Sindh Governor's House
Sights/Landmarks
The Governor's House (previously known as the Government House, Governor-General's House and President's House) in Karachi is the official residence of the Governor of Sindh. It is a historical building, built in 1939 and located along the Aiwan-e-Sadar Road of Karachi. It has been the residence of several prominent figures, including the Commissioners and pre-independence British governors of Sindh, followed by the Governor-Generals of Pakistan, the President of Pakistan and then by the Governors of present-day Sindh province.
History
The Sindh Governor House is located on the original site of the (now-demolished) Government House which was built in 1843 by Sir Charles Napier while Sindh was part of the British Raj. The Government House had been constructed for Napier's personal use and when Napier left in 1847, the house was bought by the Government of British India and used as an official residence by the Commissioners of Sindh up until 1936.
The construction of the present Governor House building started in the year 1936 by renowned architect R.T. Russel and was completed in 1939. The new building was built to replace the Government House, which had been in a state of disrepair and was no longer suitable for habitation. Sir Lancelot Graham, the first Governor of Sindh, laid the foundation stone of the building and started using it as his residence in 1939. After Graham, the succeeding governors of Sindh, Sir Hugh Dow (1941–1946) and Sir Francis Mudie (1946–1947), also lived in the building.
Following Pakistan's independence in August 1947 and Karachi's designation as the country's capital, the building became the residence of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan and its first Governor-General. From that point onward, the building became known as the "Governor-General's House" and was used as an official residence by all Governor-Generals of Pakistan who succeeded Jinnah. In 1956, the post of Governor-General was abolished and replaced by the President of Pakistan and the building was thereafter referred to as the "President's House." In the 1970s, the capital of Pakistan was moved to Islamabad and the federal government was shifted. With the dissolution of the One Unit scheme and revival of provinces, Karachi was designated the capital city of Sindh. The house eventually became the residence of the Governor of Sindh and continues to be so as of present.
For more details: Governor of Sindh
History
The Sindh Governor House is located on the original site of the (now-demolished) Government House which was built in 1843 by Sir Charles Napier while Sindh was part of the British Raj. The Government House had been constructed for Napier's personal use and when Napier left in 1847, the house was bought by the Government of British India and used as an official residence by the Commissioners of Sindh up until 1936.
The construction of the present Governor House building started in the year 1936 by renowned architect R.T. Russel and was completed in 1939. The new building was built to replace the Government House, which had been in a state of disrepair and was no longer suitable for habitation. Sir Lancelot Graham, the first Governor of Sindh, laid the foundation stone of the building and started using it as his residence in 1939. After Graham, the succeeding governors of Sindh, Sir Hugh Dow (1941–1946) and Sir Francis Mudie (1946–1947), also lived in the building.
Following Pakistan's independence in August 1947 and Karachi's designation as the country's capital, the building became the residence of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan and its first Governor-General. From that point onward, the building became known as the "Governor-General's House" and was used as an official residence by all Governor-Generals of Pakistan who succeeded Jinnah. In 1956, the post of Governor-General was abolished and replaced by the President of Pakistan and the building was thereafter referred to as the "President's House." In the 1970s, the capital of Pakistan was moved to Islamabad and the federal government was shifted. With the dissolution of the One Unit scheme and revival of provinces, Karachi was designated the capital city of Sindh. The house eventually became the residence of the Governor of Sindh and continues to be so as of present.
For more details: Governor of Sindh
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