LAHORE: The World Heritage Committee (WHC) has released its draft decision regarding construction of Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) near the Shalamar Gardens on which it will finalize its decision through a vote of member states in the upcoming WHC meeting in July this year. This was stated by the representatives of civil society on Friday in a press conference here in Lahore Press Club.
Expressing their grave concern on construction work of OLMT, they said that despite the stay order of Lahore High Court on construction work near heritage sites, Punjab government is continuously violating the court orders. They informed that the decision draft of WCH clearly mentioned that the project poses an irreversible and permanent threat to Shalamar Gardens and Lahore Fort.
The WHC’s decision draft 2017 further expresses concern that the Supreme Court of Pakistan will likely issue a decision on OLMT before the requested reactive mission has been given a chance to visit the property; the body has requested the government of Pakistan to issue the necessary visas.
Nadeem Umar, while addressing a press conference said that it was clear from the world’s highest authority on heritage protection that Shalamar Gardens and other heritage sites will be irreversibly damaged if this project continues as planned. He said that the expected delisting of Shalamar Gardens & Lahore Fort will jeopardize future support from UNESCO, the World Bank, and the IMF.
Nadeem said that after ratifying the international treaties regarding heritage sites, it was the duty of the government to bind with the agreements which, unfortunately, it is violating. “If we lose our cultural identity, it will never be retrieved”, he added.
Convener of Lahore Conservation Society Maryam Hussain said that if WHC suspends Shalamar Gardens from the list of cultural heritage sites, it will be a great loss for Pakistan. She said that despite knowing the facts, Punjab government is committed to destroying this heritage which will be a matter of great embarrassment for the Pakistan. “Taxpayers’ money is being wasted ruthlessly in OLMT project. Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes while the loss in terms of environment is countless”, she lamented.
Vice President of International Council on Monuments and Sites Fauzia Qureshi said that government promised to establish a buffer zone near Shalamar Gardens during the construction work of OLMT which it has failed to do. She said that following Istanbul’s example we could earn great revenue through tourism by preserving these heritage sites.
Architect Dr. Ejaz Anwar while talking to Pakistan Today said that this project had nothing to do with the masses but it was being constructed for the sake of gaining an advantage in elections.