Preserving the past: Historical monuments being catalogued
Historical monuments to be identified which have been encroached upon and are in bad shape.
RAWALPINDI:
Rawalpindi’s administration is preparing a catalogue of historical monuments and cultural heritages to preserve and conserve them.
A survey of Rawalpindi division would also be carried out to identify historical monuments which have been encroached upon and are in bad shape, Rawalpindi District Coordination Officer (DCO) Saqib Zafar told The Express Tribune on Sunday.
The city administration has woke up from slumber after reading a story run by this newspaper narrating the crumbling heritage of the garrison city.
Responding to a question, the DCO said that the city is rich in historical monuments and cultural heritage and claimed that the administration was making efforts in preserving these sites. He stated that a plan has been devised to preserve the Potohar region’s heritage.
On the subject of the illegal possession of the Sikh-era Garden and temple and Bagh-e-Sardaran, Zafar said the matter was being investigated.
Locals told The Express Tribune that the city police officials have set up offices at the site and members of Sikh community have not been allowed to enter the premises. The problem has been further compounded by residential and commercial activities in the area.
The residents are demanding to restore the status of the heritage and reopen it to the public.
Rawalpindi has an amazing pre-partition architectural heritage -- its history dates as far back as 1000 BCE. It has served as a military cantonment since colonial times and served as the army’s headquarters after independence, a status it still enjoys today.
The Pakistan Army Museum reflects this history with displays on colonial and present day armouries highlighting war relics and historical figures.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2011.
Rawalpindi’s administration is preparing a catalogue of historical monuments and cultural heritages to preserve and conserve them.
A survey of Rawalpindi division would also be carried out to identify historical monuments which have been encroached upon and are in bad shape, Rawalpindi District Coordination Officer (DCO) Saqib Zafar told The Express Tribune on Sunday.
The city administration has woke up from slumber after reading a story run by this newspaper narrating the crumbling heritage of the garrison city.
Responding to a question, the DCO said that the city is rich in historical monuments and cultural heritage and claimed that the administration was making efforts in preserving these sites. He stated that a plan has been devised to preserve the Potohar region’s heritage.
On the subject of the illegal possession of the Sikh-era Garden and temple and Bagh-e-Sardaran, Zafar said the matter was being investigated.
Locals told The Express Tribune that the city police officials have set up offices at the site and members of Sikh community have not been allowed to enter the premises. The problem has been further compounded by residential and commercial activities in the area.
The residents are demanding to restore the status of the heritage and reopen it to the public.
Rawalpindi has an amazing pre-partition architectural heritage -- its history dates as far back as 1000 BCE. It has served as a military cantonment since colonial times and served as the army’s headquarters after independence, a status it still enjoys today.
The Pakistan Army Museum reflects this history with displays on colonial and present day armouries highlighting war relics and historical figures.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2011.