Daily Times

LAHORE: Meet the Expert, an academic session, was launched at Lahore Fort on Saturday.

The session focused on the importance of conservation of heritage sites. A case study on Royal Kitchen’s conservation was also presented on the occasion. The session was hosted by the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA).

WCLA Conservation and Planning Director Najamus Saquib, Rashid Makhdum, senior consultant architect Aga Khan Cultural Services Pakistan, participated in the session as experts. Besides, students of architecture faculties from University of Engineering and Technology, Beaconhouse National University, COMSATS, University of South Asia, Lahore College for Women University and others participated.

In his address, Najamus Saquib focused on the documentation and techniques used to conserve Royal Kitchen. He presented the complete process of conservation starting from excavation of the kitchen, which he said was hidden in waist-high shrubs until 2015.

He said that the documentation started in 2015, whereas the excavation began in the summer 2016. “In 2017, the excavation of the center part was on the track and the retaining wall was set along with the interior restoration.” He presented a pictorial presentation in the session informing the students of the stages of work and how labour was involved and trained in the process of documentation, excavation and finally the conservation.

Talking to Daily Times Najamus Sauib said that almost 85% work had been completed and the kitchen would be opened for the public by July.

Once completed the kitchen would become part of the History by Night Guided Tour route.

Rashid Makhdum said that their team was working on eastern side ruins of Royal Kitchen and the work would be completed by June this year. He said that the Royal Kitchen was a 17th century part of Lahore Fort built by Emperor Shah Jahan but was poorly maintained till 2015. Rashid Makhdum said academic sessions focusing on the conservation work in the Walled City of Lahore were important to impart knowledge to students.

WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari said people would be able to visit Royal Kitchen through Alamgiri Gate after completion. He added that Walled City of Lahore Authority had taken the initiative to organize the Meet the Expert sessions so that the new generation could come forward in the field of architecture and conservation as there was a dearth of knowledge in this field. He was of the view that students and professionals should be involved in conservation initiatives as their inputs generate new ideas and help improve ‘dead’ parts of historical sites.

Published in Daily Times, March 18^th 2018.