Peshawar Orders Restoration of Raj Kapoor Homes
Raj Kapoor homes in Peshawar are set for restoration after Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi directed authorities to start work at the earliest. The order covers the ancestral homes of film legends Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor, two of the old city’s most famous houses.
Kundi issued the direction at a meeting to review the development and restoration of Peshawar’s historical heritage and tourist attractions. Officials briefed him on the city’s historical and cultural significance, the preservation of heritage sites, and ongoing and proposed development projects. Adviser for Development and Planning Usman Saifullah and Secretary Tourism Saadat Hassan attended, along with other relevant officials.
The governor said Peshawar was a living embodiment of centuries-old history, civilisation and culture. He stressed the need to highlight its historical identity to attract domestic and foreign tourists, and he welcomed practical steps to protect heritage sites and improve tourist facilities.
Raj Kapoor homes: what the governor ordered
The restoration order was one part of a wider heritage plan. Kundi directed authorities to display the vintage ambulance and old fire engines preserved at Gor Khatri at a suitable location where visitors could see them. He also called for special tourist buses to help visitors reach the city’s historical landmarks.
Large information boards will go up near the Peshawar Motorway Toll Plaza, highlighting the city’s historical sites and cultural heritage for travellers arriving in the city. The briefing also covered plans for night tourism and heritage tourism, two ideas meant to stretch visits beyond daylight hours and beyond a single site.
Kundi further stressed cultural activity. He said efforts should be made to preserve Peshawar’s traditions, arts and literary heritage, and he directed that restoration work on the ancestral homes of Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor be initiated at the earliest.
The order matters because the houses have waited a long time. Both actors were born in Peshawar: Dilip Kumar, born Muhammad Yusuf Khan, on December 11, 1922, at Mohalla Khudadad near Qissa Khwani Bazaar, and Raj Kapoor on December 14, 1924. Their homes stand near the historic bazaar, and both have been reported in a state of disrepair for years. Past plans, including a 2020 decision to convert them into museums, did not produce lasting restoration, which is why a fresh direction to start work carries weight only if it is followed by funding and a timetable.
A talent hunt in every language
Separately, Kundi chaired a meeting on the proposed Khyber Star Talent Hunt and Cultural Promotion Programme. He directed that all languages spoken in the province, including Urdu and Saraiki, be included so that every community gets equal representation and cultural diversity is promoted.
Officials briefed the meeting on the programme’s objectives, implementation mechanism and selection process. They said it aimed to identify and promote young talent while showcasing the province’s culture and traditions. Audition camps will be set up in different districts, and a committee of department representatives will oversee selection to ensure transparency and maintain standards.
Kundi stressed that no regional language should be excluded from the auditions. He singled out Saraiki, which is widely spoken in Dera Ismail Khan, Sindh and parts of Punjab. He said the youth of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa possessed talent that deserved recognition at national and international levels, and that young people needed constructive opportunities and an effective platform to show their work.
The two meetings fit one approach. Heritage sites draw visitors, and a talent programme gives young performers a stage, while both rest on the province’s cultural identity. Kundi has pressed the same point in other forums, including the first meeting of the KP Advisory Council, where he said the fight is against terrorism, not political rivals.
Culture, in that framing, is part of the province’s public life, not a side activity. Karachi’s World Culture Festival opened with 1,000 artists, and restoration of the Kapoor and Kumar homes would add a permanent Peshawar attraction to that map, if the work starts as directed.
Frequently asked questions
Which homes will be restored in Peshawar?
The ancestral homes of film legends Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor, located near the historic Qissa Khwani Bazaar in Peshawar.
Who ordered the restoration?
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi directed authorities to initiate restoration work at the earliest during a heritage review meeting.
