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Shalimar Garden still on Unesco list of endangered historical sites
By: Jam Sajjad Hussain
LAHORE - The Shalimar Garden is still a part of the UNESCO’s list of endangered historical sites around the world since 1981 in spite of acquiring huge funds of 50 million this year by the government. Slow pace of repairing work is also contributing to its devastation.
Sources disclosed that the garden had been ignored for the last 26 years since the administration had launched its renovation campaign. Poor sanitation system, deserted look of the Royal Bathroom and crumbling walls has marred beauty of the garden.
Director Archaeology Shahbaz Khan, Preservation Incharge of Shalimar Garden, said that after being the garden listed as endangered site by the international body, the government had been funding regularly to improve the great historical place. He said the garden was handed over to the provincial government in 2004 and since then we had been working on it to restore its original beauty. “We may achieve our goals by the end of next year” he pledged.
He said the department had incurred Rs 14.3 million the completion of renovation including the perimeters walls, outside of GT Road wall, inner side of the Royal sleeping room and geometrical pattern of red bricks.
A senior official, requesting not to be identified, said that in 1981 the garden was included in the list of UNESCO’s world heritage sites in danger along with Lahore Fort. Despite the repeated warning by the UNESSCO, the government failed to wake up and do the much needful in restoring its old glory.
He further said only 25 to 30 per cent work had been completed in Shalimar Garden while 60 to 70 per cent in Lahore Fort. He said that only Nigar Khana and some other entry points were being renovated while the fountains were made functional only on the arrival of dignitaries or foreign tourists.
The Nation :July 05, 2009
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