Heritage Centre

AFCP Preservation of Sheikhupura Fort - Photographic documentation

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Publications

• Books
• Book Reviews

Books

Makli under the Sammas by Suhail Zaheer Lari, 2016

Written by acclaimed historian Suhail Lari, who is also an avid photographer, the book traces the history of the Samma rule in Sindh through a spectacular pictorial journey of the remarkable structures built in 14^th and 15^th c. at World Heritage Makli.  

Size: 25x25 cm, 210 pages,186 photographs

Link

Makli Under The Sammas- Part I

www.hoggit.com/File/15011/Makli-Under-The-Sammas-Part-1

Makli Under The Sammas- Part II

www.hoggit.com/File/15012/Makli-Under-The-Sammas-Part-2

 Makli Under The Sammas- Part III

www.hoggit.com/File/15013/Makli-Under-The-Sammas-Part-3

Hard Publish Book is available in 2500 PKR.

Sepulchre of Mirza Jan Baba Father of Isa Tarkhan the Second – Conservation and Rehabilitation by Yasmeen Lari, 2017

The publication is a record of conservation that was carried out in 2015-2016 by Heritage Foundation of Pakistan. A full record of procedures is provided, and innovative approaches e.g. rational behind the use of bamboo domes for providing protection to vulnerable parts, are explained.

Size: 20x20 cm, 96 pages, 176 photographs

Link

Sepulchre of Mirza Jan Baba Father of Isa Tarkhan the Second-Conservation and Rehabilitation Part 1

www.hoggit.com/File/15019/Sepulchre-of-Mirza-Jan-Baba-Father-of-Isa-Tarkhan-the-Second-Conservation-and-Rehabilitation-Part-1

Sepulchre of Mirza Jan Baba Father of Isa Tarkhan the Second-Conservation and Rehabilitation Part 2

www.hoggit.com/File/15020/Sepulchre-of-Mirza-Jan-Baba-Father-of-Isa-Tarkhan-the-Second-Conservation-and-Rehabilitation-Part-2

Hard Publish Book is available in 1000 PKR.

The Green Manual

Towards a Sustainable Future: Build Back Safer with Vernacular Methodologies By Yasmeen Lari, 2015

The pictorial green manual provides detailed information regarding 13 green methodologies ranging from mud brick making, making of earthen cook stoves and eco-toilets to safe earth/lime/bamboo safe shelters, raised hand pumps, raised farming, rainwater harvesting and organic fertilizer and organic soap. The information is based on the strategies use in disaster affected areas of Pakistan and provides low income, zero/low carbon alternatives.

Size: 15x21 cm, 105 pages, 190 photographs

Link

The Green Manual

Towards a Sustainable Future Build Back Safer with Vernacular Methodologies

www.hoggit.com/File/15021/The-Green-Manual-Towards-a-Sustainable-Future-Build-Back-Safer-with-Vernacular-Methodologies

Hard Publish Book is available in 500 PKR.

Sethi Haveli

A Gem in the Heart of Historic Peshawar From Wrecked Vestige to Splendour By Yasmeen Lari, 2015

This book presents a pictorial and graphic record of restoration/conservation work carried out by Heritage Foundation of Pakistan (HF) on the remarkable Qadri Manzil, popularly known as the Sethi House or Sethi Mansion. The book provides information on the original features and the painstaking effort that was lavished on it to stabilize it and restore it to its original glory.

Size: 22x28 cm, 96 pages, 179 photographs

Link

Sethi Haveli-Part I

www.hoggit.com/file/15024/sethi-haveli-part-I

Sethi Haveli-Part II

www.hoggit.com/file/15025/sethi-haveli-part-II

Hard Publish Book is available in 1250 PKR.

Disaster Preparedness Manual, By Y. Lari, A. Meadows and P.S. Meadows, 2013

The booklet has been prepared in order to foster a culture of preparedness in the face of disasters. It has been written by three eminent professionals in the field who have worked together on several projects related to severe earthquake and flood disasters that have confronted Pakistan since 2005. The publication of the book was supported by Scottish Government International Development Fund. A DVD with specially enacted skits on disasters is attached to the booklet.

Size: 15x21 cm, 40 pages, 47 Photographs

Link

Disaster Preparedness Manual

www.hoggit.com/file/15023/disaster-preparedness-manual

Hard Publish Book is available in 500 PKR.

• Heritage Foundation Preservation Guides, 2008, prepared by Yasmeen Lari. Price: Rs. 500 for set of 7 Preservation Guides:
HFP PG-1 Protecting Historic Assets (4 pages); HFP PG-2 Undertaking Historic Conservation (8 pages); HFP PG-3 for Owners of Historic Properties (2 pages); HFP PG-4 Work at Historic Sites (10 pages); HFP PG-5 Cataloguing Heritage Sites (4 pages); HFP PG-6 Hospitality Guide for Heritage Sites (4 pages); HFP PG-7 (16 pages).                
• National Register of Historic Places of Pakistan: Heritage Assets of the Siran Valley, 2008, edited by Yasmeen Lari. Price: Rs. 500.
• History of Sindh by Suhail Zaheer Lari, 1995 & 2002. Price Rs. 600.00.
• Neither Persian Nor Islamic: History of Muslim Painting by Suhail Zaheer Lari, 2002. Price: Rs. 600.00.
• Lahore Heritage Guide by Yasmeen Lari, 2003. Price: Rs. 395.00 
• National Register of Historic Places of Pakistan: Peshawar Document 1, 2003. Price: Rs. 500.00
• The Dual City: Karachi During the Raj by Mihail S. Lari & Yasmeen Lari, 1996 & 2002. Price: Rs. 1,700.00
• Karachi Sentenced by University Students, 2001. Price: Rs. 1,000.00
• Karachi Heritage Guide by Yasmeen Lari, 2000. Price: Rs. 395.00.
• The Jewel of Sindh: Samma Tombs at Makli Hill by Yasmeen Lari & Suhail Zaheer Lari, 1997. Price: Rs. 1,500.00.
• National Register of Historic Places of Pakistan: Karachi Documents 1-9, 1987, 1994, 1996. Price: Rs. 350.00.

Book Reviews

An Illustrated History of Sindh by Suhail Zaheer Lari. Published by Heritage Foundation, new edition, 2002.

"A valuable addition to the few authentic books available on the subject in the English language" by Hasan Mujtaba, Monthly Newsline, March 1994. 

"The political history is interspersed with accounts of the development of the Sindhi language and literature and the spread of Sufism. The book contains references to important articles, books and original sources. Short as the book may appear, it has succinctly given all important information, making it a handy, useful and connected history of Sindh from the earliest days. It will form an important guide for research workers and students of history and literature of Sindh" by I. A. A., Daily The Nation, 9 December 1994.

"Suhail Zaheer Lari has done a good job by unfolding details about Sindh which were not hitherto commonly known to people. It is indeed a very profound study" by Col.(Retd) Ghulam Sarwar, Daily Pakistan Times, 20 April 1995.

"A Reference Work" by Narayani Gupta, Department of History and Culture, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, September 1995.

"As with all Heritage Foundation publications, the layout and presentation are superb" by Umbereen Beg-Mirza, Monthly She, November 2002.

"But what is more remarkable is that he has brought to his narration of events a more balanced interpretive angle. This gives the story a heretical slant and makes it exciting to read. Lari has a historian’s natural bent as you can see in the linear record that his brief book tries to maintain. It is his penchant for neglected facts that adds excitement to what otherwise would have declined into ideological routine" by Khaled Ahmed, Weekly Friday Times, Nov 29-Dec 5, 2002.

Neither Islamic Nor Persian: A History of Muslim Painting by Suhail Zaheer Lari. Published by Heritage Foundation, 2002.

"A systematic and very comprehensive account of Muslim art, beginning with the birth of Islam, winding down to the Timurid period, the Ottoman empire, and ending with the Mughals and Emperor Aurangzeb. Lari is extremely thorough, meticulously recording an amazing number of manuscripts and paintings, their dates, the rulers they were created under, and often why they were painted.

After reading the book, it is almost guaranteed that one will drop the established western compartmentalisation and adopt Lart’s view instead" by Zehra Hamdani, Weekly Newsline, August 2002.

"The cover of Suhail Lari’s latest book is deliciously enticing. Indeed the entire layout of the book is unusually beautiful...The same attention has gone into the book’s presentation is amply visible throughout the text of this remarkable little book...The book is a comprehensive guide to the artists and craftsmen behind this typically Muslim art form...it gives the reader a great introduction into the fascinating world of Muslim painting" by Umbereen Beg-Mirza, Monthly She, June 2002

"The questions Lari has raised ought to be discussed in art schools to educate the minds of the students rather than send them out in the world as glib technicians" by Dr Akbar Naqvi, Monthly Herald, July 2002.

"Suhail Zaheer Lari, besides being an intellectual, is a very interesting person ... The book is very well produced and contains 40 illustrations and 40 colour plates ... and concise history of art under Muslim domains" by Shamim Akhter, The Daily News, 10 June 2002.

"There is excellent research mixed with good story-telling that fills the book with nuggets you don’t find in textbooks ... One can go on and on about the stories in this book which is liberally interspersed with miniature reproductions of good quality" by Khaled Ahmed, Weekly Friday Times, May 10-16, 2002.

The Dual City : Karachi During the Raj by Yasmeen Lari and Mihail Lari. Published by Oxford University Press and Heritage Foundation. 1996 and new edition 2001.

"The Dual City: Karachi During the Raj is a monumental and comprehensive documentary on Karachi in all its aspects, and the first book of its kind to be published ... Encompassing a vast panorama of history, politics, architecture and arts and crafts illustrated with hundreds of maps, paintings and photographs (some rare and out of print), this volume is a must for schools, colleges, art and design institutions, reference libraries, clubs, and the intelligentsia. The authors have produced a tremendous piece of documentation which is destined to become a classic" by SK Rahmat Ali, Monthly Newsline, October 1996.

"Karachi’s best-known architect and conservationist Yasmeen Lari, together with Mihail Lari, has confirmed her good reputation by writing a high-quality historical and architectural history of the city of Karachi. It is a coffee-table volume with 400 rare illustrations, 144 of them in colour. Anything you ever wanted to know about the mega-city before 1947 is here, from Alexander’s legendary Krokola around 330 BC, the story of the British take-over in 1839, to stories behind all the landmark buildings" by Khalid Ahmed, Weekly The Friday Times, September 12-18. 1996. 

Reports/Proposals

• Introduction
• Moenjodaro: Heritage for Development & Empowerment

Introduction

Since the early 1980s, Heritage Foundation has been preparing several proposals for the protection and conservation of heritage assets of the country. It is due to such proposals that the Foundation has been able to achieve considerable progress in awareness raising as well as heritage safeguarding.

Although it is not always possible to achieve desired progress; however, it is important to continue to point the direction in order that we are able to protect our heritage for future generations.

Moenjodaro: Heritage for Development and Empowerment

Vision & Mission

Develop ownership and stake of the community in the world famous site, through participatory heritage safeguarding activities.

To spread the benefits of investment into surrounding communities of World Heritage Sites by utilizing heritage for development.

Present Condition

The communities around Moenjodaro present a picture of neglect and apathy. There has been little investment in improving the quality of life in the area.
- The community has no linkage or involvement with the World Heritage Site and thus has no feeling of pride or ownership.
- The villages in the vicinity present a picture of a waste land with no apparent investment in infrastructure by Sindh/Town Governments for the past several decades.
-The law and order situation is unsatisfactory.

Needs

Heritage Foundation believes that through sensitive initiatives, the communities can play a vital role in the safeguarding of the World Heritage site. At the same time, heritage-related activities will be a vehicle for fostering pride and sense of ownership through mechanisms devised by the Heritage Foundation for utilizing heritage for development and poverty alleviation..

- As in the case of other marginalized communities it is essential to focus on provision of physical and social infrastructure:

- Physical Infrastructure
Improvement of environmental conditions through provision of water supply, sewerage and solid waste disposal.

-Social Infrastructure
Strengthening educational system with emphasis on girls schools.
Health care facilities

- Additionally, it is essential to create Heritage-related Infrastructure for poverty alleviation consisting of the following:
Pro-poor community based tourism facilities for livelihoods and income generation
Upgrading of village(s) where basic visitors’ infrastructure could be developed e.g. Dhand, Bulreji, Buggi etc.
Revitalization of existing craft skills
Establishment of master artisans workshops with training
Packaging and marketing linkages for crafts
Production of replicas based on artifacts

Heritage-safeguarding through Community Effort
Identification and training of youth as guides
Identification of areas of site which could be maintained by community groups

Proposal

The safeguarding efforts for Moenjodaro have been confined to the Federal Department of Archaeology or public organizations created for its protection. There has been little or no attempt at involving the community at large into safeguarding initiatives. The public sector efforts e.g. PTDC at developing tourism have also not yielded adequate results. Thus, in spite of investment of millions of dollars on the Site, little advantage has accrued to the community who, not surprisingly, have little or no interest in this World Heritage Archaeological site. Thus, the Site remains isolated without being owned by those who, as the inheritors, should be the direct beneficiaries.

In order to foster pride and ownership, ways have to be devised to engage the community in meaningful ways in safeguarding in order that they are able to gain direct benefits. It is essential to provide the much needed social and physical infrastructure for which the relevant government departments should come forward, however, for immediate gains, community heritage safeguarding and community-based tourism initiatives need to be undertaken through the involvement of selected villages. The proposed methodology of pro-poor tourism is expected to develop a sense of ownership along with revitalization of crafts, and poverty alleviation through income generation.

The following are essential:
- Security
- Improved accommodation of selected village households
- Re-construction of kitchens and bathrooms for visitors
- Identification of intangible heritage sources: groups or individual singers/dancers, folk story tellers etc.
-Artisans who could be utilized for setting up artisans’ workshops at the site.
-Utilization of the police building at the Site for setting up artisans workshops
-Involvement of youth from the Cadet College for training local youth as guides
-Identification of areas of the Site for safeguarding by the community
-Arrangement for package tours from urban areas e.g. Karachi, Hyderabad and other parts of Pakistan.

Sindh Crafts

• Introduction
• Outcome

Introduction

Crafts in Pakistan are extremely diverse and are a potent expression of the skill and ingenuity of the artisans belonging to various regions of the country. A need for systematic cataloguing and mapping of crafts has been felt for a long time, even though efforts have been made by public and private sector for craft promotion. In order to carry out sustained promotion, rejuvenation and utilization in contemporary products, the first step is the cataloguing and mapping of the numerous craft skills that exist in the country.

A study on development potential of crafts by women in Pakistan published by UNIDO in the early 2000s confirmed that Sindh has been extremely rich in handicrafts pointing out that its “textiles are very famous especially block printing and tie-and-dye. It also enjoys a reputation for textiles, pottery, clay, carved furniture, leatherwork and carpets.” However, due to various drawbacks and non-existence of supportive environment, it is clear that there has been a decline in artisanship in the entire province.

In July 2006, Department of Culture, Government of Sindh, approached Heritage Foundation (HF) to collaborate in mapping non-architectural crafts of Sindh. Since 1980, HF has been engaged in the cataloguing and mapping of heritage assets of the country and has published several documents in the National Register of Historic Places of Pakistan series relating to Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar.

Due to the importance of the project, HF undertook the work particularly as it provided an opportunity to initiate a National Register of Crafts of Pakistan. An MOU was signed by Department of Culture and Tourism with HF in August 2006. The arrangement was envisaged as a partnership in order to bring about greater awareness regarding the existing and almost extinct crafts and lay the basis for their revival. For this purpose, HF developed a methodology which would yield as wide a range of existing crafts as possible. It has been our endeavour to cover all major crafts and to make the inventory as comprehensive as possible, however, because of the difficulty in accessing remote areas, 100% coverage could not be ensured.

After a workshop was conducted by HF, field visits by HF Craft Coordinator and Deputy Director, Social Welfare Department were undertaken to all the five districts in order to clarify and provide direction to the participants. Each participant was given a small honorarium to cover the cost of travel and photography. On the basis of the HF Crafts Inventory Form, work on collection of field data was undertaken.

Outcome

The field data received from various sites has been compiled and Inventory of Crafts of Sindh is being developed for the districts of Badin, Matiari-Hala, Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Thatta.

Based on the experience gained from the work in the five districts of Sindh, an inventory of crafts of various towns of Karachi is also being undertaken.

Heritage Districts

• Introduction
• Marriott Road - Juni Gali

Introduction

All historic cores in various towns are of extreme significance due to their distinctive architectural character. Over a period of time, the historic cores have become part of the down town. In view of rapid development in Pakistan’s cities, there has been large scale destruction of these historic assets.

Since its inception in 1980, the Foundation has been in the forefront of demands for the protection of heritage buildings in old cities, which are prerequisite for maintaining the distinctive characteristics of each city.

The Foundation has prepared several proposals for declaring heritage districts in Karachi in order to safeguard the special character of Old Karachi. The first such proposal was prepared for Zaibunnisa Street (old Elphinstone Street) in early 1980s. It was further developed in 1996 as part of Empress Market Gardens Project to create an urban square in the Saddar area along with management of traffic to create pedestrian areas.

Other proposals developed in 1996 included pedestrian precincts in Civil Lines as part of Frere Hall Cultural District as well as in M.R. Kiyani Road for cultural activities.

The latest proposal is for development of Marriott Road as a pedestrian street in order to celebrate the cultural diversity of various ethnic groups that reside in Karachi.

The Foundation has recommended to the Karachi City Government to declare at least 10 Heritage Districts in the city which comprise a large number of notified historic buildings with the following objectives:
a.Preservation of historic urban character
b.Preservation of old trees, open spaces
c.Enactment of special byelaws for controlling development in the area e.g
FAR and height controls – give advantage to those who maintain street facades
and integrity of historic buildings
d.Management and redirection of vehicular traffic to minimize pollution
e.Creation of Walking Streets, as was the case in old times
f.Revitalization of historic urban core through relocation of environmentally damaging local industry
g.Urban and graphic design controls
h.Control over hoardings

Marriott Road - Juni Gali

       
                A 19th century view of Denso Hall .          A recent view. Denso Hall is on the left. 

                       
                Location map of Denso Hall.                       Google map of Denso Hall.

The proposal was developed by Heritage Foundation in January 2007. In the meantime, through help from NSN, the historic Denso Hall facade has been cleaned through gentle washing. The urban design of the area has been prepared and negotiations with the City Government are in progress.

            
             View of Marriott Road with Denso Hall on the left.

Historically, Denso Hall and its environs carry immense significance. The area abuts the Kharadar area and represents the continuity of the original ‘Black Town’ that existed at the advent of the British. To this day it continues to house the old markets of Karachi and offers a variety of goods and experiences which retain the flavour of old Karachi. The tangible heritage of the area consists of two-three storey historic buildings, most of which have been protected under the Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act 1994.

It is proposed to develop the Denso Hall precinct focusing on the Marriott Road in its rear as the Tarikhi Guzargah, Juni Gali or Purani Gali. The proposal consists of the following:
• Conversion of the historic Denso Hall, being cleaned with Nokia support, into a reading room and museum of Karachi’s Ethnic Commu nities.
• Cleaning of all facades lining the M.A. Jinnah Road between the crossing of Denso Hall and next junction.
• Conversion of Marriott Road into a landscaped pedestrian street.
• Design of all paving, signage, kiosks, and other small structures to be based on 19th century Karachi.
• Presentation of Karachi’s diverse communities from the earliest times to today by portraying their intangible cultural heritage through street activities. KaravanKarachi to devote each Sunday for portrayal of one community e.g. Parsis, Shidis, Bohris etc.: Ethnic cuisine; folk dance and music street theatre; people in ethnic dresses.

             
              Schematic Plan of Marriott Road as a Pedestrian Precinct.

                           
                          Schematic view from M.A. Jinnah Road. Denso Hall is on left.

                          
                           Schematic view of pedestrianized Marriott Road or Juni Gali.

Strengths

The landmark Denso Hall and other historic buildings e.g. the KMC Building and the Merewether Tower etc., endow the precinct with immense significance. Along M.A. Jinnah Road Denso Hall is flanked on one side by the well known Jahangir Kothari Building, also designed by James Strachan, and on the other several other attractive structures. On the opposite side are situated several historic buildings built by the old merchant princes as reminder of Karachi’s eminence as the largest wheat exporter in the entire British empire. The famous Marriott Road in the rear also carries many protected historic structures. The area is easily accessible from all parts of Karachi. On Sundays M.A. Jinnah Road is devoid of vehicular traffic presenting an opportunity to draw people from other sections of the city and elsewhere. A large number of
people reside in Kharadar, rear (north) of the Denso Hall, who is likely to become the ‘captured audience’ to attend cultural activities, held in the precinct.

Weaknesses

The area is highly congested with traffic and has a proliferation of impediments contributing to visual and audio pollution. Lack of parking and unregulated traffic are major issues. Overhead electric cables, broken
pavements, lack of garbage collection and unsightly signboards add to environmental degradation The buildings mostly present a pitiable site, left in a state of neglect.

Opportunities

The precinct provides a rare opportunity to present Karachi as the multicultural rainbow city of Pakistan. The cleaning of the entire precinct and providing a pedestrianized landscaped street, the Marriott Road has the potential to become a hub of cultural activity presenting Karachi as it once was. Such a transformation will not only present the cultural face of Karachi, through visitors’ interest it can bring untold benefits to the whole area.

Threats

The threats include lack of maintenance by government agencies after the area has been developed. There may be opposition from the local shop keepers and others particularly, the pushcart owners, khoka restaurants and the makeshift mosque occupying the corner.

Conclusion

The project has the potential to influence the direction of future development of Historic Karachi.

Tangible Heritage

• World Heritage
• National Heritage
• Local Heritage
• Urban Historic Cores

Classification of Tangible Heritage

Heritage assets  are rated according to their instrisic heritage value according to the study and research that might have been carried out upto a certain date. It does not mean that the classification is static and cannot be changed if more information is gathered or more research is conducted.

World Heritage

The number of world heritage sites that a nation possesses is a measure of how high heritage is rated in any country. Most countries strive hard to have their heritage sites placed on the World Heritage List. The World Heritage Committee whch meets at regular intervals examines the dossiers on each application and depending upon how the case is put forward, accords approval for it to be placed on the List.

The acceptance of these sites signifies that they contain universal values which are valuable for the entire world. As such the safeguarding and conserving them is also the responsibility not only where they are located but also of the world.

To date Pakistan has 7 sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage list: 
• Moenjodaro Archaeological Site, Sindh
• Thatta Monuments or Makli Necropolis, Sindh
• Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens, Mughal Monuments, Punjab
• Rohtas Fort, Pre-Mughal Monument, Punjab
• Takht-e-Bahai, Gandhara Archaeological Site, NWFP
• Taxila Archaeological Site, Punjab & NWFP

National Heritage

All the provinces in Pakistan have a large number of national heritage sites. The Federal Department of Archaeology has traditionally been the custodian of these sites. However, in the recent past there have been moves to shift the cusodianship to the provinces. Although so far only some monuments in Punjab have been handed over to the provincial department of archaeology, it is likely that gradually all sites in the provinces will become the responsibility of the respective provinces.

360 archaeological sites and historic monuments have been placed on National List, with purview of their being provided protection under the Federal Antiquities Act.

Under the act, it is incumbent upon the custodians to ensure that measures are taken for safeguarding and conserving them.

These heritage sites are located in different parts of Pakistan. Where it is necessary that the federal department should conserve them, it becomes important that each Pakistani also participates in their safeguarding.

Local Heritage

There are hundreds of monuments that are found in all provinces of Pakistan. Although rudimentary, some form of inventories have been prepared by various provinces; however, due to lack of funds, most of the monuments are in a greatly deteriorated state. Many of them, which were recorded, are probably no longer in existence. This is a grave state of affairs which needs to be rectified through a collective effort.

It is clear that local heritage is of extreme importance to the community and local initiatives are needed to catalogue and preserve the sites. Heritage Foundation has prepared a Catalogue of Heritage Assets of the Siran Valley as part of the work being carried out in the Earthquake Area. There is a need to develop many more such catalogues which would initiate the process of heritage safeguarding in various areas.

Urban Historic Cores

Pakistan has a wealth of historic cores as part of various cities that back to Mughal and post-Mughal period. Even those that were developed during the 19th century British rule have areas which are extremely valuable as representative of a shared heritage with Britain. Since many historic cores have become part of the downtown, the historic assets in these cores are gravely threatened. There is an urgent need to declare conservation districts in order to apply special zoning and building byelaws for maximizing their value as heritage assets, which can enhance the distinctiveness of various cities.

Heritage Foundation has carried out the work of cataloguing extensively in Karachi Old Town, as well as in Lahore, Peshawar and the Siran Valley in Mansehra. The catalogues are published as part of the National Register of Historic Places of Pakistan.

Where the identified and protected monuments suffer from natural threats and causes, historic architecture found in Urban Historic Cores and Urban Centres is gravely threatened due to wilfull destruction. Since most urban centres are now growing at a rapid pace, the planning byelaws allow a higher Floor Area Ratio than the original planning parameters. This has resulted in pulling down of valuable structures and replacement with modern buildings. The chaotic condition in many of the inner city areas is due to destruction of heritage buildings. There is an urgent need to save them through a campaign for identification and protection, as has been done in Karachi.

Introduction - Pakistan's Cultural Heritage

• Type of Tangible Heritage
• Archaeological Sites
• Historic Monuments
• Urban Historic Cores

Pakistan is endowed with a large number of ancient sites and historic structures. These historic assets are our link with our past and, as the custodians, it is incumbent upon all Pakistanis to stabilize and conserve them so that they could survive for many centuries more.

In an age when globalization is all pervasive, it is Pakistan’s ancient lineage that provides us with a distinct identity. Lest we forget —since this seems to be our best kept secret from the outside world — Pakistan is a treasure-house of ancient heritage, spanning over scores of centuries.

Pakistan is home to Mehargarh, Moenjodaro and Harrappa —it is the land that beckoned Alexander to sail down river Jhelum with purple flags fluttering; the spectacular Gandharan civilization as the seat of Buddhism; the devotional carvings of the Hindu Shahi temples of the Salt Range and Tharparkar; the stately funerary clusters of Makli, Multan and Ucch Sharif, a fusion of local trabeated and imported arcuate, representing successive Sultanate dynasties; the heart-expanding chahar-baghs and jewel-like edifices of the greatest kingdom in the world, established by the young ruler of Farghana; the Sikhs emulating the Great Mughals, and the shared legacy of eclectic architecture with its European overtones, a bequest of the British who colonized this land.

It is not only the ancient sites and historic monuments, but equally the historic urban cores, stretched from the peaks of the Khyber in the farthest north to the southern-most edge of the mighty river Indus — Peshawar, Multan, Thatta and Karachi, and scores of other living cities with their historic environments, all valuable in our search for, and understanding of our cultural diversity.

There are the Walled Cities, a depository of irreplaceable architectural heritage, with their organic morphology and the meandering streetscapes, which need to be saved from destruction, and revitalized to continue to endow our fast-growing urban centres with distinction, and historical flair. These footsteps of history are a reflection of a traditional value system, tempered over centuries, but needing support to meet the demands of contemporary life without losing their inherent radiance — the traditional lifestyles determined by, and themselves determining the historic environments.

This is our heritage that we need to safeguard as if family silver to be passed on to future generations to maintain our distinctive identity.

Type of Tangible Heritage

Pakistan’s heritage is among the country’s best kept secrets. The country has several World Heritage sites as well as countless sites of national and local importance. 

For ease of safeguarding, tangible heritage of Pakistan is considered in the following categories:
a. Archaeological sites
b. Historic Monuments
c. Urban Historic architecture

The Antiquities Act of the Federal Government provides protection to archaeological sites and historic monuments, however, urban historic architecture in most cities remains largely un-catalogued and unprotected.

Through the efforts of Heritage Foundation the Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act 1994 was promulgated by the Sindh Assembly. Through the heritage act, almost 600 heritage sites of Karachi, catalogued and published by the Foundation were provided protection. This is the largest number of protected heritage sites in any province of Pakistan. However, most of the historic towns in Sindh are in the process of losing the valuable heritage.

Under the Punjab Premises Act, a few dozens historic buildings have been provided protection in the entire province. The walled cities have suffered a great deal of degradation and loss of the historic environment. The recent proposal of Punjab Government at the revitalization of the Shahi Guzargah in the Walled City, originally identified by Yasmeen Lari in her Lahore Heritage Guide, is likely to bring the value of heritage for economic regeneration into sharp focus and it is hoped that it will be instrumental in revitalizing of other historic towns and districts.

Although Peshawar walled city is among the most exciting traditional environments, because of lack of protection, the city as well as other historic cities in the Frontier are in grave danger of losing their valuable heritage. The recent steps by the NWFP government, taken under the direction of Additional Chief Secretary, in establishing a Heritage Fund and the Documentation Centres as proposed by Yasmeen Lari, are likely to initiate a process of cataloguing and protection through participation of the private sector.

There is no protection to historic environments of Balochistan and its historic architecture is extremely vulnerable.

Archaeological Sites

Pakistanpossesses remains of several ancient civilizations. The most famous is Indus Valley Civilization which dates to 3,000 BC. However, due to investigations in Balochistan the remains of Mehergarh have stretched the antiquity even further back in time to 5,000 BC. The most famous sites of Indus Valley Civilization are Moenjoaro (Sindh) and Harrappa (Punjab).

The other famous ancient sites are evidence of Buddhist civilization that flourished in this land. There are several of them and are found in the northern part of Pakistan. They are situated in Taxila (Punjab) and Takht-e- Bahi (NWFP).

Most archaeological sites are protected under the Federal Antiquities Act.

Historic Monuments

The historic monuments are standing monuments or ruins which are found all over Pakistan. They represent various periods of our history and demonstrate the rich cultural milieu of the land. Thus, we can find historic Hindu temples in Tharparkar (Sindh) and Punjab, Sultanante period monuments in Makli Tombs, Thatta, in Multan and Ucch Sharif, and Mughal monuments in Thatta, Multan, Lahore etc. Many monuments are protected under the Federal Antiquities Act; however, there are thousands of others which still need to be provided protection.

Urban Historic Cores

There are many historic urban areas that are found in various provinces. Most of them had been constructed as walled cities e.g. Peshawar, Multan, Lahore etc. Although the walls have long since disappeared, the special urban morphology continues to provide them with a special character. Although there has been a lot of destruction in the past years, many of the historic structures continue to endow them with a special flavour. Unfortunately, due to lack of protection, we continue to lose a large number of valuable historic structures. There is an urgent need to provide protection to them in order to save the special flavour that the historic urban cores possess.

Most cities of Pakistan have a shared legacy with Britain. This shared legacy is equally important for the growing urban centres of Pakistan. The British built centres are now part of the Central Business Districts of major cities, gifting them with a special flavour. Except for Karachi, where over 600 buildings identified and published by Heritage Foundation, have been provided protection under the Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act 1994, and Lahore where over 3 dozen historic buildings have bene provided protection under the Punjab Premises Act, historic structures in most cities are gravely threatened. As part of growing metropolis, the compulsions for modernity is destroying valuable heritage.