Lighting up Lahore

Public entertainment can be hard to find in Pakistan, likewise a determination to preserve and protect our cultural heritage. It is thus heartening to see that Lahore is to combine the two, with the restoration of up to 18 historic buildings under the Dilkash Lahore Project. This was launched in October 2012 and is designed to restore and preserve the unique architecture of some of the historic buildings in the city. The project extended to eight buildings by the end of 2013 and now the committee that oversees the project has agreed a plan to restore 18 more at a cost of around Rs50 million. Not only buildings are to benefit, the ramshackle pedestrian infrastructure is due for a facelift as well with repaired footpaths and newly installed street furniture. A number of buildings have already been illuminated at night and there have long been plans for a laser light show at a number of locations in the city to highlight our varied culture.

An interesting feature of the plan is to operate a Lahore Safari along the lines of other cities internationally that deploy open-top double-decker buses to attract the tourists. The city already owns double-deckers that could be used thus, and there is no major capital outlay required to get the service on the road. In a further innovation, the committee proposes to hold a Burj show that will incorporate lanterns lit internally by candles that then drift upwards courtesy of convention. All very pretty but a word of caution. ‘Chinese lanterns’ have been responsible for a number of very large and destructive fires in other countries, as what goes up must come down — somewhere. Parts of old Lahore are closely packed and highly combustible, and with emergency services rarely having easy access to the more historic areas, the committee might like to think carefully before giving the green light to this idea. Rather less risky is a proposal that there be a float parade on March 23. In these difficult times, it is encouraging to see an opportunity for a little light relief and overall, we welcome these ideas.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th,  2014.

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