CHUGHTAI PAINTINGS AT GOVERNOR HOUSE LAHORE
SIX OUT OF TWELVE REMAINING, PRESENT UNKNOWN

The icon of Pakistan M.A. Rahman Chughtai was selected to be represented by his paintings at many public places. These included public buildings as well as Pakistani Embassies abroad. About twelve paintings were acquired for the Governor House Lahore from the artist from the Governorship of Sir Abdur Rab Nishtar to Nawab Gurmani. They hung there for many years and then started disappearing. About six were still there in the time of Pervaiz Musharraf. Presently not known how many are there. In a visit of mine, I saw many had been replaced by works of artist Noon as well as by Abdul Waheed Chughtai. The disappearance could not be possible by outsiders but by the officials themselves.

In any case the same are pride for Pakistan. Some of the visitors who admired them included Queen Elizabeth II as well as Jawaharlal Nehru. In fact the artist himself took Nehru around and introduced his vision about his works. Another important admirer there was the brother of the Emperor of Japan,
as well as Prince Akhito, the present Emperor of Japan. The artist Chughtai has always brought laurels to his country………………………………………………..