New training hub aims to preserve Lahore's heritage through traditional crafts

Programme will train young professionals in lime plaster, tile mosaic, fresco painting and Parchin Kari

LAHORE:

A new training programme has been launched to equip young professionals and students with traditional and modern techniques for conserving Lahore’s historic heritage.

The “Heritage Skills Training Hub” will offer lectures and hands-on training at selected historic monuments across the city, with a particular focus on traditional conservation techniques such as lime plaster, glazed tile mosaic, fresco painting and pietra dura, also known locally as Parchin Kari.

The initiative was launched through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Aga Khan Cultural Service-Pakistan (AKCS-P), Collective Research on Mughal (CROM) Lahore and the Commonwealth Heritage Forum (CHF).

The programme will bring together young architects, engineers, art and design graduates, traditional craftsmen and other professionals working in heritage conservation.

Read: Echoes of heritage: Lahore's past and future

According to the organisers, the initiative aims to strengthen local expertise, promote appropriate conservation practices and ensure that the original character and architectural integrity of historic buildings are preserved.

Ongoing conservation projects will also serve as practical training sites, allowing participants to learn and apply conservation techniques while restoration work is under way, the organisers said.

Similar training sessions were held last year at the Royal Kitchens of Lahore Fort, Shahi Hammam and Wazir Khan Mosque, where participants received hands-on instruction in lime plaster, glazed tile mosaic and fresco work.

CROM Lahore President Usman Saeed said the programme would help address the shortage of specialised heritage conservation expertise in Pakistan.

He said CROM Lahore was offering short courses for young professionals by engaging local and international experts to build capacity in the sector.

Read more: Hidden Mughal chambers rediscovered after centuries under Lahore Fort

AKCS-P Chief Executive Officer Tausif Khawaja said conserving historic buildings also required safeguarding the specialised traditional skills associated with their construction and maintenance.

He said the training initiative would enable young professionals to learn these techniques and pass them on to future generations.

The new training cycle will include advanced instruction in glazed tile mosaic, fresco painting and lime work. Pietra dura, or Parchin Kari, will also be introduced, alongside the documentation of traditional conservation techniques.