Editorial

Saving our heritage sites

The frenzy of urban development must be halted if it is coming at the risk of endangerment to our heritage sites

Editorial July 13, 2017

PHOTO: EXPRESS

Dishonesty comes disturbingly easy to us, whether it is the small-business pushcart seller who insists that his product is fresh, or the self-assumed honourable men in the power corridors. The civil society’s recent allegations against the Punjab government of lying to the World Heritage Committee (WHC) about following recommendations is hardly a surprise. The Lahore Conservation Society and the Pakistan Civil Society Forum maintain that the provincial government has falsely claimed that the Orange Line Metro Train Project has WHC endorsement.

The allegations put forth by the civil society deserve scrutiny; at stake is Lahore’s Shalimar Gardens, a renowned heritage site, possibly along with others.

In April 2017, WHC had requested the Punjab government to submit a heritage impact assessment report but the Punjab Mass Transit Authority has only managed to present excuses as to why the assessment could not be completed: awaiting response from the Supreme Court. In agreement with civil society, the inaction over providing technical details and impact assessment reports reek of foul play and deception. Without evidence that the transit authority has followed earlier recommendations, their claims that the latter has endorsed the project are specious. Heritage sites belong to the public; for they pay the taxes used for restoration and preservation of these sites. Therefore, the government has a responsibility to provide the civil society with an explanation as to how it plans to protect the sites.

The frenzy of urban development must be halted if it is coming at the risk of endangerment to our heritage sites. The civil society must put pressure on WHC, Unesco and Icomos to invite them to demand the truth from the Punjab government. We recognise government representatives have not respected our cultural heritage sites in the past, which underscores the need for civil society and other organisations to demand protection of the landmarks.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13^th, 2017.

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