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Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore

Pakistan
Factors affecting the property in 2007*
  • Deliberate destruction of heritage
  • Financial resources
  • Housing
  • Land conversion
  • Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

a) Demolition of two of the tanks and partial demolition of a third tank of the hydraulic works of the Shalamar Gardens;

b) Encorachments and urban pressure;

c) Insufficient management mechanisms (including incomplete legislation, lack of financial resources);

d) Lack of definition of boundaries of the Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens;

e) Problems relating to the management of the properties.

Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
  • Damage to the external walls and demolition of hydraulic works of Shalamar Gardens.
  • Serious state of degradation of the historic monuments and garden complex within the World Heritage Property.
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger

To be assessed and discussed with the State Party during proposed joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS mission.

Corrective Measures for the property

a) Implementation of Master Plans for Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens;

b) Consolidation and adequate protection of the foundations of the demolished water tanks and preservation of the remaining third tank of thehydraulic works at Shalamar Gardens, as well as overall preservation of the hydraulic works as archaeological relics;

c) Protection and preservation measures for the external walls of Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens;

d) Redefine the boundaries of the core and buffer zones of Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens and present to the World Heritage Committee the proposal for extension, taking into account the recommendations to include the Badshahi Masjid (Royal Mosque) and Tomb of Rangjit Singh, proposed following the 2003 and 2005 missions;

e) Removal of encroachments and control of urban pressures, including removal of parking for busses in the immediate vicinity of Lahore Fort;

f) Prioritisation for allocation and use of the available resources according to the management objectives determined in the Master Plans.

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2007

Total amount provided to the property: USD 975,000 (Government of Norway: USD 900,000; Getty Foundation: USD 75,000)

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2007
Requests approved: 5 (from 1981-2000)
Total amount approved : 121,000 USD
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2007

An eight-page report was received by the World Heritage Centre from the State Party in January 2007. This report stated that, inter alia:

a) Master Plans have been prepared for the Shish Mahal at the Fort and for the Shalamar Gardens;

b) As part of the Action Plan established for 2006-7, which envisages the surface consolidation and joint filling of the Old Water reservoir, the overall conservation works have been completed. Fencing around the remaining structure has also been erected. However, due to the lack of information concerning the original design, it is no longer possible to restore two of the demolished reservoirs to their original state. Steps have been taken to remove and clean dirt deposits adjacent to the hydraulic structure;

c) Following recommendations made in previous reactive monitoring mission reports, Action Plans have been written and approved for the preservation and restoration of the Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens for 2006-2007 and appropriate funds allocated for specific projects. The Government of Punjab has approved a total of USD 4.5 million for an eight year period. In addition, a Punjab Heritage Fund has been established which receives its income from the proceeds of ticket sales and is utilised for preservation and restoration works at the World Heritage property;

d) A number of steps have been taken to improve the environment around the World Heritage Property. The Rim Market, located outside of the eastern gate (Akbari Gate), will be relocated in order to establish a buffer zone and to open the Akbari Gate as a point of entry for visitors. The great trunk road passing along Shalamar Gardens from the south to the north will be diverted and encroachments within 200m perimeter of the wall will be removed. Encroachments located close to the wall on the eastern side will be demolished in order to establish a buffer zone near the eastern boundary of the Shalamar Gardens,.

Although the corrective measures which were identified by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006) have been implemented, a number of activities which have been included in the Master Plans are yet to be put into practice. In addition, the report does not provide sufficient information or documentation concerning the work carried out to consolidate and protect the hydraulic works at Shalamar Gardens. The above mentioned corrective measures are based on the recommendations made by the 2005 mission to the properties and are yet to be fully implemented.

The steps taken to redifine of the core and buffer zones of Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens are not clearly decribed in the report. The 2005 mission stated that the redefinition of the boundaries was imperative and that the authorities should consider including the Badshahi Masjid (Royal Mosque) and Tomb of Rangjit Singh, which form an integral part of the physical and histroical context of the Lahore Fort.Ttherefore a formal request for the extension of the core and buffer zones should be presented to the World Heritage Committee by 1 February 2008. 

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2007
31 COM 7A.24
Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Pakistan) (C 171-172)
 

The World Heritage Committee,

1.       Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7A,

2.       Recalling Decision 30 COM 7A.27, adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),

3.       Notes the progress made by the State Party in the overall preservation and conservation of Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens;

4.       Requests the State Party to invite a World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS joint reactive monitoring mission so as to assess the progress made towards the desired state of conservation as proposed below and to recommend, on this basis, whether the property can be removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger:

a)      Approval and implementation of Master Plans for Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens;

b)      Protection and consolidation of the foundations of the water tanks of the hydraulic works at Shalamar Gardens as archaeological relics;

c)      Protection and preservation of external walls of Shalamar Gardens and Lahore Fort;

d)      Redefinition and extension of the boundaries of the core and buffer zones of Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens;

e)      Adequate control of encroachments and  the urban pressure;

f)       Safeguarding programme with corresponding timeframe and financial resources elaborated;

5.       Recommends that the State Party submit to the World Heritage Committee a formal request for the modification of the boundaries of the property;

6.       Also requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS, to develop a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value including the conditions of integrity and authenticity, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session;  

7.       Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2008 a report with detailed documentation of the works carried out at Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;

8.       Decides to retain the Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Pakistan) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

31 COM 8C.2
Update of the list of the World Heritage in danger - maintenance

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Following the examination of the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-07/31.COM/7A and WHC-07/31.COM/7A.Add, WHC-07/31.COM/7A.Add.2, WHC-07/31.COM/7A.Add.3),

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

  • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 31 COM 7A.20)
  • Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley, (Decision 31 COM 7A.21)
  • Azerbaijan, Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower (Decision 31 COM 7A.26)
  • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.1)
  • Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 31 COM 7A.29)
  • Côte d'Ivoire, Comoé National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.2)
  • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 31 COM 7A.3)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo Virunga National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.4)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.5)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo Garamba National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.6)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo Salonga National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.7)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 31 COM 7A.8)
  • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 31 COM 7A.16)
  • Ethiopia, Simien National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.9)
  • Germany, Dresden Elbe Valley (Decision 31 COM 7A.27)
  • India, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (Decision 31 COM 7A.11)
  • Islamic Republic of Iran, Bam and its Cultural Landscape (Decision 31 COM 7A.22)
  • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 31 COM 7A.17)
  • Jerusalem, Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (Decision 31 COM 7A.18)
  • Niger, Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 31 COM 7A.10)
  • Pakistan, Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Decision 31 COM 7A.24)
  • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 31 COM 7A.30)
  • Philippines, Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Decision 31 COM 7A.25)
  • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 31 COM 7A.28)
  • United Republic of Tanzania, Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (Decision 31 COM 7A.15)
  • Venezuela, Coro and its Port (Decision 31 COM 7A.31)
  • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 31 COM 7A.19)
Draft Decision: 31 COM 7A.24

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7A,

2. Recalling Decision 30 COM 7A.27, adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),

3. Notes the progress made by the State Party in the overall preservation and conservation of Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens;

4. Requests the State Party to invite a World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS joint reactive monitoring mission so as to assess the progress made in reaching the below proposed benchmarks and to recommend, on this basis, whether the property can be removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger:

a) Approval and implementation of Master Plans for Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens;

b) Protection and consolidation of the foundations of the water tanks of the hydraulic works at Shalamar Gardens as archaeological relics;

c) Protection and preservation of external walls of Shalamar Gardens and Lahore Fort;

d) Redifinition and extension of the boundaries of the core and buffer zones of Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens;

e) Adequate control of encroachments and the urban pressure;

f) Safeguarding programme with corresponding timeframe and financial resources elaborated;

5. Recommends that the State Party submit to the World Heritage Committee a formal request for the modification of the boundaries of the property;

6. Requeststhe State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2008 a report with detailed documentation of the works carried out at Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;

7. Decides to retain the Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Pakistan) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Report year: 2007
Pakistan
Date of Inscription: 1981
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (i)(ii)(iii)
Danger List (dates): 2000-2012
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 31COM (2007)
Exports

* : 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.


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