PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PUNJAB

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE BUILDING.-

The Present Punjab Assembly Chamber was built in 1935. It was then situated on a relatively very open area. It was designed by Mr Bazel M. Salune, Superintending Architect, Architecture circle, Punjab. Its foundation stone was laid down by Sir Jogindar Singh, Minister for Agriculture, in November, 1935. 

Site and Structure of the Building.-

The Punjab Assembly Building, built on the Shahrah-e-Quaid-Azam, (The Mall) is a marvelleous piece of Roman architecture and is one of the historical and prestigious buildings of the country. The building and the beautiful lawns appertaining thereto are spread over an area of 8 acres. Assembly building has two floors. The first floor consists of a Hall. The Assembly Hall, which is the Pivotal and the most important part of the building, presents a rare admixture of grandeur and beauty. It was originally constructed for small number of members, however it has capacity to accommodate   271 members. The hall is fitted with the latest Public Address/ conference and CCTV system. There are galleries for the Press, Radio, and T.V and visitors for witnessing the proceedings of the Assembly, with a total capacity of 200 seats. Besides that first floor consists of Speaker's Chamber, C.M.'s Chamber, Deputy Speaker's office, cabinet room, Minister's offices, two committee rooms and Assembly Secretariat offices. 

There is wide reception Area, Cafeteria, Library, Prayer room, Dispensary, Leader of the opposition office, One Committee room, Bank and offices of Assembly Secretariat on ground floor. 

M.P.As. Hostels.-

Besides Punajb Assembly chambers, there are two residential hostels acquired by Punjab Assembly authorities. Which are used for the boarding of out station members coming to Lahore for attending meetings of the Assembly or any of the committees. 

(a) Pipals House.-

The member's first residential hostel is called 'Pipal's House' which is situated near the Punjab Civil Secretariat. It was built in 1950. There are only 40 rooms in the hostel. The hostel consists of three double storyed blocks each facing a common garden in the centre, 6 rooms on each storey and a fourth block with four rooms. 

Each residential unit consists of a huge bed cum sitting room, a dressing room and a bath room. Some units have kitchen and verandah at the back of rooms. There is a corridor in front of all rooms served as passage. 

(b) New M.P.As. Hostel.-

Due to inadequate residential facility of Pipals House, it was in 1988, the project for construction of new hostel, near the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab was envisaged. It was planned to cater the residential facility of increasing Members of the Provincial Assembly. M/s Nayyar Ali Dada, was appointed as consultant by the Chief Minister, Punjab, who carried out the Master Plan for this project. 

The site was selected for the construction of a New MPA's Hostel in the lawn of the western side of the Assembly Building. 

In view of heavy financial implications and inadequate funding, the possibility of undertaking this project as a whole was not feasible, therefore, this project was splitted into different phases. As per master plan, it was planned that New M.P.As Hostel building would comprise 2 blocks A and B. 

The shape of Block 'A' was Semi circular, where as Block "B" was rectangular in shape. 

I According to the Master plan Block 'A' comprising phase I and II, consisted of 108 suites. 

In 1988, construction of phase I started and foundation stone was laid down by the then Chief Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif.

This phase completed in 1992 and inaugurated by Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, the then Speaker of Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Phase I is 1/3 portion of Block 'A'. It consists of basement, ground floor consisting of reception and lounge for visitors. service floor, (for provision of different services like water supply, sewerage, gas supply etc.). Then start four residential floors consisting of total 36 suites. Each floor consists of 9 suites and each suite consists of one bed room with attached bath and kitchen. 

The construction of phase II, could not be undertaken. According to the original plan, this phase had 72 residential units/suites for M.P.As which was later revised. According to the revised plan it had only 40 residential suites consisted of a lounge, a bed room, an office, a kitchen, and two bath rooms. One bath room was attached with the lounge and other with the bed room.