The decay of historic sites in Pakistan, is a loss of history, identity and sends a negative message to the world
Hammad Zameer
Pakistan, a country which has some of the most exceptional heritage sites in South Asia. It is a land that is full of history. The glimpse of ancient civilization can be seen in the ancient ruins of Mohenjo-Daro and the majestic architecture of the Mughal era can be seen in Lahore; these sites are a proof of those civilizations’ grandeur. Instead of preserving our beautiful and remarkable legacy these historical sites are being ruined, due to lack of management, neglect of government officials as well as the local public being unaware of this treasure. The question remains, as we progress, can we keep our history intact?
A MOSAIC OF CIVILIZATIONS
When we take a look at the landscape of Pakistan, we can see the effects of all the civilizations that were here before us. Some of the famous civilizations include, The Indus Valley Civilization, The Gandhara Civilization and the Mughal Empire. The Indus Valley Civilization, is one of the oldest and the archaeological marvels left behind by this civilization include, Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa from these sites we can get a clear idea about their culture and history. The Gandhara Civilization is famous for its Greco-Buddhist art blended together. In Lahore, we can find such marvelous architecture which is the proof of the grandeur of the famous Mughal Empire, these sites are Lahore Fort and Shalimar Garden. The real values of these sites will be understood not when we think of them as remnants of the past but as a proof of human creativity and diversity. We can find the religious and cultural history of this region in these sites. Even though these sites have so much significance but due to decline they are facing the risk of being lost forever.
THE CAUSES OF DECLINE
When we look at the causes of the decline of these sites many options come to our mind. One of the most important reasons is the neglect by officials, as most of these sites come under the management of the government. Either they are low on budget, funds are nonexistent, a little of the funds are used on superficial repairs which do not solve the structural issues and the rest of them are used by the officials or they excuse themselves by saying they lacked the technical experts for this job.
Rapid urbanization and the unregulated construction of roads or other developmental projects pose a risk to the safety of these sites. An example is the construction of Orange Line Metro in Lahore which was a serious threat for the nearby Shalimar Gardens but despite the protests the construction was still done. This incident shows that the priority of our state is to develop infrastructure instead of doing efforts to preserve our culture.
Environmental factors also play a role in this decline as these sites are left unprotected against floods, humidity and climate change. Mohenjo-Daro, which already suffers from waterlogging, was damaged further by the floods of 2022 which submerged large parts of Sindh.
Most of these sites are not properly guarded, opening the doors for thieves to steal valuable artifacts and others to vandalize the property by doing graffiti or wall chalking.
The most complex issue resides in the lack of awareness by the general public of these historical sites and our culture. This results in our youth being disconnected from their history due to which the preservation of these sites is not given much thought and there is no one to raise voice against this injustice towards our history and culture.
EXISTING EFFORTS
Some efforts are being made to preserve our heritage, organizations like Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) are responsible for notable restoration projects such as the revitalization of Shahi Hammam and the restoration of the area surrounding the Delhi Gate. This helps not only in preserving these structures but also in attracting more tourists and increasing employment opportunities. But these efforts are not enough. More is to be done, particularly, in Sindh and other provinces. In Sindh, a number of historic places are on the verge of destruction, like that of Pacca Qila (Fort) of Hyderabad.
There are six sites in Pakistan that are recognized by UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this recognition on a global level helps in drawing international attention and funding. But the pace on which these works are done is excruciatingly slow. Many NGO’s, academic institutions and local communities also try to raise awareness about this but due to the lack of government support their efforts do not reach the public at mass levels.
THE WAY FORWARD
One thing to keep in mind is that preserving these sites is not only about preserving a building, it means preserving people’s identity and their collective memories. Some of the ways of preserving these sites are:
In the national agenda cultural preservation should be prioritized and the budget for archaeological departments should be increased and skilled personnel should be hired.
Such laws should be made, that any unauthorized change or any kind of damage to these sites should be punished.
To ensure the preservation, local people should be included in the work so that our economy can also benefit from the tourism attracted by our historical sites.
The youth should be made aware of their history so that they can have a sense of pride and ownership for these sites, making them more involved in the protection of our history.
In the world of technological advancements, digital tools can be used to preserve our history, the sites which are at risk. Online tours can be provided to raise global awareness about our culture.
CONCLUSION
Not many people are seen raising awareness about this issue, but it is an important and sensitive issue. The decline of historic sites in Pakistan, is a loss of history, identity and sends a negative message to the world that we are unable to preserve our history when in fact we should honor it. We need to preserve our history so that future generations do not grow up without knowing anything about their roots. The stones and bricks of these buildings carry such stories that deserve to be told and to pass on to the future generations instead of being buried under the weight of negligence and time.
Read: Heritage of Sindh on Sale
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Hammad Zameer is a student at the department of Mass Communication, University of Karachi
