Decision to complete the conservation of important parts in Shahi Qila including establishment of new museum in 5 years

Lahore: Officials of Aga Khan Culture Services Pakistan say that they have decided to complete the conservation of important parts of the Shahi Fort in the next five years, including the establishment of a new museum in the Shahi Fort of Lahore.

According to the details, the restoration work of the buffer zone will also be started soon, 75% of the world’s largest picture wall has been completed, the conservation work of Summer Palace is going on. Ambassador of Portugal posted in Pakistan visited Shahi Fort and was briefed about conservation and restoration works.

Ambassador of Portugal to Pakistan, Frederico Silva, visited the Shahi Fort in Lahore on Friday. Aga Khan Culture Services Pakistan Chief Executive Khawaja Toqeer Ahmed, Director Conservation Wajahat Ali Khan and Archaeologist Makhdoom Rashid and other experts briefed on the conservation and restoration projects.

Speaking to Express News on this occasion, Director of Conservation and Planning Wajahat Ali Khan said that Aga Khan Culture Service has been working in collaboration with the City of Lahore Authority since 2007. In the first phase, they worked on the restoration of the royal passage from Delhi Gate, while since 2015, the Shahi Fort in Lahore has been working. are working

He said that those people were working on the restoration of three projects in the Shahi Fort, in which the restoration and decoration of the Shahi kitchen has been completed, 75% of the world’s largest picture wall has been completed, while the restoration work of the Summer Palace and Sheesh Mahal has been completed. In progress now. He also said that with the help of France, the work was started on the restoration of the buffer zone of the royal fort. He expressed hope that in the future, with the support of the government of Portugal, work can be done on the restoration of World Heritage sites in Pakistan.

Chief Executive of Aga Khan Culture Services Pakistan, Khawaja Toqeer Ahmad said, “They have been with the City of Lahore Authority for many years, they are working as technical partners on the restoration of historical buildings and heritage in different cities of Pakistan. Khawaja Toqeer Ahmed said that our effort is That in the next five to six years, the conservation and restoration work of the remaining seven or eight important places of the royal fort should be completed. He said that Aga Khan Culture Services is doing conservation work according to international standards and norms. We also have a program to establish a museum in the Shahi Qila, the designing of which has been completed.
Regarding some empty and old parts of the picture wall of Shahi Qila, Wajahat Ali Khan said that the principle of conversion is that we can save the original in such a way that its life can be extended. Similarly, the artwork and designs for which evidence is available have been completed but the parts for which evidence could not be found are still blank. We can’t do something completely new by eliminating the old. Our job is to balance the old and the new.
Apart from this, Ambassador of Portugal Frederico Silva was given a visit to different parts of the royal fort. He was very happy to see the iron temple and Sheesh Mahal near the Royal Kitchen. . Pakistan is rich in historical and cultural heritage. He is happy that the historical heritage in Pakistan, especially the World Heritage sites, has been well maintained. It is very important for tourists.
It was informed in the briefing that the project of restoration and decoration of historical buildings is supported by France, Norway, Germany and USA. Conservation and beautification of historical heritage will promote tourism, local people will get new opportunities for business and development related to tourism.