Renovation of Walled City monuments promotes tourism, economic activities

LAHORE
THE renovation and rehabilitation of the historical monuments such as Delhi Gate, Masjid Wazir Khan, Shahi Hamam and several havelies have promoted tourism besides boosting economic activities in the Walled City during the year 2014.
The walled city of Lahore had been witnessing a constant ignorance of authorities for the last many years and majority of its residential areas had been converted into commercial zones. Residents were selling their properties or turning them into commercial plazas extending the area of different markets such as Suha Bazaar, Azam Cloth Market, and Shoe Market.
This trend of illegal commercialisation has caused various traffic and civic issues but the practice is still continuing and residents are facing these issues every day. However in the year 2014, the Walled City Lahore Authority (WCLA) started a massive campaign against the illegal basements and commercialisation in Walled City area after which the trend had slowed down. The WCLA is responsible for the affairs of the Walled City.
During the year 2014, the WCLA also organised several entertaining events in the Walled City such as Wekh Lahore and Khaba Ustad competitions. Khaba Ustad was a great hit and Lahorities thronged the Fort Road Food Street to participate and enjoy the pure Lahori cuisine.
Introduction of guided tours into the renovated Royal Trail has increased the domestic tourism and flux of general public at Delhi Gate, which boosted the economic activities of the local residents.
Lighting up of Delhi Gate was a big event in the history of Lahore as it was for the first time ever in the history of Pakistan that Delhi Gate was illuminated. Almost 120 lights have been put up to illuminate the gate. Delhi Gate is one of the most famous gates of Lahore and was built by the third Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great. This gate is situated on the east of the city and has its opening towards Delhi, the capital of Mughal dynasty due to which it was named Delhi Gate.
At an estimated cost of Rs 20 million, the WCLA has installed the first-ever Geographic Information System (GIS) to preserve and monitor the walled city and its important heritage sites in a scientific manner. The GIS allowed the WCLA to ensure effective site monitoring, which was one of the most important aspects of conservation while it was also an effective monitoring tool to ensure timely completion of conservation goals and recognition of potential threats and emergencies.
Meanwhile, the WCLA also preserved some 365 buildings while over a dozen havelies were declared high architectural heritage properties. The WCLA also stopped owners of these buildings to demolish or make any kind of change in the structures. The prominent havelies, which were declared high architectural heritage, included Lal Haveli, Inside Lohari Gate, Kimla Building, Inside Pani wala Talab, Haveli Baij nath, Inside Dehli Gate, Haveli Dhayan Singh, Inside Texali Gate, Bangla Ayyub Shah, Inside Kashmiri Gate, Nori Building, Inside Papar Mandi Bazaar, Haveli Awais Mir, Pani wala talab, Haveli Barood Khana, Inside Masti Gate, Faqir Khana Museum, Haveli Mian Sultan, Inside Delhi Gate and Haveli Dina Nath.
Transfer of administrative control of three high profile historical monuments Lahore Fort, Shahi Hamam and Hazuri Bagh was also an important event during the year 2014. The WCLA has planned renovation and restoration of these three monuments during the year 2015, which will promote both local and international tourism, especially Night Tourism at both Lahore Fort and Hazuri Bagh.
The WCLA also planned to introduce various programmes such as illumination of buildings, Sound and Light shows, Costume shows, Ready to wear dresses of Mughal eras for tourists, guided tours for corporate companies, institutions and individuals at these monuments.
On the other hand, excavation of Shahi Hammam went on and the WCLA has completed around 65 percent excavation of Shahi Hamam, which was originally built in 1634 AD in the period of Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan and was buried under the mud during the British rule.
The monument will be like a jewel in the crown of Lahore and after complete excavation, restoration and conservation can be the most visited tourist attraction. The authority is spending Rs four million on the restoration of the monument and the amount was donated by the Royal Norwegian Embassy.
The Shahi Hamam is located just inside the Delhi Gate and was originally built around 1634 AD by Hakim Ilmuddin Ansari, the Governor of Lahore, during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1628-58 AD). It was designed as a public bath house to serve both visiting travellers as well as inhabitants of the city. A caravanserai was also located nearby which no longer existed. Hakim Ilmuddin Ansari, who was granted the title of Wazir Khan, was also responsible for the construction of famous mosque inside the Walled City which now bore his name.
Excavation of Shahid Hamam was started by the WCLA in November 2013 in collaboration with the Agha Khan Trust for Culture and international excavators started working on the project. In 1955, Shahi Hamam was recognised as a cultural asset and declared a protected monument by the Department of Archaeology. The entrance gateway to the west and the main hall in the northern part of the building are exquisitely decorated with frescoed panels depicting angels, animals, birds, floral and geometric designs.
The WCLA also introduced building bylaws to regulate the day-to-day affairs of the city area. Kamran Lashari, DG WCLA while talking with The News, said that 2014 had been a happening year as a lot of activities happened. “The WCLA takes over the building control and its urban planning department had started working on the approval of maps and surveys,” he said adding this year tourism had also been brought back to the walled city. We are planning a lot more in 2015, he concluded.