Lahore Fort, Hazuri Bagh need better security systems

LAHORE
Two high-profile historical monuments, Lahore Fort and Hazuri Bagh, face serious security threat, as there is an acute shortage of security guards at these buildings. The CCTV cameras and walkthrough gates are few in number and almost all of them are out of order.
Sources said during the last two weeks, the Fort was evacuated following security threats, issued by the intelligence agencies and police. The Fort is considered one of the icons of provincial capital and over 5,000 people including foreigners visit this monument daily. Besides, very costly artefacts, paintings and antiques are present in three museums inside the Fort.
Sources said currently only 6 to 7 guards are performing duties at the Lahore Fort. They said a total of 26 guards were transferred to the Walled City Lahore Authority (WCLA) by the Punjab Archaeology Department after the WCLA got the administrative control of the Lahore Fort.
Presently, three shifts of security guards are in place at the Lahore Fort and Hazuri Bagh and on an average, 6 to 7 perform duty daily, sources said adding that Archaeology Department also shifted the walkthrough gate and CCTV cameras to the WCLA, though they were not in working condition. Following the increased security threats, the WCLA has proposed to the Punjab government to allow the authority to hire over 40 security guards, purchase walkthrough gates, install over three dozen CCTV cameras in the Fort and to install the barbed wire on the Fort’s outer walls, especially towards the Ali Park. Sources claimed that briefings had already been given to the chief secretary as well as Hamza Shahbaz by the WCLA authorities. They said locals also used to come to the Fort by climbing over walls or the gates. Opening time of the Fort is 8am and it is closed half an hour before sunset. After closure, a complete scrutiny of the Fort is necessary to ensure that all visitors have gone out. There are cases that people such as addicts used to hide inside the Fort to use drugs uninterrupted. Similarly, in the past, couples were found from inside the Fort after its closure. Kamran Lashari, DG WCLA, told The News that the Fort and Hazuri Bagh were facing security threats. He said besides security issues, there were social crimes, which may take place in the Fort if security is not beefed up. He said a detailed proposal regarding upgrading security is pending with the Punjab chief secretary.
Earlier, WCLA Media Manager Tanya Qureshi told the scribe the Authority wanted to make the Fort and Hazuri Bagh a secure and safe place for tourists. She said the Authority had also planned establishing new tourist shops, which included souvenir shops, flower shops, costume shops, photography shops etc, to facilitate tourists. She said Seesh Mehal, Summer Palace and Madam Bamba Museum, which presently are closed for visitors, will be opened soon. She said restoration and renovation of Lahore Fort will be done with the help of international donors, multinational companies and local philanthropists.
About increasing ticket prices, she said the WCLA had already decided not to increase the entry ticket price and it will remain Rs20 for local and Rs400 per international visitor. She said the WCLA would introduce new revenue opportunities and programmes, which would be unveiled in future. She said the WCLA would also focus on cleanliness and solid waste management in and around the Fort and Hazuri Bagh and private companies would be hired for the purpose. The Lahore Fort is included in the World Heritage List therefore the Authority had planned to maintain international standards of washrooms and cleanliness conditions. Kamran Lashari said the Authority might hire additional security guards on daily wages basis to fulfil the need and their salaries would be paid from the income generated through entry tickets. He said the Fort is a World Heritage Site and needs to be secured effectively and as per international standards and norms.