Lahore’s First Water Pumping House Set to Reopen as a Museum

Lahore’s first water pumping house, which once supplied drinking water to the Walled City, is being converted into a museum.

Located near the Lorry Adda, the pumping house is a little-known national heritage structure that houses the steam engine used in Lahore’s earliest water supply system. Installed in 1883, the engine was built to meet the city’s growing demand for clean drinking water.

A tall chimney beside the building remains a striking feature, while inside, the massive steam engine structure is still intact. Its heavy gears resemble those used in large ships, reflecting the scale and engineering of the period.

The historic pumping station was established by philanthropist Bela Ram, in collaboration with the then governor of Lahore, Charles Aitchison, following concerns over contaminated drinking water in the city.

During the British era, the coal-fired steam engine lifted water from the Ravi River. The water was then stored in a large reservoir and supplied to homes across the city.

At the time, the Walled City had a population of around 32,000. The pumping station supplied nearly one million gallons of water daily to meet residents needs.

The station became non-operational after the 1971 Pakistan–India war disrupted coal supplies. Electric tube wells were later introduced as an alternative water source.

Although the machinery can no longer be operated, it remains intact and will be cleaned, conserved, and displayed as part of the museum.

The Walled City of Lahore Authority has launched a conservation project to preserve the site as a British-era heritage monument. A section of the building will also be converted into a cafeteria, with revenue generated from the site used for its maintenance.