Daily Times

The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) has just completed their pilot project to test the feasibility of their plans for the renovation of the Walled City of Lahore. The pilot project consisted of returning a tract of the Heritage Trail or Shahi Guzargah to its original glory, when it was used by the Mughal emperors travelling from Delhi to Lahore. After the completion of the project, the roads connecting the Delhi Gate to the Wazir Khan Mosque have been completely renovated, with an emphasis on infrastructure and public works. The effects of the endeavour are plainly evident in the differences of the renovated areas from the surrounding road and buildings. The Delhi Gate and the Wazir Khan Mosque have been eroded over the years and had practically fallen into ruin before the inception of the project, as have the majority of the historical buildings and heritage sites of Pakistan. The renovations have breathed new life into these old gems; the parts of the buildings that had been completely deteriorated have been built anew and the frescos, artwork and gem inlayed panels on the ceilings and minarets have been preserved.

The project does not merely include the renovation of these heritage sites. The wiring of the inner city has been completely redone, plumbing and sewerage systems have been put in place and the roads rebuilt to improve the quality of life of the residents. The project aims to bring back the residents who have been displaced by the domination of wholesalers and vendors over areas that were predominantly residential in the past and to improve the living environment of those who still inhabit the neighbourhoods. Many of the street vendors have been relocated to make the roads more spacious and the efforts of the WCLA have been successful in restoring the Shahi Guzargah to its formerly unique beauty. The effects of the project are plainly evident to any observer visiting the area after the restorations. The glaring light bulbs have been replaced by lanterns and the facades of the old houses have all been restored. The Jashne Shahi Guzargah was held this weekend to celebrate this great achievement and to promote both the heritage and culture of old Lahore. The event featured performances by many of the folk artists of Punjab as well as performances by Ajoka Theater and had a tremendous turnout, particularly by the residents of the area. The Walled City is a time capsule of the artistic wonder of the original Lahore and is very important to preserve, as the rest of the city becomes a concrete jungle. Hopefully this pilot will lead to the restoration of the rest of the inner city to preserve the rich cultural and architectural history of Lahore, improve the living conditions of residents and to promote tourism in the long run. *