Usmani Manzil 2 (Lahore)

Pakistan / Punjab / Lahore / Railway Road, 5
 Upload a photo
Sabzi Mandi Chowk - This is where I grew up. We moved out of this house around 1962, and few years later, we sold this house. There used to be Soot Mandi (Yarn Market) in this area, during those golden days. Yarn Stores were under our house. The next building was Daar Ul Isha'at Punjab, Lahore (Syed Imtiaz Ali Taj's home and business). Our neighbor was Professor Dr. Abdullah, Oriental College. He had a son Shuja (?) and a daughter Atia, who might be in their 70s now. On the other side of our home, there was Haji Sahab's Kaarkhana, where Cotton Ginning Looms’ wooden parts were manufactured. Haji Sahab had older daughters and two younger sons, Nazar and Niaz, who must be in their late 50s and early 60s, and daughter in 70s, by now. Next to our house was Sabzi Mandi Chowk and opposite our home was Sabzi Mandi. Behind our building was Chowk Gawal Mandi (It was only a T section, not a Cho'raha). Just a few blocks past Daar Ul Isha'at, was Eros Cinema. Past that was Azizul Islam High School (Head Master was Mian Ji who lived in Rang Mahal), and then Amrit Dhara Building. I wonder if all those places are still there. Those were the good old days; we never locked our house entrances during day or night. We used to do a lot of Patang Bazi (Flying Kites) on our long rooftop. Until 1962, in the whole city of Lahore, Shamma Kababi was the only Restaurant, Barbecue Shop in Gawal Mandi, where you could get Tikka Kabab. I saw on WikiMapia that they have now opened Food Street in Gawal Mandi; My family has been there.

My eldest sister, a Hafiz e Quran, completed her MBA and MPA degrees around 1958, while we were still living in this home. She was among the first batch of MBA’s from The Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi. IBA was established under and affiliated with Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. During her career, she worked with Village Aid Program, National Institute of Public Administration, Pakistan Administrative Staff College, and later retired as Director, Civil Service Academy.

My other sister completed her MBBS from King Edwards Medical College, which was just a few blocks away from this home. The K. E. Medical College was next to Baan'soan Wala Bazar (Mamboo Market), Mayo Hospital, Lady Aitchison Hospital, Qutub Uddin Aibak's Tomb, Anarkali Bazar, Bano Bazar, and Masjid Neela Gumbed (Historic Blue Dome Mosque). Later, my sister went to UK, completed her FRCS, went to USA and did her MD, and returned to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, where she served for about three decades. She is a notable Surgeon who has earned many distinctions, recognitions, awards, and medals for Pakistan, from around the world for her meritorious services in the medical field. While living in Pakistan, She served as Chairperson, World Cancer Foundation, USA. She retired as Principal of Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore. She is still serving the country in the field of Cancer and as a General Surgeon.

My brother completed his Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in Economics from Punjab University when we lived in this home. He served National Bank of Pakistan as Software Development Specialist; attended Queens University in Belfast, Ireland and obtained a second Master's degree in Computer Science. He worked in London for 20 years for an International Bank, before venturing back to Pakistan as Executive Vice President for Prime Commercial Bank Limited before establishing his Software Warehouse. Having started with 15 employees, he has steadily built the organization that now employs over 100 people with offices in Lahore, Islam Abad and Karachi. As CEO and Chairman, he pioneered ASD from a one-man set-up to a global banking solutions provider serving a diverse customer base across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Karachi always fascinated me; I obtained my Bachelor's Degree from Sind Muslim College in 1968 and Master's Degrees in Economics from Karachi University in 1970. Our Head of the Department was Dr. Ehsan Rasheed and one of the Professors was Dr. Ali Sarwar Rizvi, who became a good friend later. Dr. Rizvi, Mr. Saleem Chishti and Mr. Muhammad Sajideen attended my wedding in Karachi. They also visited me, after I moved back to Lahore. Our Vice Chancellor at Karachi University was Dr. Syed Ishtiaq Hussain. I was engaged in Karachi in 1968 to Zaheda and got married in 1973. Although I grew up in Lahore, but I loved Karachi and Okara, and have many memories associated with these cities.

Our family owned agricultural lands and fruit orchards (Bagh) in the vicinity of Okara, in Gogera, in Karman Wala, and in Marula (North of Renala Khurd). Gogera used to be District Headquarters prior to Montgomery-Sahiwal during British Rule. I grew up in Lahore, but Okara was like a second home for us.

In late 1970s we moved to America, and love this country; my brother and sisters still live in Lahore. You can search for uzkmi, through Wikimapia Search Bar on top right and read more about my snippets or tidbits.

Usman Muhammad Khan
New Jersey 08054-3315 USA
Wikimapia User: uzkmi
Updated: August 30, 2012

Hum Na Honge To Hume Yaad Karegi Duniya ...

Apne Jeene Ki Ada Bhi Anokhi Sab Se
Apne Marne Ka Bhi Andaaz Nirala Hoga

Ek Din Bik Jayega, Maati Ke Mol
Jag Mein Reh Jayenge Pyare Tere Bol

Dooje Ke Hothon Ko Dekar Apne Geet
Koi Nishani Chhor, Phir Duniya Se Dol
 Add place (company, shop, etc.) to this building
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   31°34'22"N   74°19'9"E

Comments

  • i have red all the info u gave abt okara,
  • Khan Beta, I replied to your note at Bakkar Mandi Okara location.
  • Ya ALLAH , I ask You to Bless my friends, relatives and those that I care for deeply, those who are reading this right now.. strengthen their IMAAN at this very moment... Where there is pain, give them SALAAM and REHMAT. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace. Where there is need, give them abundantly.. Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings. Aameen!
This article was last modified 13 years ago