Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore

Demolition of the 375-year old essential hydraulic works of the Shalamar Gardens to enlarge a road

Previous deliberations:
World Heritage Committee, twenty-fourth session, paragraph VIII.30
World Heritage Bureau, twenty-fourth session, paragraph IV.72

Main Issues / Threats to the Site:

• 375-year old hydraulic tanks built to supply the Garden's fountains were destroyed in June 1999 to widen the road that borders the gardens on their south side.
• The perimeter walls of the Garden are deteriorating, aggravated by construction of illegal shelter along the walls.
• Public works immediately adjacent to the Shalamar Gardens are carried out with minimum or no consultation with the conservation authorities, resulting in negative impact upon the material conservation of the Shalamar Gardens walls and its presentation.

• Conservation and rehabilitation work carried out whenever funds are available and on ad-hoc basis without adequate archaeological and scientific research; quality of the work depends on the amount of funds and time available for the authorities to carry out the work.

New information:

• In view of the damage observed and the threat facing the site, the Government of Pakistan requested the site to be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in November 2000. The Committee decided to inscribe it on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

• A plan of action for elaborating a comprehensive management plan and for undertaking corrective measures was drafted by the World Heritage Centre for consideration by the Pakistani Authorities between January – April 2001.

• With the US$ 10,000 Technical Co-operation funds approved by the Bureau in July 2000, the Department of Archaeology, signed and submitted a contract with UNESCO for archaeological, soil and design research and the preparation of a planting plan for the Shalamar Gardens.

• The Centre and the Government of Pakistan has formulated a plan of action to develop a comprehensive management plan for the Shalamar Gardens with the US$ 50,000 Emergency Assistance approved under the 2001 budget. Activities will commence upon approval by the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee.

• At the invitation of the national authorities, experts of the City of Strasbourg (France) and the Deputy Director of the World Heritage Centre undertook a mission in April 2001 to Lahore for consultations with the national and local authorities concerned on urban encroachment and the management of the Shalamar Gardens and Lahore Fort, with a view to developing a proposal for submission to the European Union Asia-Urbs Programme and to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• A UNESCO Conservation Expert undertook a 2-week mission in April 2001 to Shalamar Gardens to prepare 15 project proposals for the rehabilitation of the Shalamar Gardens following international conservation norms. Once finalized, these projects will be proposed to potential private sector or bilateral donors.

Principal issues:

Lack of a comprehensive management strategy and plan, urban encroachment and ad-hoc public works; Need for enhancing the capacity of the site management authorities in conservation techniques, project elaboration, and site presentation.

New information:

·         The Department of Archaeology informed the Centre that it was elaborating the updated work plan for the use of the US$ 10,000 Technical Co-operation funds approved by the Bureau in July 2000. This activity will co-finance the archaeological, soil and design research and subsequently, the preparation of a planting plan for the Shalamar Gardens;

·         The Centre and the Government of Pakistan formulated a plan of action to develop a comprehensive management plan for the Shalamar Gardens with the US$ 50,000 Emergency Assistance approved under the 2001 budget. This plan of action was being processed for submission to the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee for final approval at the time of the preparation of this working document;

·         Following the mission undertaken by experts of the City of Strasbourg (France) and the Deputy Director of the World Heritage Centre in April 2001, a proposal for submission to the European Union Asia-Urbs Programme and to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs was drafted for enhancing the management and development of the immediate vicinity of the Shalamar Gardens within Lahore Metropolitan City. This draft proposal was being completed at the time of the preparation of this working document.

·         In October 2001, the national authorities submitted information concerning the costs for the 15 project proposals drafted in close co-operation with a UNESCO conservation expert. These proposals for the rehabilitation of the Shalamar Gardens, once finalized, will be proposed to potential private sector or bilateral donors.