The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) held a Meet the Expert session at Shahi Hammam on Wednesday in which the experts who conserved the hammam informed students about conservation techniques.
Almost a 100 students participated in the first session of Meet the Expert at Shahi Hammam whereas the second session will be held next week on the same topic. The session was of two hours and students from University of Engineering & Technology, National College of Arts, University of Lahore, Comsats and University of South Asia along with individual participants participated in the session.
The speakers included Rashid Makhdoom who is a consultant and senior architect at Aga Khan Cultural Services Pakistan (AKCS-P), WCLA Social Mobilisation Deputy Director Nausheen Zaidi, AKCS-P Conservators Emaan Shaikh and Mina Arham.
The session described the skills, techniques and methodologies used in the conservation of Shahi Hammam and how 52 encroachments were removed from the monument which were damaging its historic fabric. The students were also briefed in detail on the restoration and conservation of the fresco work.
WCLA Media & Marketing Deputy Director Tania Qureshi added that the activity was meant to create awareness among the students so that they can learn the practical work along with their studies. She added that another session with students of different universities will be held next week again.
WCLA Marketing Director Asif Zaheer added that these sessions will be carried out fortnightly on different topics. He said that this activity aims to educate the students and to involve them in the future projects of WCLA.
Published in Daily Times, October 4th 2018.