Lahore Authority for Heritage Revival established to restore historical places

Lahore Authority for Heritage Revival (LAHR) has been established to restore and preserve historical heritage, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.
This was decided in a meeting chaired by Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chief Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will be the Patron-in-Chief of the Steering Committee of "Lahr." 
A sub-functional committee of "Lahr" consisting of concerned officers has also been established.
The meeting agreed on identifying and removing encroachments from Lahore's historical sites.
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif instructed to provide alternative space for businesses and pay compensation to the victims of encroachments.
A comprehensive plan was also sought for the restoration of Lahore's heritage areas.
The city has been divided into six zones for the restoration of Lahore's heritage areas.
The meeting also agreed on the proposal to start work simultaneously for the restoration of all zones and heritage areas.
The meeting was told that underground shifting of electricity wires for the attractiveness of Mall Road is underway at a fast pace and five locations in the city have been identified for underground parking.
Suggestions and recommendations were reviewed to restore the original appearance of the Neela Gumbad. 
It was decided in principle to restore Circular Road, gardens, and Badro to their original condition.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed her anger over the encroachment around Circular Road and historical gates and directed to remove obstacles to clarify the landscape of Bhati Gate and other gates.
The meeting was also agreed to restore the Lahore Fort, tombs of Jahangir and Noor Jahan, Shalamar Bagh, Kamran's Bara Dari, and other places.
The meeting considered the proposal to build a pedestrian walkway from Shah Alam Market to Bhati.
Nawaz Sharif said that old Lahore is very beautiful, and it is necessary to restore it to its original condition. 
He said bringing back the lost legacy of historical heritage should be done as a national duty. 
Nawaz Sharif said creating deterioration in the original and ancient condition of cities is not an appropriate behaviour. 
Europe has restored its cities in their old form even after centuries, and despite the passage of centuries in Europe, old palaces and buildings are still in their original condition, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said.
He said destruction of national heritage is synonymous with backwardness. 
People across Pakistan will be happy by restoring the ancient and historical status and condition of Lahore, Nawaz Sharif said.
He said before the formation of Pakistan, Lahore was considered the cultural centre of Indo-Pak, and now no one likes to go to historical markets due to encroachments. 
Maryam Nawaz said we are working on the restoration of ancient Lahore, and the city will look good in a few years. 
Maryam Nawaz Sharif said we will not allow cities to be spoilt by encroachments in every place. 
Restoring historical buildings is not enough; it is also necessary to maintain them, Maryam Nawaz said. 
She said it is imperative to raise awareness of citizenship among the public. 
Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that the historical gates of Lahore will be restored in their ancient form.
The meeting was briefed that at least 115 buildings in Lahore are considered historical heritage and work is underway on 48 buildings out of 75 ancient buildings from the colonial era. 
Plaques will be displayed at the residences of Saadat Manto, Shorush Kashmiri, and other literary figures on Mall Road.
Reporter: Rao Dilshad Hussain