Lahore’s first water pumping house, a historic structure that once supplied drinking water to the Walled City, is set to reopen as a museum, offering residents and tourists a glimpse into the city’s early engineering feats.
Located near the Lorry Adda, the pumping house is a little-known national heritage site that still houses the steam engine used in Lahore’s earliest municipal water supply system. Installed in 1883, the engine was designed to meet the growing demand for clean drinking water in the city. Its massive gears and towering chimney remain intact, reflecting the scale and craftsmanship of 19th-century engineering.
The historic facility was established by philanthropist Bela Ram in collaboration with the then-governor of Lahore, Charles Aitchison, after concerns arose over contaminated water in the city. During the British colonial era, a coal-fired steam engine lifted water from the Ravi River, which was stored in a large reservoir before being distributed across the Walled City. At that time, the city’s population was around 32,000, and the station supplied nearly one million gallons of water daily.
The pumping house ceased operations after the 1971 Pakistan–India war disrupted coal supplies. It was later replaced by electric tube wells, which became the city’s main water source. While the machinery can no longer operate, it has been preserved in its original state and will be cleaned and displayed as part of the new museum.
The Walled City of Lahore Authority has launched a conservation project to protect the site as a heritage monument. Plans also include converting part of the building into a cafeteria, with proceeds used for maintenance, ensuring that this piece of Lahore’s history remains accessible to future generations.
The museum is expected to open later this year, offering a rare look at one of Lahore’s earliest infrastructure achievements and celebrating the city’s rich historical and technological heritage.
