The administration of Islamia College University (ICU) has agreed to register the institute’s century-old building as a heritage site, according to a statement issued by the Citizen for Clean Environment (CCE) on Thursday.
The decision was made during a recent meeting between the ICU administration and a CCE team headed by Architect Tahir Khattak.
It was also decided that ICU will constitute a committee of conservationists to begin documentation of the building and hold consultations with relevant authorities in the federal and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government to include the building in national and international heritage lists. The committee will also take necessary steps to ensure funding for the building’s conservation.
The “architectural wonder” was built in 1912 and has a unique blend of Mughal, Hindu, and Gothic styles, according to Khattak. However, like its counterpart Government College Lahore, the ICU building is though a renowned heritage site, it is yet to be notified by the provincial government as a protected monument under NWFP Antiquities Act 1997.
Khattak said it is also important that minimum intervention and expansion of the existing colonial building is carried out so that it does not disqualify standards set by international heritage organisations like UNESCO.
Around 200 sites and antiquated buildings spread across K-P, belonging to the British, Sikh, Durrani, Mughal, Hindu Shahi, Gandharan and Greco-Bactrian periods, also deserve to be included in the provincial and national heritage list. Owing to rapid urbanisation, it is feared that unless these sites and buildings are protected under the provincial antiquity act they may soon be demolished or taken over.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2012.
COMMENTS (2)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
I am surprised for conservation of building but losing education standard, on merit induction and killing people. The day to day opening of new universities campuses in the same vicinity instead of the areas or district which real needs educational institutes have been ignored for decades. While the education standard have been losing day by day. Induction of staff and professionals is irrespective of merit and based on political approach, course and education standard is outdated and examination standard is unfair. Teachers and student political grouping, conflicts on the top along with corruption.
I'm glad we are finally coming around to protecting our heritage for future generations. Certainly worth it.