A clock is an instrument to indicate, keep and coordinate time. Historical clocks represent the beauty of the city Lahore. There are almost 17 clock towers in Lahore which guide people about time. Some clock towers work and some don’t, they are kept as a piece of architecture and for the general public as well. In ancient times, city walls were constructed around the towns for the protection and security of the citizens from the enemies. It was difficult for the people to know the exact time when they were out of homes and clock towers played an important role in helping people keep track of time. The clock towers and clock turrets in Lahore remnants of colonial times or immediate post colonial era is the architecture of the Lahore city.

One of the most exquisite clock tower is displayed on the Government College Main building. The clock tower at Gc University Lahore was erected in 1875. The college was established in 1864 and was recently given the status of university. It is one the most prestigious educational institution in Pakistan Lahore. The history of prestigious institute like Government College University cannot be separated from its tower. It has produced lot of heroes in almost every field and writers like Banu Qudsia and Ashfaq Ahmed has mentioned about the tower in their various books.

With the distance of one kilometer Government college university clock tower there are a few other buildings in which big clocks are fixed to public view. Coming towards the railway station a clock tower is also made on Railway station building; beautiful clock tower of Lahore station was build during 1884-1886. The railway network established by the British was very extensive and is one of their lasting contributions to the culture and infrastructure of this region. The idea and plan of the construction of the clock tower was conceived 102 years ago by the deputy commissioner of Jhang, Captain Burley, to commemorate the long reign of Queen Victoria. The foundation stone of this historical landmark of the British period was laid on Nov 4, 1903, by Sir Charles Pewaz, the then governor of Punjab. The general post master on the mall has a mini tower built atop its front side profile in which a clock is mounted facing the Lahore High Court building. This clock is displayed on the main road for the general public and it is a great piece of art. The Fatima medical college situated on the queen’s road is another government building which is blessed by a regular clock for the general public as well. Outdoor advertising plays an important role in visual identity and the degree of awareness accorded to the brand Rado clock Tower near panorama is one of the examples of it. The clock tower in Lahore made by the Britishers are the remnants of forgotten past Keeping a watch in silence over the passing public which is oblivious even to their existence.

Although clock towers are today mostly admired for their aesthetics, they once served an important purpose. Before the middle of the twentieth century, most people did not have watches, and prior to the 18th century even home clocks were rare. The first clocks didn't have faces, but were solely striking clocks, which sounded bells to call the surrounding community to work or to prayer. They were therefore placed in towers so the bells would be audible for a long distance. Clock towers were placed near the centres of towns and were often the tallest structures there. As clock towers became more common, the designers realized that a dial on the outside of the tower would allow the townspeople to read the time whenever they wanted.

Another one of the fine educational institutions that Lahore seems to abound in is the old campus of Punjab University; located opposite to the Lahore Museum building across the Upper Mall Road has a wonderful clock tower which displays the beauty of the Mall road. `

When the British subjugated the Orient, they introduced clock towers throughout the occupied territory. In Sindh also these clock towers can be seen in marketplaces and main public buildings of even the small towns. Unfortunatanely, now a days the maintenance of clock towers are been neglected by the authorities as well as civil society. It is the responsibility of the municipal authorities and civil society to appreciate the significance of clock towers beauty and radiance of the clock tower at night when it stands gracefully lit up as part of the city’s centenary celebrations.