When America’s leading newspaper, The New York Times, listed Lahore among “top places to visit in 2021,” we were again reminded of how immensely gifted this historical city of gardens is — especially in terms of its myriad heritage sites. For a moment, we left aside its horrific air pollution levels, uncontrollable traffic, depleting green spaces and many other issues that plague the city we know today, and revelled in the mere fact. Indeed, there are no two opinions on why Lahore should be on a foreign tourist’s bucket list. The city should interest them particularly what with its historical landmarks — from the 12 gates of its oldest neighbourhood to Mughal-era tombs and mosques to buildings that are relics of the Raj… Sadly, though, we might be guilty of not taking good care of these places. On one hand, we aren’t preserving and conserving them the right way and on the other we vandalise the places recognised by the UNESCO as heritage sites, we litter them, encroach upon them and turn them into our petty playgrounds. Are the authorities watching?