Love in a time of the past key to preserving heritage, say experts

South Asian experts speak of historical preservation in Pakistan.

KARACHI: “Karachi could have turned out much differently, only if it was managed differently,” said architect and Hilal-e-Imtiaz recipient, Arif Hasan, as he opened the session on ‘Memory & Conservation of the Built Environment’ at the 2^nd Pakistan Urban Forum held in Karachi on Friday.

“Even in the past, there was no planning for the future in this city,” Hasan said. “We were simply creating order in chaos. I can recall a time when conservation was an alien concept; [it was] a time when buildings were repaired merely because they needed to be repaired. And many, during their repair, were destroyed.”

One of the speakers was the museologist, Dr Asma Ibrahim, who presented a case study of the State Bank Museum, a project she undertook in 2004 when the State Bank of Pakistan decided to convert its old library building into a museum.

“When I received the project, the building was in a dilapidated state and lacked the necessary architectural documentation, which had to be drawn up later,” said Dr Ibrahim. “Now the century-old woodwork has been restored. The Sadequain art gallery has been established, along with a contemporary art gallery to promote upcoming talent.”

Another speaker, Dr Kaleemullah Lashari, is a bureaucrat and archaeologist, who has been fighting the uphill cultural battle for decades. “It is a very difficult time for the conservation of the nation’s heritage,” said Dr Lashari, “But we need civil society’s support to keep the process going. We must also tap into international support for the preservation of grand sites like Makli.”



“There are many projects that we have had to leave midway due to political pressure, at times after years of work. Some sites have been tossed around from one use to the other and have been destroyed in the process,” the bureaucrat added. “Love sustains you. And a love for your heritage is what is required for conservation.”

The most applauded panellist was by far Abha Narain Lambah, a conservational architect visiting from Mumbai. Presenting a case study titled ‘The future of our past’, Lambah spoke of the striking similarities of Indo-Pak heritage. She presented a remarkable ‘before and after’ slideshow of pictures from her projects in Mumbai.

“We are responsible not only for what lies within the boundaries of our heritage sites, but the entire skyline of the locality,” said Lambah. “When we speak of urban heritage, we need to start looking at our sites as part of a growing cityscape and not just individual remnants of the past.”



Disregarding any form of dependency on governmental support, Lambah lamented, “A municipal officer will take a bribe of Rs400 and look the other way while a centuries-old building is torn down.”

She explained how there is not a single nationally protected monument in Mumbai. In 1995, however, a group of citizens and NGOs got together to make ‘Bombay Heritage Regulations’, an act that puts 632 historical buildings under protection.

“You must cease looking to your government for charity. It is your heritage, and you must take charge of it,” the conservationist said. “We have found Burma teak over false ceilings, and stone buildings buried under plaster. You must make small change after small change if you want to make a difference. This is why I decided to go bottom-up instead of the other way. Make the people stakeholders of their own heritage.”

The final speaker and former teacher at the National College of Arts in Lahore, Fauzia Qureshi, spoke of the restoration of the Lahore High Court, and quoted it as a classic case of successful preservation. “We do not need more heritage laws passed. We only need implementation of the laws already in existence.”

“Every city passes through various phases in its history,” said Lambah while speaking to The Express Tribune, “Hopefully the citizens of historical cities in Pakistan like Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar will soon recognise the necessity of heritage preservation.”

Renowned architects from across Pakistan and South Asia were present at the event and lauded the efforts of Abha Narain Lambah in particular.