hile Lahore braves record-breaking rains (which will eventually settle in the foundations of millions of houses and monuments, causing the bonding materials to split), the caretaker government of the Punjab, having a mandate only to hold elections, has found it fit to drop more bombshells on built heritage.

This scribe travelled far and wide across the globe and enjoyed and endured long sojourns in many cosmopolitan cities of the world, only to finally decide on the city where he had grown up. Well, there is no city like Lahore, chiefly the Walled City. But the problem is the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) which came into being via a bill passed by the Punjab Assembly in 2012, and which all successive governments have either tolerated or patronised.

The WCLA’s assigned job was to protect the old houses within the Old Lahore. Its activities included the repair of walls, rehabilitating sewerage lines and preventing the construction of high-rise plazas. However, the Authority deliberately looked the other way, and the city deteriorated. Every year during the monsoon, many old houses collapsed, causing an avoidable loss of lives. If someone tried to repair his rundown house, he was slapped with an FIR for not getting an NOC prior. On the other hand, illegal plazas were allowed to dig out two- or three-storey basements in this old city built over its own debris.

Meanwhile, the ever expanding markets in the narrow, winding lanes or gallis make it difficult for fire brigade or ambulances to access their desired destination. The WCLA has clearly not lived up to the grand task. As a result, sewers have overflowed, roads are full of potholes and old houses are fast losing their plumb line verticality. Electricity wires dangling overhead are a venture into a dans macabre.

Instead of curtailing WCLA’s commercial activities, the caretaker government has helped to expand its unwarranted sphere of actions by giving it complete control of the Department of Archaeology recently.

Earlier, the WCLA had assumed control of Hazuri Bagh and Badshahi Masjid without getting any bill passed through the Assembly. The cabinet, too, remained ignorant of what was being done at the behest of a retired bureaucrat who is an expert at winning favours.

The WCLA was given charge of Hazuri Bagh, Masjid Wazir Khan, Shahi Hamam and Lahore Fort through a summary, on the understanding that these monuments would remain the property of the Department of Archaeology. The WCLA would only take care of their day-to-day maintenance. Moreover, the upkeep of these monuments would be done as per UNESCO and the Charter of Venice guidelines. It was also specified that all museums and their collections as well as staff residences would remain under the control of the Department of Archaeology. Thirdly, it was decided that a bank account titled Punjab Heritage Fund would be opened which would maintain records of all income from the sales of tickets and any other sources. The money thus raised would have to be used in the repair of the monuments. But the account was never opened and no monetary ledger was shared with the Department of Archaeology.

Services of a sizeable number of the Archaeology Department staff were transferred to the WCLA, yet their salaries were derived from the parent department. The semi-precious pietra dura stones were stolen in the dark of the night from Shish Mahal and Naulakha, both world heritage sites. The thefts were reported to the local police station by the WCLA. Some functions were also held in the Royal Kitchen. A fertiliser company and some multinational companies also held functions here.

In other instances, several roofs were replaced with wood of inferior quality. Some repairs were carried out using Portland cement which is disallowed for old structures. The outer wall of the Fort facing north is in a very bad state as the ancient bricks keep coming down. Many musical and photo shoots were held despite a court order to the contrary.

Heavy machinery has been used in repairing the Kitchen. A high-speed motor car raced through Hazuri Bagh. A single misstep at the clutch would have sent the machine into the delicate marble columns. Already a column has been damaged in the Diwan-i-Aam.

The WCLA is more into minting (unaudited) money. The price of entry tickets for ordinary mortals has been raised to Rs 100 for the Fort. Those desirous of seeing Shahjahan’s quadrangle, have to surrender a lot more. A selfie point and the electric vehicle rides are no more pleasant; it’s all about money, and those visiting Lahore from nearby cities and villages have to be mindful of their return fare.

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There was more to come. The royal necropolis, or Shahdara, where the only Mughal emperor to be buried in Pakistan lies, too has been handed over to the WCLA. In the same spirit, Shalamar Garden, another World Heritage site, has been passed on to the Authority.

Horror of horrors followed the order passed by the caretaker chief minister under which these sites were handed over to the WCLA and Kamran Lashari made the director general of archaeology, while the former director general Dr Fariha Tajammul proceeded on ex-Pakistan leave. One wonders if Lashari is qualified for the job. It is important to note that no retired employee can be given extension beyond the age of 63 years, according to the service rules as amended in 1974. Kamran Lashari is already 72 years old.

Meanwhile, the WCLA has removed all Archaeology Department staff that had offices in these monuments where they had served for so many years. The cupboards in their offices containing records were ordered to be removed from the Fort.

The world heritage site was taken over with a swiftness that surpassed the invasion by Ranjit Singh. As of now, over 450 employees of Archaeology Department are living in uncertainty and fear.

Truth be told, the WCLA has no staff trained to handle the delicate task of conservation. The caretaker CM should know that all these ‘actions’ are in excess of his mandate and can be challenged, now or later.

We are only custodians of heritage. Any negligence in its safe upkeep is tantamount to dishonesty. Besides, any further negligence could invite the relevant UN departments to put our monuments on the endangered list.

In the meantime, the Archaeology Department staff must maintain records of all the wrongs done to them.

(This dispatch is dedicated to Saleem-ul Haq, the Department of Archaeology director who refused to issue an NOC for the Orange Line train and was, thus, transferred)

The writer is a painter, a founding member of Lahore Conservation Society and Punjab Artists Association, and a former director of NCA Art Gallery. He can be reached at ajazart@brain.net.pk