The government in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has taken possession of the ancestral houses of Indian film legends Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor in Peshawar, the provincial capital.
The ownership of both the houses has been transferred to the Director of Archeology and Museum, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after Peshawar Deputy Commissioner announced the award for the acquisition of the two buildings.

The Department of Archeology and Museums has taken possession of both houses.

The provincial government had decided in 2020 to convert both houses into museums.

According to two award letters issued from the office of Deputy Commissioner Peshawar, the archeology department had decided to buy both houses to convert them into museums.

After the local administration completed the legal proceedings earlier this year by enacting the relevant sections 4-6 of the Land Acquisition Act 1894, final notices were issued to the owners for submission of written objections.

However, owners of the two houses had refused to sell them, submitting written objections to the deputy commissioner.

Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Khalid Mehmood this week announced the award and set the price of Dilip Kumar’s house at Rs 8.56 million (USD 55,350.79). Dilip Kumar’s house is located in Mohalla Khudadad behind Qissa Khawani.

Similarly, Raj Kapoor’s house price has been fixed at Rs 15 million (USD 96,993.21).  The dwelling is in Dhaki Dalgaran.

Owners of both houses would be able to approach the court in case of any objection.

Director of Archeology and Museums KP Abdul Samad told The News that the department has got possession of both houses. The next step is to restore the two houses to their original condition and then convert them into museums for which funds are available.

(SAM)