Historic building in Ziarat, Balochistan, Pakistan
Quaid-e-Azam Residency (Urdu: قائدِ اعظم ریزیڈنسی), also known as Ziarat Residency, is located in Ziarat, Balochistan, Pakistan. It is where Muhammad Ali Jinnah spent the penultimate month of his life, nursed by A. S. Nathaniel. It is the most famous landmark of the city, constructed in 1892 during the British Raj. The building is a wooden structure, originally designed as a sanatorium before being converted into the summer residence of the agent of the Governor General. It is declared a heritage site and is of great architectural importance.
Property damage
On 29 October 2008, at around 4 am, Ziarat and surrounding areas were struck by an earthquake doublet. The first tremor, 6.2 magnitude, lasted a couple of seconds, and was followed by a magnitude-6.4 tremor that lasted almost 30 seconds, destroying many mud houses, several government buildings and neighbouring houses. The residency was also damaged during the 2008 earthquake.[1]
On 15 June 2013, the Residency was targeted with rockets. The wooden parts of the building were badly affected as a result of the attack. Militants belonging to BLA claimed responsibility. It was badly damaged as a result of the intense attack.[2] However, the government of Pakistan vowed to restore the site. However, despite the wooden structure being badly damaged in the 2013 attack, the concrete structure was standing and the photographs along with the other artifacts were safe and sound.[3]
Rehabilitation
The reconstruction work completed by builder Nayyer Ali Dada and the rehabilitated Ziarat Residency opened on August 14, 2014, by then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.[4] The Building is now open for all to visit it.
Depictions
The Quaid-e-Azam Residency has appeared on the 100-rupee note since 2006.
