Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore

• Housing; Land conversion (Encroachments and urban pressure)
• Management systems/management plan (Inadequate management mechanisms; lack of definition of boundaries of the Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens)
• Legal framework (Incomplete legislation)
• Financial resources (Lack of sufficient financial resources to implement management mechanisms)
• Underground transport infrastructure
• Ground transport infrastructure (Development of the Orange Line Metro - aerial portion of the line)
• Demolition of two of the tanks and partial demolition of a third tank of the hydraulic works of the Shalamar Gardens (issue resolved)

Adopted, see https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1290

Adopted, see https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1290

Total amount provided to the property: USD 975,000, UNESCO/Norway Funds-in-Trust, UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust, Getty Foundation, Embassy of the United States of America in Pakistan

On 28 January 2020, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, a summary of which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/171/documents/. The report provides the following information on how the State Party responded to the Committee’s previous decisions:

• Selection of a consultant to advise on the implementation of the 2018 Reactive Monitoring mission recommendations;
• Implementation of the decision of the Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan under the supervision of a high-level Special Committee of Experts, and establishment of a regulatory committee by the Directorate-General of Archaeology;
• Conservation work already implemented and basic documentation of planned work;
• Feasibility study for the mitigation options suggested by the 2018 Reactive Monitoring mission;
• Reduction of the speed of the Orange Line Metro (OLM) around the component site and monitoring of encroachment;
• Plans for a multidisciplinary study to consider revised boundaries for the property, having regard to socio-economic impacts;
• Comprehensive study of the Fort’s hydrology and drainage;
• Proposals to optimize water drainage in order to preserve historical structures, with a particular focus on the Picture Wall;
• Emergency stabilization of dilapidated Fort roofing;
• Following the recommendations of the 2018 Reactive Monitoring mission, completion of the restoration/conservation for the Aiwan/summer pavilion, historical gateway, wooden ceiling, and restoration of external waterways on the eastern side of the perimeter wall;
• Planting of trees, which are expected to form a natural “mask” for the newly-constructed OLM.

The State Party has taken (or will take) the following actions to conserve the property:

• Completion of the conservation of the western part of the Picture Wall;
• Implementation of an improved drainage system for the entire Fort by 2021, with a temporary drainage system in place during the intervening monsoon season(s);
• Conservation of the deteriorated Royal Kitchen, to be re-used as a night-time restaurant;
• Restoration of monuments, such as Barood Khana, Musamman Gate, Western Suit (old resthouse) and a wooden bridge over the road from postern gate to Maidane-Dewan-e-Aam;
• Initiation of a project to improve public facilities, including horticultural works at the Shalamar gardens;
• Proposals to restore or conserve a number of monuments in 2020.

Through its report, the State Party also shared various technical studies.

The State Party has made some progress in addressing the Committee’s previous decisions and some recommendations made by the 2018 Reactive Monitoring mission, but regrettably has not actively engaged with the World Heritage Centre or ICOMOS, nor provided sufficient information about projects at the property, despite the provisions of Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines. In the absence of adequate prior consultation and engagement, the inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger may become necessary to provide a framework and process by which further threats and damage to the authenticity and integrity of the property may be prevented.

The progress achieved includes the establishment of a regulating committee to reinforce governance mechanisms through monitoring and inform decision-making processes. Technical studies on the possible impacts of the OLM project on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) were submitted, but without the benefit of vibrational analysis following the completion of the OLM project. It is recommended that the Committee acknowledge the State Party’s efforts to implement some mitigation measures following the construction of the OLM and to commission a comprehensive feasibility study for the other mitigation measures suggested by the 2018 Reactive Monitoring mission, but regret that neither the World Heritage Centre nor ICOMOS have been consulted. The Committee may also urge the State Party to implement all of the recommendations of the 2018 Reactive Monitoring mission and reiterate its request that detailed designs for the implementation of mitigation measures be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operation Guidelines, and that projects only proceed once positive feedback has been received.

Concerning the preservation of the Fort of Lahore, the efforts deployed for the prototype conservation project of the Picture Wall are noted, and the rest of the Fort should be conserved to an equally high technical standard. The comprehensive study on drainage and emergency roof waterproofing measures are welcomed, and it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to inform the World Heritage Centre of its progress and monitoring efforts. All current and future technical restoration and documentation work should involve national staff, so that capacities for heritage conservation can be built and benefit the property and its conservation in the long term.

A number of proposed restoration projects may contribute to improving the general condition of historical monuments within the property, notably restoration work to Dewan-E-Khas, Shahjahani Khawabgah, Kala Burj, Lal Burj, Moti Masjid and Makatib Khana, Arzgah (Tile Mosaic Laboratory), Akbari Hammam, and inside Alamgiri Gate and Loh Mandar. However, the outline information provided about these projects does not allow to assess their potential impact on the property’s OUV, and more detailed information should be submitted to the World Heritage Centre, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines. The proposed re-use of the Royal Kitchen as a night-time restaurant raises concerns, as this use of the Fort complex would involve changes that may affect the property’s integrity and authenticity. It is therefore recommended that the Committee request a detailed technical proposal, to be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, and that no decision be made that may impact the OUV of the property and would be difficult to reverse, in line with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, before the Advisory Bodies have positively reviewed the proposal.

Concerning the overall management of the property, the recent Master Plan and the interdisciplinary study for a proposed boundary modification and buffer zone should be submitted for review by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies.