab government will renovate and rehabilitate the residence of Rai Bahadur Sir Ganga Ram, located in Lahu Ratiksaali Gate area of Lahore, and turn it into a museum.
Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi told this in a meeting with Ms. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, the great-granddaughter of Sir Ganga Ram who called on him in the Chief Minister’s office on Wednesday. Kesha Ram, who is also the US Senator and is currently visiting Pakistan, was accompanied by her husband Mr. Jacob Croteau Hinsdale.
Sir Ganga Ram, born on April 13, 1851 in a small village of Sheikhupura district, was a Civil Engineer and Architect, who is considered as father of modern Lahore. Sir Ganga Ram, who passed away on July 10, 1927, had built historic Ganga Ram Hospital in Lahore. He also designed and built the General Post Office, Lahore Museum, Aitchison College, Mayo School of Arts (now NCA), Lady Mclagan Girls High School, the chemistry department of the Government College University, the Albert Victor wing of Mayo Hospital, the Hailey College of Commerce, Ravi Road House for the Disabled, the Ganga Ram Trust Building on The Mall and Lady Maynard Industrial School. He also constructed Model Town, once the best locality of Lahore, the powerhouse at Renala Khurd as well as the railway track between Pathankot and Amritsar. He built Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lady Mclagan School and Renala Khurd Power House with his own money.
Punjab Chief Minister appreciated the valuable services of Sir Ganga Ram in the social sector. “Sir Gangaram’s residence will be renovated and will be turned into a museum,” he said adding that Sir Ganga Ram served the people regardless of race and color and dedicated his life to the service of humanity.
“The world never forgets those who served the suffering humanity. Ganga Ram is still alive in our hearts,” Chaudhry Parvez Elahi said and informed the Lady that he built a new 200-bed emergency block in Gangaram Hospital in his previous tenure and now he has inaugurated the first phase of the mother and child block in this hospital.
Chief Minister claimed that the medicines are available free of cost in all the emergency rooms of the government hospitals of Punjab. “Through the health card, every citizen of Punjab can get free treatment up to 10 lakh rupees per year. Cancer treatment through modern technology cyber knife has also been included in the health card.”
He said that the Punjab government has allocated 125 billion rupees annually for the facility of free treatment through health card.
Ms. Kesha Ram Hansdale said that she visited Gangaram Hospital where patients are getting free medicines and best treatment. “It is heartening to see the mother and child block in Gangaram Hospital has been established.”
During this week, US senator Kesha Ram visited Lahore High Court, where she was accorded a warm welcome by the lawyer community at the elegantly decorated bar room venue in Lahore High Court. She visited the building that was erected under the supervision of her great-grandfather Sir Ganga Ram in 1889.
Kesha Ram also visited several historical places including Sir Ganga Ram’s house in Taxali, where Lahore Sangat placed a plaque, “Sir Ganga Ram, Civil Engineer, Philanthropist used to live here”. She prayed at her great-grandfather’s Samadhi located at Ravi Road.
She arrived at Delhi Gate in a colorful rickshaw. The distinguished guest also saw the Shahi Hamam, Craft House, Gali Surjan Singh, and Wazir Khan Mosque.
_________________________
