Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore
Factors affecting the property in 2001*
- Ground transport infrastructure
- Water infrastructure
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Demolition of the 375-year old essential hydraulic works of the Shalamar Gardens to enlarge a road
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2001
Total amount approved : 121,000 USD
2000 | Rescue programme for Fort and Shalamar Gardens, Lahore ... (Approved) | 50,000 USD |
1999 | Archaeological, soil and design research and the ... (Approved) | 10,000 USD |
1999 | Signage on-site at the Fort and Shalimar Gardens of ... (Approved) | 5,000 USD |
1981 | Emergency restoration work at Lahore Fort (Approved) | 44,000 USD |
1981 | Emergency restoration work at Shalimar Gardens (Approved) | 12,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 2001**
October 1999: World Heritage Centre mission; September 2000: joint UNESCO/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission ; April 2001: joint mission World Heritage Centre / Ville de Strasbourg
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 2001
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:
Lack of a comprehensive management strategy and plan, urban encroachment and ad-hoc public works:- 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.
Action Required
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2001
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.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2001
25 BUR V.79-81
Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Pakistan)
V.79 The Bureau examined the report on the state of conservation as presented within WHC-2001/CONF.205/4 concerning the Shalamar Gardens. The Bureau recalled that the property faced threats caused by the lack of a comprehensive management strategy and plan, urban encroachment and ad-hoc public works. The need for enhancing the capacity of site management authorities in conservation techniques, project elaboration, and site presentation was also noted. The Centre informed the Bureau that the reformulated international assistance request had been received for utilizing the US$ 50,000 emergency assistance granted to the State Party, This new information would be transmitted to the Advisory Bodies and the Chairperson for their evaluation.
V.80 The Observer of Pakistan expressed her Government’s appreciation to the World Heritage Committee and the World Heritage Centre for the special support being provided following the inscription of the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger. In particular, the Bureau was informed that her Government welcomed the initiatives being taken by the Centre to mobilize international technical and financial assistance through the European Union Asia-Urbs Programme. Finally, the Observer of Pakistan reassured the Bureau of her Government’s firm commitment to conserve the world heritage values of the Shalamar Gardens and to continue co-operating with the Committee and the Centre for enhancing the management and development of this property.
V.81 The Bureau welcomed the positive actions taken and being planned by the State Party and the World Heritage Centre for the rehabilitation of the Shalamar Gardens and for elaborating a comprehensive management plan for the site. The Bureau requested the State Party and the Centre to continue its close co-operation to ensure that an integrated conservation, management and development plan be elaborated, adopted and implemented as soon as possible. The Bureau requested the State Party and the Centre to report on the progress made in removing the threats facing the site for examination by the Committee at its twenty-fifth session.
25 COM VIII.69-72
Fort and Shalamar Gardens of Lahore (Pakistan)
VIII.69 The Committee examined the report on the state of conservation of the Fort and Shalamar Gardens of Lahore. The Committee was informed that the Director- General of the Department of Archaeology had informed the Centre on 3 December 2001 that all efforts were being made to implement the recommendations of the Committee, Bureau and UNESCO international expert missions to address the conservation and management issues facing the property. In particular, the Department of Archaeology was continuing its discussion with the Lahore Development Co-operation and the Lahore Commissioner to clarify the land-ownership of the area where the demolished 375-year old hydraulic works were located.
VIII.70 The Observer of Pakistan, assuring the Committee of her Government's continued commitment to the World Heritage Convention, expressed her Government's appreciation for the support of the World Heritage Committee and the Centre in enhancing the management of the site. She stated that the annual plan for 2002 had been recently adopted by the authorities which specifically addresses the recommendations of the Committee, Bureau and UNESCO expert missions organized to respond to the conservation and management needs of this site. Concerning the 375-year old hydraulic works that were partially demolished in 1999, the Observer informed the Committee that conservation and restoration work was being planned.
VIII.71 With reference to Article 5a of the Convention which calls for heritage conservation activities to be integrated within the overall comprehensive planning process for heritage areas, the Observer of Pakistan underscored the importance for the Committee to take into due consideration the conservation needs within the context of sustainable development, especially in highly populated urban areas such as Lahore.
VIII.72 The Committee welcomed the positive actions taken and being planned by the State Party and the World Heritage Centre for the rehabilitation of the Shalamar Gardens and in elaborating a comprehensive management plan for the site. The Committee requested the State Party and the Centre to continue its close co-operation to ensure that an integrated conservation, management and development plan be elaborated, adopted and implemented as soon as possible. The Committee requested the State Party and the Centre to report on the progress made in removing the threats facing the site for examination by the Committee at its twenty-sixth session.
TheCommittee may wish to adopt the following:
“The Committeewelcomes the positive actions taken and being planned by the State Party and the World Heritage Centre for the rehabilitation of the Shalamar Gardens and for elaborating a comprehensive management plan for the site. The Committeerequests the State Party and the Centre to continue its close co-operation in order to ensure that an integrated conservation, management and development plan will be elaborated, adopted and implemented as soon as possible. The Committeerequests the State Party and the Centre to report on the progress made in removing the threats facing the site for examination by the Committee at its twenty-sixth session.”
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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.