Pakistan’s KPK government approves Rs 2.35 crore for purchasing Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar’s houses and converting them into museums – Eagles Vine

Under the conservation plan of historical buildings and to promote tourism, Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) government has approved Rs 2.35 core for purchasing the houses of legendary Bollywood actors Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar in Peshawar, which are now in shambles, to convert them into museums.

Kamran Bangash, Special Assistant to Chief Minister KPK Mehmood Khan told TOI on Saturday that KPK Chief Minister Mehmood Khan has approved Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 80 lakh respectively to make the purchase. “The house and haveli will then be converted into museums and opened for the public,” informed Kamran, adding that the process to purchase the properties will soon be completed.

The step to convert the houses into museums is a part of the government’s initiative to reinstate the pre-Indo Pak partition culture, reminiscent of KPK. The Chief Minister is hopeful that the initiative will attract a large number of tourists.

Ikram Khatana, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) digital media head, KPK, informed that the houses of the iconic actors of Hindi cinema were in lying vacant and in shambles and hence they have struck deals with their respective owners. “It will be finalised in the near future and then we will begin the restoration process and convert the houses into museums to showcase their journey to Bollywood,” said Ikram.

Dilip Kumar’s house and the Kapoor Haveli are situated in Qissa Khwani Bazar. Both the houses have already been declared as national heritage sites by the Pakistan government after the owners tried to demolish them to construct commercial plazas in the area, which has now become a prime location in Peshawar.