Conservation of historical monuments stressed
ISLAMABAD: Experts on the concluding day of conference on `Cultural Heritage Issues in Pakistan' on Saturday called for proper documentation and conservation of the historical monuments in Multan...
January 08, 2011
Reading research paper, Salimul Haq and Maqsood Malik from the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Lahore, said that the department had prepared a project to document the diversified architectural heritage of Multan with an aim to prepare a master plan to conserve and preserve this heritage.
Some 53 protected and unprotected monuments were selected for complete documentation, including topographical and condition survey, they said.
They said,"all the monuments have now been documented fully with estimated cost required for their conservation. Apart from a conservation plan, strategies have also been chalked out for their sustainability. However, all now depends on the availability of funds for the execution of proposed master plan".
Dr. Asma Ibrahim, Director, State Bank Museum and Art Gallery Department, in a research paper highlighted the process of conversion of a historical building as a museum, the problems of an old building, architectural and with the point of view of display.
She discussed the preventive conservation of the original building design and construction materials and the details of the measures to control the indoor climate of the building, including the introduction of the Museum Galleries.
Director, Lahore Museum, Humera Alam presented a research paper on "Preservation and Conservation of Artifacts at the Lahore Museum: Problems and Solutions".
She said that the Lahore Museum encompassed more than 150 years and three remarkable buildings--the Baradari of Wazir Khan (from 1855-1864), Tolington Market (1864-1893) and the current Museum building since 1893.
The present Lahore Museum building was completed in 1893. The Lahore Museum environment includes many areas of risk ranging from dust pollution, rainwater, leakage and seepage in the building, termite and other pests, un-controlled relative humidity (RH), fire protection, security and below standard display and storage.
She also discuused current efforts to address various problems being faced by the Museum using available resources and future plans for funding and support.
Dr. Badshah Sardar from Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) presented a research paper on "Rock Art in Swat Valley: Documentation and Conservation".
He said that the Swat valley, which is an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), had been drained by the Swat River together with the adjacent territories of Buner, Dir and Bajaur corresponded to the ancient Udiyana.
Archaeological relics from these sites bear testimony of its cultural relations with the East and West. Hundred of sites spanning 5000 years of history speak about this.
Some 400 sites from palaeolithic to medieval time have been explored. Fifty Buddhist sites have been excavated and 100 rock reliefs have been documented. Forty painted rock shelters of Bronze Age to historic period have been documented.
Buddhist period legacy of the Swat valley is under threat from the Taliban, who consider it as the remnants of past. This presentation focuses on the phenomenon of destruction emerged in the Swat Valley since 2006.
The author tried to underscore Taliban insurgency and its impacts on the Buddhist legacy of valley. He highlighted the Buddhist period treasury and the cultural wealth of area and exposed the damage caused by the militants.
Dr. Michel Meister, University of Pennsylvania presented a research paper on "Continuities of Architectural Heritage in the Northwestern Regions of Pakistan".
Muhammad Hassan, Curator, Harappa Museum, Dept. of Archaeology and Museums presented research paper on "Tibba Sangarwala, Kamalia; Recent Excavations and Site Protection".
Muhammad Safdar Khan and Muhammad Farooq, Department of Conservation Studies, Hazara University, Mansehra spoke on "Conservation Issues in Pakistan".
