The Punjab government has made the decision to preserve and restore two historical landmarks in Okara: the Satgarah Fort, constructed by Maharaja Ranjeet Singh approximately 180 years ago, and the tomb of Mir Chakar Khan Rind, a Baloch chieftain and folk hero, which predates the fort by over two centuries.
As a first step towards conserving and restoring these monuments, the provincial government has allocated a budget of Rs2.875 million. This funding will be utilized for archaeological surveys, documentation, and the development of a master plan to guide the conservation and development of the historic village of Satgarah in Okara. The project's PC-II has already been prepared, and documentation work is expected to commence next month.
Satgarah is a village located approximately 17 kilometers from Okara City. According to a concept paper prepared by the Punjab archaeology department, Mir Chakar Khan, a Baloch chieftain from the Rind tribe, migrated from Balochistan to the region in 1518. He settled in the present-day precincts of Okara and used the area as a base for his campaigns against the rulers of Multan. Mir Chakar Khan allied with Mughal emperor Humayun in his battles against Sher Shah Suri and established his power in the region. He is believed to have constructed a fort and a mosque near Satgarah village. Local residents believe that the site served as a Baloch graveyard and that Mir Chakar Khan was buried there in 1565.
In 1830, during his campaigns for Multan, Maharaja Ranjeet Singh constructed a fort on the site of the Baloch graveyard. He demolished the roof of Mir Chakar Khan's tomb, desecrated the grave, and incorporated it into one of the bastions of his fort. Although the Sikh fort still stands, it is in a dilapidated condition. The tomb was excavated and restored in 1960 by the then Multan commissioner, Atta Muhammad Khan Leghari, and was subsequently entrusted to the archaeology department. Despite a restoration effort in 2007 under the supervision of a provincial committee, the tomb remains in a state of disrepair. The plastering and alterations made during the restoration deviated from the original design, causing damage to the architectural and historical significance of the monument. The restoration work at that time focused only on the tomb, with no attention given to the Sikh-era fort or the site of Mir Chakar Khan's citadel.
The Satgarah village has been haphazardly developed around the fort and consists of old houses and fortification walls constructed with brick tiles. An annual congregation takes place at Satgarah, attracting Baloch people from neighboring areas and even from Balochistan.
The Punjab archaeology department has proposed a three-phase project for preservation and restoration. In Phase I, it is suggested that the entire site, including the Satgarah village, be protected under the Punjab Special Premises (Protection) Act 1985. Additionally, the department recommends the establishment of a small museum within the tomb or any other historically significant building in the village. Furthermore, it proposes the construction of a building for the Baloch congregation, equipped with facilities such as eateries.
Phase II entails the restoration of the fortification wall and other fort structures, as well as the preservation of selected village buildings based on their historical and architectural importance. The old Satgarah Baloch settlement would be retained and protected.
Phase III focuses on the preservation and restoration of old houses, the rehabilitation of the village area within the fort as a living monument, and the development of tourist facilities such as an information center, landscaped park, and outdoor congregation area
