Preserving Khan Klub

Talking and dreaming about our ‘glorious past’ is not enough, it needs to be preserved for the dream to remain...


Editorial November 23, 2014

Terrorism and regional conflict might be contributing factors that have led to the decay afflicting our cultural heritage, but our own negligence has played a much larger role in this regard. One historic building after the other keeps disappearing without much effort having been put to conserve them. The Khan Klub, a famous tourist spot when Peshawar used to be a centre of attraction for foreign and local tourists, has seen its glory fade like the rest of the city and the province, and is now used as a godown to store flour. This historic structure was much more than just a hotel. It was, and is, an architectural gem, which was built more than 200 years ago. As is true for several other heritages sites, the years that followed the 9/11 incident, saw Khan Klub first running short of visitors and then dying a death of neglect. While our narrative as a nation has been heavily marked by incessant commentary on our resilience, our actions have been contrary to it. The important question here is: what do we do to return to our glory days once the dust of violence settles?

If the physical structures that represent the diversity of our cultures are wiped out, it will not only erode our history, but affect future generations in ways unimaginable. The government needs to get serious about preserving what remains of our common cultural heritage. It can make a start in this regard by taking steps to restore and renovate Khan Klub. According to reports, Peshawar has more than 300 sites that can be opened for tourism. Currently, there are only a few that remain open to the public and even fewer that are kept in a state that will see them survive the next decade. The senseless construction that has taken place within the centuries-old walled city, accompanied by a population explosion, is threatening what remains of Old Peshawar. While the construction of newer buildings is often important, this in no way gives anyone the licence to override tradition. Talking and dreaming about our ‘glorious past’ is not enough. That glory needs to be preserved for the dream to remain intact.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2014.

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