Making heritage accessible

WCLA Communication Director says over 400 amateur, professional photographers expected to participate.

LAHORE:

The Walled City of Lahore Authority has a number of projects planned for 2014 which are aimed at boosting tourism.

The WCLA in collaboration with the Lahore Photography Club will host a photography contest titled Wekh Lahore this January.

WCLA Communication Director Tania Qureishi says over 400 amateur and professional photographers are expected to participate in the contest aimed at reviving artistic interest in Walled City.

Tonga tours of the Walled City, which were launched in October, open once again in this January.

Food festivals, documentary contests and cultural festivals are also in the words.



Qureishi says WCLA was also aiming to complete the royal trail project from Chowk Kotwali to Dabbi Bazar and Masti Gate.

She says building and land control issues will also be taken up by the WCLA once the drafting of bylaws is completed in January 2014.

“Under package 2, buildings along the passage from Chowk Purani Kotwali to Lahore Fort through Chowk Chuna Mandi and Moti Bazaar would be improved. Footpaths would also be repaired. The WCLA will also fix the drainage system in the area under package,” Qureishi says.

Under the fourth phase, the WCLA would renovate the facade of buildings from Chowk Purani Kotwali to Sonehri Masjid via Dabbi Bazaar.



Qureishi says architectural plans have been drawn up and construction is expected to start in June. She says traffic management will also be improved.

WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari says while the WCLA had launched several projects, much work needs to be done to achieve the true tourism potential of the Walled City.

“Reviving tourism in the Walled City is not an easy task as the area has been neglected for a long time. WCLA has started awareness campaigns at schools and colleges. Their results can be better assessed at the end of 2014.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2014.