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State of Conservation (SOC)

Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (2004)

Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds
International Assistance granted to the property

Requests Approved: 0 (from1981-2000)
Total Amount Ap proved: 121,000USD

2000 Rescue programme for Fort and Shalamar Gardens, Lahore   50,000  USD
1999 Archaeological, soil and design research and the preparation of a ...   10,000  USD
1999 Signage on-site at the Fort and Shalimar Gardens of Lahore ...   5,000  USD
1981 Emergency restoration work at Lahore Fort   44,000  USD
1981 Emergency restoration work at Shalimar Gardens   12,000  USD
Missions**
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

Urban Pressure; Lack of capacity in conservation techniques; Lack of management mechanism (including legislation); Lack of monitoring system; Lack of human or financial resources.

Additional Details:

Pollution is considered a particular threat to the property. New infrastructures, motorized traffic, industrial installations and encroachments are threatening the conservation of Shalamar Gardens and the Lahore Fort

Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues

According to a report from the Government of Pakistan in February 2004, the cultural heritage of Pakistan is being preserved under the Antiquities Act of 1975. The legislation for the provision of a 200-foot buffer zone around the protected monument is defined under this act. However, the Federal Government is not legally bound to acquire the area, which falls within the protected buffer zone. Construction in protected areas is regulated by Provincial Law and District Law. There is no provision within District Law or Provincial Law to stop such activities on privately owned land within the buffer zone of the protected monument. The Department of Archaeology and Museums therefore considers that the Provincial and District Government Laws regarding the building activities should be brought in conformity with the Antiquities Act of 1975. At present, the State Government of the Punjab has issued a directive to include provision in the Antiquities Act regarding the 200-foot buffer zone around the protected monument in the bylaws of the Provincial and District Government. In addition, in the current financial year the Government of Pakistan has allocated Rs. 5,000,000 to carry out conservation work at the Shalamar Gardens.

 

The World Heritage Committee, at its 24th session in 2000, approved an Emergency Assistance request for US$ 50,000 to elaborate a comprehensive management plan and undertake consolidation and conservation measures of the hydraulic work. On 4 March 2004, the Government of Pakistan submitted a revised workplan and budget breakdown for the implementation of this project as recommended by the Committee. 

 

A two-year project for the preservation of the Lahore Fort, financed by the Government of Norway in co-operation with the UNESCO Islamabad Office (US$ 900,000), was launched in March 2003. This project focuses on a detailed examination of issues and threats facing the whole of the Lahore Fort, and the Shish Mahal in particular, and the development of a new Master Plan for the conservation and preservation of the Lahore Fort.

 

A World Heritage Centre mission to Islamabad and Lahore took place in June 2003 to follow up the corrective measures recommended by the World Heritage Committee for the Lahore Fort and the Shalamar Gardens. Regarding conservation of the property, the mission recommended that it was urgent to:

 

a)     Resolve the general problem of drainage, rising moisture levels, humidity and chemical reactions that have affected all the structures of the site, before undertaking any restoration work,

b)    Control and regulate visitors, limiting and prohibiting visits to particular zones.

 

Additionally, concerning the Shalamar Gardens, the mission also recommended to:

 

a)     Settle the problem of urban encroachments on the eastern and northern sides in order to reduce the damage to the outside wall due to surface water seepage;

b)    Undertake the deviation of the Grand Trunk Road, and developing a protection area alongside the southern wall,

c)     Repair the water supply and drainage systems of the whole of the Gardens as soon as possible, in order to stop further deterioration.

 

Furthermore, the “Cultural Tourism in Lahore and Peshawar” project was established between UNESCO, UNDP and the Government of Pakistan, and a report issued in January 2004. It contains recommendations and project proposals in relation to tourism management.

 

In February 2004, when the Prime Minister of Pakistan announced the transfer of the custody of this property to the provincial authorities, the UNESCO Office in Islamabad expressed its concern in a letter to the Ministry of Minorities, Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth Affairs, and the Pakistan National Commission for UNESCO. The UNESCO World Heritage Centre requested the Department of Archaeology and Museums to clarify the situation concerning custody of this site, especially the effects of a change in management and administration, for discussion at the 28th session of the World Heritage Committee. According to information received from the State Party in April 2004, it was confirmed that during the visit to the Lahore Fort on 20 February 2004, the Prime Minister of Pakistan announced that the Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens would be handed over to the Provincial Government of the Punjab. Furthermore, the Federal Cabinet decided that these monuments should be transferred to the Government of the Punjab for their management and administration. The State Party also informed UNESCO that the Federal and the Provincial Governments are jointly preparing formalities for this transfer, which will take some time to complete.

Conclusion
Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

28COM15A.26
Link to the decision

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Takes note that the State Party has submitted the revised work plan and budget breakdown for the implementation of the Shalamar Gardens Emergency Assistance project and requests the Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre to assist the State Party in implementing this project;

2. Thanks the Governments of Norway for its generous contributions towards the preservation of the Lahore Fort;

3. Further requests the State Party, in collaboration with ICOMOS, to examine the heritage values of the Shalamar Gardens and Lahore Fort to redefine the protective core and buffer zones of the property;

4. Takes note with satisfaction of the on-going positive co-operation between the Department of Archaeology and other national, provincial and municipal authorities, in order to redress the encroachment issues surrounding the Shalamar Gardens;

5. Urges the State Party to take all steps to ensure the establishment of an effective site management authority for the protection of the property, and inform the Committee of the effects that a change of custody of the property from national to provincial levels has had and will in the future have on the conservation of the property;

6. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2005, a progress report on the state of conservation of the property for examination by the Committee at its 29th session in 2005;

7. Decides to retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

28COM15C.2
Link to the decision

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Following examination of state of conservation reports of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-04/28.COM/15A Rev),

2. Decides to maintain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:

  • Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam, Afghanistan (Decision 28 COM 15A.21)
  • Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley, Afghanistan (Decision 28 COM 15A.22)
  • Butrint, Albania (Decision 28 COM 15A.28)
  • Tipasa, Algeria (Decision 28 COM 15A.16)
  • Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower, Azerbaijan (Decision 28 COM 15A.29)
  • Royal Palaces of Abomey, Benin (Decision 28 COM 15A.14)
  • Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park, Central African Republic (Decision 28 COM 15A.1)
  • Comoé National Park, Côte d'Ivoire (Decision 28 COM 15A.2 )
  • Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, Côte d'Ivoire/Guinea (Decision 28 COM 15A.5)
  • Okapi Wildlife Reserve, Democratic Rep. of the Congo (Decision 28 COM 15A.3)
  • Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Democratic Rep. of the Congo (Decision 28 COM 15A.3)
  • Virunga National Park, Democratic Rep. of the Congo (Decision 28 COM 15A.3)
  • Garamba National Park, Democratic Rep. of the Congo (Decision 28 COM 15A.3)
  • Salonga National Park, Democratic Rep. of the Congo (Decision 28 COM 15A.3)
  • Sangay National Park, Ecuador (Decision 28 COM 15A.12)
  • Abu Mena, Egypt (Decision 28 COM 15A.17)
  • Simien National Park, Ethiopia
  • (Decision 28 COM 15A.4)
  • Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, Honduras (Decision 28 COM 15A.13)
  • Group of Monuments at Hampi, India (Decision 28 COM 15A.24)
  • Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, India (Decision 28 COM 15A.10)
  • Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat), Iraq (Decision 28 COM 15A.18)
  • Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls, Jerusalem (Decision 28 COM 15A.31)
  • Timbuktu, Mali (Decision 28 COM 15A. 15)
  • Kathmandu Valley, Nepal (Decision 28 COM 15A.25)
  • Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves, Niger (Decision 28 COM 15A.6)
  • Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore, Pakistan (Decision 28 COM 15A.26)
  • Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone, Peru (Decision 28 COM 15A.30)
  • Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, Philippines (Decision 28 COM 15A.27)
  • Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, Senegal (Decision 28 COM 15A.7 )
  • Ichkeul National Park, Tunisia (Decision 28 COM 15A.9)
  • Everglades National Park, United States of America (Decision 28 COM 15A.11)
  • Historic Town of Zabid, Yemen (Decision 28 COM 15A.20)

Draft Decision: 28 COM 15A.26

The World Heritage Committee, 

1.     Thanks the State Party for submitting the revised work plan and budget breakdown for implementing the Shalamar Gardens Emergency Assistance project; 

2.     Requests the Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre to assist the State Party in implementing this project;

3.     Further requests the State Party to examine the heritage values of the Shalamar Gardens and Lahore Fort to redefine the core, buffer and support zones of these two properties;

4.     Takes note with satisfaction of the on-going positive co-operation between the Department of Archaeology and other national, provincial and municipal authorities, in order to redress the encroachment issues surrounding the Shalamar Gardens;

5.     Requests the State Party to continue to examine the strengths and weaknesses of the existing legal management provisions, particularly with a view to harmonizing provisions of national and provincial legislation with regard to constructions in areas immediately surrounding the Shalamar Gardens;

6.     Urges the State Party to take all steps to ensure the establishment of an effective site management authority for the protection of the property, and inform the Committee of the effects that a change of custody of the property from national to provincial levels has had and will in the future have on the conservation of the property;

7.     Decides to retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore
State Party:
Pakistan
Date of Inscription: 1981
Nomination records (Year): 1980
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (i)(ii)(iii)
Danger List: Yes
Documents
Original Documents
WHC-04/28.COM/15A.Rev
Other Documents
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports
SOC Reports by year
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
Detailed List of SOC reports
Threats*
Housing
Impacts of tourism/visitor/recreation
Legal framework
Management systems/ management plan
Relative humidity
Water (rain/water table)
Other Threats:
Need for consolidation and conservation measures of the hydraulic work
Inscription on the Danger List
Year: 2000 -2012
Threats to the Site:

Tanks built 375 years ago to supply water to the Garden's fountains were destroyed in June 1999 to widen the road which borders the gardens on their south side. The perimeter walls of the Garden are also deteriorating. In view of the damage observed and the threat facing the site, the Committee decided to inscribe it on the List of World Heritage in Danger, in response to a request from the Pakistani government that the international community take action to safeguard the site.

In its letter requesting the action, the Government of Pakistan expressed its appreciation for continued assistance from the World Heritage Committee and the World Heritage Centre for the conservation and development of the Shalamar Gardens. By nominating the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger, the State Party expressed its hope to increase public awareness both nationally and internationally on the importance of preserving this Moghul exemplary site of World Heritage of value, which continues to be a living cultural heritage site.


* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.