Transforming lives: Zeeshan from Silgan
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8UyE2-tNVA
Zeeshan from Silgan, a remote valley of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan, suffered from severe nose bleeding and heart palpitations as a child hailing. The local healthcare provider had little hope that he would survive beyond a month, and advised the family to take Zeeshan to Karachi for advanced treatment. With few resources, his mother prayed for a miracle.
In difficult times, the Socio Economic Development Programme (SEDP) provides financial assistance for healthcare and sustenance to help vulnerable patients like Zeeshan and their families. SEDP is an initiative of the Ismaili Council for Pakistan which aims to uplift marginalised communities living in the mountainous regions of Pakistan from the vicious generational cycle of poverty.
PAKISTAN INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES
Prime Minister Imran Khan lays the foundation for Hunza’s first IT Park
Gilgit, Pakistan, 30 April 2021 - Prime Minister Imran Khan today unveiled the plaque at a ceremony in Chinarbagh, Gilgit to lay the foundation of Hunza’s first Information Technology Park located in Nasirabad, Hunza. Established jointly by Special Communications Organization of the Government of Pakistan and the Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan, the IT Park in Hunza will provide state-of-the-art infrastructure with un-interrupted power supply, high-speed internet facility and a co-working space for small and growing businesses, start-ups, freelancers, and chamber of commerce.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, while highlighting the opportunities in Gilgit-Baltistan, said, “I am pleased to witness the recent remarkable developments in the communication & information technology sector, which is reflected in the development of mobile services such as the launch of 4G and broadband services, as well as digital solutions related to cloud-based data centers, and these are all indicators of very positive progress in the region.”
The event was attended by Asad Umar, Federal Minister Planning and Development, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, Major General Muhammad Shahid Siddeeq, DG Special Communications Organisation, Colonel Imran Mansoor, Sector Commander SCO Gilgit, Hafiz Sherali, President, Ismaili Council for Pakistan, Akhtar Iqbal, CEO Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan, Air Commodore Waqar Ahmed, Director Operations and External Affairs, Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan, Hammad Bin Abdul Khaliq, Joint Director Incubation, Punjab Information Technology Board and Osman Nasir, MD, Pakistan Software Export Board.
Major General Shahid Siddeeq, Director General of Pakistan’s Special Communications Organisation informed the participants about multiple projects by the Organisation in the region which include the China Optical Fiber Link, Fiber-to-Home Service, Satellite Communications for Remote Areas, Cloud-based Data Centre, Incubation Centre and IT Parks. Talking about the foundation of the IT Park in Hunza, he mentioned that they aim to create a web of such IT Parks which “will provide the youth an opportunity to stand on their feet and bring revolution in the software industry.”
The IT Park will strengthen cooperation between SCO, AKF and other Aga Khan Development Network agencies with the shared objectives of sustainable socio-economic development of Gilgit Baltistan through reliable internet and telecom infrastructure. It will enable the youth of the region to prepare for the digital-driven future of work opportunities in areas such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and other emerging areas. Business Process Outsourcing services and global software solutions from such IT Parks will boost local economic development in the areas.
Highlighting the significance of the IT Park, Akhtar Iqbal, CEO, AKF Pakistan, said, “the future of work is evolving fast, driven by exponential technological changes. Gilgit Baltistan has the potential to capitalise on the rapid changes by strengthening IT infrastructure which will act as the building block for digitally transforming the region’s economy.”
Strengthening the IT infrastructure will open access to increased knowledge for developing digital competencies and lead to global networking and collaboration for remote work, online marketplaces, and other national and global business opportunities
https://www.akdn.org/press-release/prim ... st-it-park
Gilgit, Pakistan, 30 April 2021 - Prime Minister Imran Khan today unveiled the plaque at a ceremony in Chinarbagh, Gilgit to lay the foundation of Hunza’s first Information Technology Park located in Nasirabad, Hunza. Established jointly by Special Communications Organization of the Government of Pakistan and the Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan, the IT Park in Hunza will provide state-of-the-art infrastructure with un-interrupted power supply, high-speed internet facility and a co-working space for small and growing businesses, start-ups, freelancers, and chamber of commerce.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, while highlighting the opportunities in Gilgit-Baltistan, said, “I am pleased to witness the recent remarkable developments in the communication & information technology sector, which is reflected in the development of mobile services such as the launch of 4G and broadband services, as well as digital solutions related to cloud-based data centers, and these are all indicators of very positive progress in the region.”
The event was attended by Asad Umar, Federal Minister Planning and Development, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, Major General Muhammad Shahid Siddeeq, DG Special Communications Organisation, Colonel Imran Mansoor, Sector Commander SCO Gilgit, Hafiz Sherali, President, Ismaili Council for Pakistan, Akhtar Iqbal, CEO Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan, Air Commodore Waqar Ahmed, Director Operations and External Affairs, Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan, Hammad Bin Abdul Khaliq, Joint Director Incubation, Punjab Information Technology Board and Osman Nasir, MD, Pakistan Software Export Board.
Major General Shahid Siddeeq, Director General of Pakistan’s Special Communications Organisation informed the participants about multiple projects by the Organisation in the region which include the China Optical Fiber Link, Fiber-to-Home Service, Satellite Communications for Remote Areas, Cloud-based Data Centre, Incubation Centre and IT Parks. Talking about the foundation of the IT Park in Hunza, he mentioned that they aim to create a web of such IT Parks which “will provide the youth an opportunity to stand on their feet and bring revolution in the software industry.”
The IT Park will strengthen cooperation between SCO, AKF and other Aga Khan Development Network agencies with the shared objectives of sustainable socio-economic development of Gilgit Baltistan through reliable internet and telecom infrastructure. It will enable the youth of the region to prepare for the digital-driven future of work opportunities in areas such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and other emerging areas. Business Process Outsourcing services and global software solutions from such IT Parks will boost local economic development in the areas.
Highlighting the significance of the IT Park, Akhtar Iqbal, CEO, AKF Pakistan, said, “the future of work is evolving fast, driven by exponential technological changes. Gilgit Baltistan has the potential to capitalise on the rapid changes by strengthening IT infrastructure which will act as the building block for digitally transforming the region’s economy.”
Strengthening the IT infrastructure will open access to increased knowledge for developing digital competencies and lead to global networking and collaboration for remote work, online marketplaces, and other national and global business opportunities
https://www.akdn.org/press-release/prim ... st-it-park
Harnessing the potential of science and technology in Pakistan
Through various initiatives, AKDN and Jamati institutions are helping increase rates of digital literacy in Pakistan and beyond.
Embracing new technologies and investing in innovation is perhaps no longer a choice, but a necessity. In line with this view, Imamat and Jamati institutions in Pakistan are harnessing the potential of digital transformation to improve lives across the region.
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) recently collaborated with the Government of Pakistan’s Special Communications Organisation (SCO) to open an IT Park in the Hunza District of Gilgit-Baltistan. The state-of-the-art facility — a first of its kind in the region — will provide a digital infrastructure with an uninterrupted power supply, high-speed Internet connectivity, and a co-working space for small to medium-sized enterprises, start-up companies, and freelancers.
The plaque unveiling ceremony was led by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Imran Khan, attesting not only to the significance of the programme in promoting socio-economic growth in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, but is also to the strong relationship between AKDN and the Government of Pakistan in pledging resources to promote the digital economy and IT infrastructure in Pakistan.
During the ceremony, the Prime Minister said, “I am pleased to witness the recent remarkable developments in the communication and information technology sector, which is reflected in the development of mobile services such as the launch of 4G and broadband services, as well as digital solutions related to cloud-based data centres, and these are all indicators of very positive progress in the region.”
Likewise, Jamati institutions in Pakistan, particularly the Aga Khan Education Board (AKEB), are also playing a pivotal role in enhancing knowledge and skills related to science and technology within the Jamat. One of the core priorities of AKEB is to promote interdisciplinary education in the Jamat by focusing on a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum. Adopted as a global best practice, the STEM curriculum can nurture the cognitive and psychological capabilities of youth by building critical life skills including creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, communication, critical and analytical thinking, digital literacy, and leadership.
Through various platforms, AKEB is preparing Ismaili students for STEM-related careers, currently in high demand in both developed and developing countries. For example, AKEB for the Central Region conducted an innovative virtual programme entitled ‘Scientists of Tomorrow’ during the Covid-19 pandemic for students in grades one to eight. The programme helped students to reconnect with education whilst schools were temporarily closed, encouraging them to use domestic resources for learning essential concepts in science, such as density and surface tension of water, wind energy, air pressure, acid rain, and more. Over 150 students participated in the programme, after which 13 participants also took part in the Global STEM Festival.
Similarly, AKEB for the South Region collaborated with ‘Science Fuse’ to launch the Year of Science for students in grades two to seven. Science Fuse is a social enterprise that aims to promote science education as an option for youth to spend their leisure time. The curriculum featured an eight-week project, introducing students to a new hands-on science topic or experiment each week. After the course, participants were inspired to channel their curiosity to learn more about science and research.
Recently, AKEB successfully adopted an approach to introduce robotics and promote STEM-based education. Robotic projects provide students the opportunity to unleash their creativity by working in teams to solve complex problems using a basic set of instructions and their own scientific knowledge. During the pandemic, a virtual robotics programme was launched in which 13 students engaged in online classes and physically convened together towards the end of the course to share their learning. Moving forward, AKEB aims to expand its robotics programme to encourage Jamati students to explore a wide spectrum of scientific concepts including distance, speed, principle of pulleys, inertia, elasticity, and more advanced computation and engineering concepts.
Through these initiatives, AKDN and Jamati institutions are unleashing the potential of science and technology and contributing to growing rates of digital literacy.
https://the.ismaili/global/news/institu ... y-pakistan
Through various initiatives, AKDN and Jamati institutions are helping increase rates of digital literacy in Pakistan and beyond.
Embracing new technologies and investing in innovation is perhaps no longer a choice, but a necessity. In line with this view, Imamat and Jamati institutions in Pakistan are harnessing the potential of digital transformation to improve lives across the region.
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) recently collaborated with the Government of Pakistan’s Special Communications Organisation (SCO) to open an IT Park in the Hunza District of Gilgit-Baltistan. The state-of-the-art facility — a first of its kind in the region — will provide a digital infrastructure with an uninterrupted power supply, high-speed Internet connectivity, and a co-working space for small to medium-sized enterprises, start-up companies, and freelancers.
The plaque unveiling ceremony was led by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Imran Khan, attesting not only to the significance of the programme in promoting socio-economic growth in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, but is also to the strong relationship between AKDN and the Government of Pakistan in pledging resources to promote the digital economy and IT infrastructure in Pakistan.
During the ceremony, the Prime Minister said, “I am pleased to witness the recent remarkable developments in the communication and information technology sector, which is reflected in the development of mobile services such as the launch of 4G and broadband services, as well as digital solutions related to cloud-based data centres, and these are all indicators of very positive progress in the region.”
Likewise, Jamati institutions in Pakistan, particularly the Aga Khan Education Board (AKEB), are also playing a pivotal role in enhancing knowledge and skills related to science and technology within the Jamat. One of the core priorities of AKEB is to promote interdisciplinary education in the Jamat by focusing on a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum. Adopted as a global best practice, the STEM curriculum can nurture the cognitive and psychological capabilities of youth by building critical life skills including creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, communication, critical and analytical thinking, digital literacy, and leadership.
Through various platforms, AKEB is preparing Ismaili students for STEM-related careers, currently in high demand in both developed and developing countries. For example, AKEB for the Central Region conducted an innovative virtual programme entitled ‘Scientists of Tomorrow’ during the Covid-19 pandemic for students in grades one to eight. The programme helped students to reconnect with education whilst schools were temporarily closed, encouraging them to use domestic resources for learning essential concepts in science, such as density and surface tension of water, wind energy, air pressure, acid rain, and more. Over 150 students participated in the programme, after which 13 participants also took part in the Global STEM Festival.
Similarly, AKEB for the South Region collaborated with ‘Science Fuse’ to launch the Year of Science for students in grades two to seven. Science Fuse is a social enterprise that aims to promote science education as an option for youth to spend their leisure time. The curriculum featured an eight-week project, introducing students to a new hands-on science topic or experiment each week. After the course, participants were inspired to channel their curiosity to learn more about science and research.
Recently, AKEB successfully adopted an approach to introduce robotics and promote STEM-based education. Robotic projects provide students the opportunity to unleash their creativity by working in teams to solve complex problems using a basic set of instructions and their own scientific knowledge. During the pandemic, a virtual robotics programme was launched in which 13 students engaged in online classes and physically convened together towards the end of the course to share their learning. Moving forward, AKEB aims to expand its robotics programme to encourage Jamati students to explore a wide spectrum of scientific concepts including distance, speed, principle of pulleys, inertia, elasticity, and more advanced computation and engineering concepts.
Through these initiatives, AKDN and Jamati institutions are unleashing the potential of science and technology and contributing to growing rates of digital literacy.
https://the.ismaili/global/news/institu ... y-pakistan
Environmental sustainability: Restoring the natural world
In a recent poem by Jordan Sanchez, Reimagine, Recreate, Restore, she reminds us, “We are a fraction of a second in Earth’s lifetime, yet she is our only lifeline.” In an effort to align with this thinking, Ismaili youth, governmental and civil society institutions, and AKDN agencies in Pakistan are working hand-in-hand to reimagine our lifestyles, recreate our approaches, and restore our ecosystems.
Communities across the world, whether they reside in mountains, deserts, pastures, urban settlements, or coastal areas, are affected by changes in the natural environment, mainly due to climate change. The natural environment has been particularly exploited by human activity in the last few decades. We cannot turn back time, but as a united global society, we can reflect on our personal and social priorities to take responsibility for a healthier environment. After all, a conducive natural environment is a precursor to ensuring an improved quality of life for humanity.
Recognising the growing challenges of environmental sustainability, the world has joined hands to commemorate the United Nations (UN) Decade on Ecosystem Restoration from 2020-2030. This year was particularly important for Pakistan, as it hosted World Environment Day and called on the global community to focus on ecosystem restoration around the theme of “Reimagine. Recreate. Restore.”
Aligned with the global efforts on environmental sustainability and the Government of Pakistan’s role in spearheading the environmental cause, the Ismaili community launched the Ismaili CIVIC initiative in Pakistan under the theme of environmental protection. A flagship activity is ‘Darakht se Hayat’ (Tree for Life), under which community members worked with representatives from the public, private, and civil society sectors to plant over 162,000 trees across Pakistan.
At the forefront of all activities under the Ismaili CIVIC initiative are the young Ismaili Boy Scouts and Girl Guides who, along with their peers from the sister communities, play a major role in contributing towards environmental sustainability through awareness walks, garbage collection, and planting trees in local settlements. Environmental stewardship is a crucial aspect of the Islamic ethos, with a rich historical tradition in Muslim history, and the practice is continuing among Ismaili youth engaged in institutional initiatives from an early age.
For instance, in 2019, the Ismaili Girl Guides in Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan, were recognised by the Pakistan Girl Guides Association (PGGA) and won a national award for their unique clean-up project to tackle the increasing pollution in Hunza due primarily to the influx of tourists. Adopting a comprehensive approach, the Girl Guides raised funds by making and selling handicrafts and homemade treats. They joined hands to clear the litter in areas by installing dustbins and arranging walks and other community-based initiatives to educate locals on how to keep the area clean.
Similarly, the Ismaili Boy Scouts across Pakistan have pioneered several projects such as cleaning the beaches and public areas, awareness campaigns and innovative social impact concepts for a healthy environment. Such activities contribute towards a cleaner, greener environment, and also empower the younger generations to act as responsible global citizens who take ownership for the natural environment.
In addition to the Ismaili community Institutions, the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) has been working for nearly four decades for the mountain communities in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral in Pakistan to contribute towards environmental sustainability. AKRSP has gained national and international recognition for its community-centric programmes on natural resource management, micro-hydel energy and improved agricultural practices in close collaboration with public, private and civil society stakeholders.
The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) has also led several initiatives to address climate change issues and contribute towards environmental sustainability. For instance, AKAH has initiated community-based infrastructure initiatives for water and sanitation, benefitting over half a million people in the mountain communities in Pakistan. Recently, AKAH is also supporting the Government of Pakistan in its ambitious efforts to plant 50 million trees in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Appreciating the commitment of AKAH in addressing the issues related to climate change, David Ireland, Chief Executive of World Habitat, noted, “What makes AKAH’s work exceptional is that it’s not just responding to the effects of the climate emergency but is being proactive in protecting people from its effects - through using technology and the knowledge of the communities themselves…The potential for this approach to be adapted and used in similar areas in Pakistan and elsewhere is absolutely huge.”
Collective efforts to preserve the natural environment of Pakistan, and of the world, are the responsibility of every citizen. Remember, protecting the planet starts with us all.
https://the.ismaili/global/news/feature ... ural-world
In a recent poem by Jordan Sanchez, Reimagine, Recreate, Restore, she reminds us, “We are a fraction of a second in Earth’s lifetime, yet she is our only lifeline.” In an effort to align with this thinking, Ismaili youth, governmental and civil society institutions, and AKDN agencies in Pakistan are working hand-in-hand to reimagine our lifestyles, recreate our approaches, and restore our ecosystems.
Communities across the world, whether they reside in mountains, deserts, pastures, urban settlements, or coastal areas, are affected by changes in the natural environment, mainly due to climate change. The natural environment has been particularly exploited by human activity in the last few decades. We cannot turn back time, but as a united global society, we can reflect on our personal and social priorities to take responsibility for a healthier environment. After all, a conducive natural environment is a precursor to ensuring an improved quality of life for humanity.
Recognising the growing challenges of environmental sustainability, the world has joined hands to commemorate the United Nations (UN) Decade on Ecosystem Restoration from 2020-2030. This year was particularly important for Pakistan, as it hosted World Environment Day and called on the global community to focus on ecosystem restoration around the theme of “Reimagine. Recreate. Restore.”
Aligned with the global efforts on environmental sustainability and the Government of Pakistan’s role in spearheading the environmental cause, the Ismaili community launched the Ismaili CIVIC initiative in Pakistan under the theme of environmental protection. A flagship activity is ‘Darakht se Hayat’ (Tree for Life), under which community members worked with representatives from the public, private, and civil society sectors to plant over 162,000 trees across Pakistan.
At the forefront of all activities under the Ismaili CIVIC initiative are the young Ismaili Boy Scouts and Girl Guides who, along with their peers from the sister communities, play a major role in contributing towards environmental sustainability through awareness walks, garbage collection, and planting trees in local settlements. Environmental stewardship is a crucial aspect of the Islamic ethos, with a rich historical tradition in Muslim history, and the practice is continuing among Ismaili youth engaged in institutional initiatives from an early age.
For instance, in 2019, the Ismaili Girl Guides in Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan, were recognised by the Pakistan Girl Guides Association (PGGA) and won a national award for their unique clean-up project to tackle the increasing pollution in Hunza due primarily to the influx of tourists. Adopting a comprehensive approach, the Girl Guides raised funds by making and selling handicrafts and homemade treats. They joined hands to clear the litter in areas by installing dustbins and arranging walks and other community-based initiatives to educate locals on how to keep the area clean.
Similarly, the Ismaili Boy Scouts across Pakistan have pioneered several projects such as cleaning the beaches and public areas, awareness campaigns and innovative social impact concepts for a healthy environment. Such activities contribute towards a cleaner, greener environment, and also empower the younger generations to act as responsible global citizens who take ownership for the natural environment.
In addition to the Ismaili community Institutions, the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) has been working for nearly four decades for the mountain communities in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral in Pakistan to contribute towards environmental sustainability. AKRSP has gained national and international recognition for its community-centric programmes on natural resource management, micro-hydel energy and improved agricultural practices in close collaboration with public, private and civil society stakeholders.
The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) has also led several initiatives to address climate change issues and contribute towards environmental sustainability. For instance, AKAH has initiated community-based infrastructure initiatives for water and sanitation, benefitting over half a million people in the mountain communities in Pakistan. Recently, AKAH is also supporting the Government of Pakistan in its ambitious efforts to plant 50 million trees in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Appreciating the commitment of AKAH in addressing the issues related to climate change, David Ireland, Chief Executive of World Habitat, noted, “What makes AKAH’s work exceptional is that it’s not just responding to the effects of the climate emergency but is being proactive in protecting people from its effects - through using technology and the knowledge of the communities themselves…The potential for this approach to be adapted and used in similar areas in Pakistan and elsewhere is absolutely huge.”
Collective efforts to preserve the natural environment of Pakistan, and of the world, are the responsibility of every citizen. Remember, protecting the planet starts with us all.
https://the.ismaili/global/news/feature ... ural-world
President Arif Alvi visits the historic Lahore Fort
Lahore, Pakistan, 15 December 2021 – Dr Arif Alvi, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, visited the 17th century Mughal-era Lahore Fort, one of the largest restoration projects in Pakistan that has been carried out by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in partnership with the Government of Punjab and the Walled City of Lahore Authority. While touring the Royal Kitchens and the Picture Wall – one of the largest murals in the world that adorns the Fort and the principal reason for the site’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981 – the President admired the detailed conservation efforts in preserving an important part of Muslim history.
Together with the Shah Burj Gate the Picture Wall forms the original private entrance to the Fort. The 400+ metre Wall is exquisitely decorated with imagery of hunting, battle scenes, angels and demons, human figures, animals, birds, as well as geometric and floral patterns. It is embellished in cut glazed tile mosaic work, filigree work, fresco, painted lime plaster and cut brickwork.
aktc-pakistan-picture-wall-a-conservator2.jpg
Conservation work on the Lahore Fort Picture Wall.
AKDN / Christopher Wilton-Steer
Since 2007, the Trust’s Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme has worked on the rehabilitation of the Walled City of Lahore and the conservation of its monuments. This includes the restoration of the Wazir Khan Mosque and the Shahi Hamman. Rehabilitation works are ongoing, and a number of projects are co-funded by Norway, Germany and the USA.
As with many of its urban regeneration projects in historic centres, the Trust has undertaken its conservation efforts in an integrated manner to improve lives in surrounding neighbourhoods. In the areas of the Walled City where the programme has concentrated its rehabilitation efforts, local residents are benefiting from improved housing conditions and utility infrastructures, historic monuments are more accessible to tourists, and streets are safer.
The projects of the Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme in various parts of the world including Afghanistan, Egypt, Malaysia, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan and Tanzania amongst others have demonstrated that they can have a positive impact well beyond conservation, promoting good governance, the growth of civil society, a rise in incomes and economic opportunities, greater respect for human rights and better stewardship of the environment, even in the poorest and most remote areas of the globe.
aktc-pakistan-189553r.jpg
Aerial view of Lahore Fort.
AKTC
For more information, please contact:
Khawaja Tausif Ahmad
CEO
Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan
[email protected]
Phone: Tel: +92 42 36286371-3
Amin Rammal
Communications Coordinator
Aga Khan Council for Pakistan
[email protected]
https://www.akdn.org/press-release/pres ... ahore-fort
Lahore, Pakistan, 15 December 2021 – Dr Arif Alvi, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, visited the 17th century Mughal-era Lahore Fort, one of the largest restoration projects in Pakistan that has been carried out by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in partnership with the Government of Punjab and the Walled City of Lahore Authority. While touring the Royal Kitchens and the Picture Wall – one of the largest murals in the world that adorns the Fort and the principal reason for the site’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981 – the President admired the detailed conservation efforts in preserving an important part of Muslim history.
Together with the Shah Burj Gate the Picture Wall forms the original private entrance to the Fort. The 400+ metre Wall is exquisitely decorated with imagery of hunting, battle scenes, angels and demons, human figures, animals, birds, as well as geometric and floral patterns. It is embellished in cut glazed tile mosaic work, filigree work, fresco, painted lime plaster and cut brickwork.
aktc-pakistan-picture-wall-a-conservator2.jpg
Conservation work on the Lahore Fort Picture Wall.
AKDN / Christopher Wilton-Steer
Since 2007, the Trust’s Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme has worked on the rehabilitation of the Walled City of Lahore and the conservation of its monuments. This includes the restoration of the Wazir Khan Mosque and the Shahi Hamman. Rehabilitation works are ongoing, and a number of projects are co-funded by Norway, Germany and the USA.
As with many of its urban regeneration projects in historic centres, the Trust has undertaken its conservation efforts in an integrated manner to improve lives in surrounding neighbourhoods. In the areas of the Walled City where the programme has concentrated its rehabilitation efforts, local residents are benefiting from improved housing conditions and utility infrastructures, historic monuments are more accessible to tourists, and streets are safer.
The projects of the Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme in various parts of the world including Afghanistan, Egypt, Malaysia, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan and Tanzania amongst others have demonstrated that they can have a positive impact well beyond conservation, promoting good governance, the growth of civil society, a rise in incomes and economic opportunities, greater respect for human rights and better stewardship of the environment, even in the poorest and most remote areas of the globe.
aktc-pakistan-189553r.jpg
Aerial view of Lahore Fort.
AKTC
For more information, please contact:
Khawaja Tausif Ahmad
CEO
Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan
[email protected]
Phone: Tel: +92 42 36286371-3
Amin Rammal
Communications Coordinator
Aga Khan Council for Pakistan
[email protected]
https://www.akdn.org/press-release/pres ... ahore-fort
Re: PAKISTAN INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES
Louvre curator visits UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lahore Fort
Part of Picture Wall western facade conserved panels, Lahore Fort.
AKDN
Lahore, Pakistan, 24 March 2022 – Ethnologist and art historian Jean Baptiste Clais, curator of the Asian collection and European porcelains at the Department of Art Objects at the Louvre Museum in Paris, visited the historic Lahore Fort this week to view the restoration being undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).
During the visit – part of the ongoing collaborative efforts between the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the French Embassy, the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) and AKTC – Mr Clais expressed an appreciation for the conservation work and shared his valuable advice when briefed on the plans for the new Visitors Interpretation Centre.
aktc-pakistan-2022-lahore_fort2_r.jpg
Ethnologist and curator Jean Baptiste Clais visiting the ongoing restoration of Lahore Fort.
AKDN
The Centre will enhance the understanding of heritage and focus on showcasing the history and architecture of Lahore Fort. This initiative is part of the AFD-funded Heritage and Urban Regeneration of Lahore and its Buffer zone (HURL) project, recently approved by the Government of Punjab for the promotion of tourism and socio-economic development within the Fort and its surroundings.
In Pakistan, the Trust has preserved several historic sites in the mountainous region of Gilgit-Baltistan. Since 2007, its portfolio has expanded and comprises numerous landmark projects in the Walled City of Lahore, including the ongoing work on the 17th century Wazir Khan Mosque and restored Shahi Hammam (Royal Bathhouse). Since 2015, in partnership with the WCLA and with support from international donors, it began working on Lahore Fort to oversee and implement appropriate conservation interventions. Subsequently, several monuments have been restored, including one of the largest murals in the world – the Picture Wall.
These initiatives will allow the people of Lahore and Pakistan to get better access to their heritage, history and culture in a manner that strengthens national cohesion and pride. It will also promote Lahore as a world-class tourism destination while introducing the historic walled city on a global scale.
For more information:
Khawaja Tausif Ahmad
CEO
Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan (AKCSP)
https://www.akdn.org/press-release/louv ... ahore-fort
Part of Picture Wall western facade conserved panels, Lahore Fort.
AKDN
Lahore, Pakistan, 24 March 2022 – Ethnologist and art historian Jean Baptiste Clais, curator of the Asian collection and European porcelains at the Department of Art Objects at the Louvre Museum in Paris, visited the historic Lahore Fort this week to view the restoration being undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).
During the visit – part of the ongoing collaborative efforts between the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the French Embassy, the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) and AKTC – Mr Clais expressed an appreciation for the conservation work and shared his valuable advice when briefed on the plans for the new Visitors Interpretation Centre.
aktc-pakistan-2022-lahore_fort2_r.jpg
Ethnologist and curator Jean Baptiste Clais visiting the ongoing restoration of Lahore Fort.
AKDN
The Centre will enhance the understanding of heritage and focus on showcasing the history and architecture of Lahore Fort. This initiative is part of the AFD-funded Heritage and Urban Regeneration of Lahore and its Buffer zone (HURL) project, recently approved by the Government of Punjab for the promotion of tourism and socio-economic development within the Fort and its surroundings.
In Pakistan, the Trust has preserved several historic sites in the mountainous region of Gilgit-Baltistan. Since 2007, its portfolio has expanded and comprises numerous landmark projects in the Walled City of Lahore, including the ongoing work on the 17th century Wazir Khan Mosque and restored Shahi Hammam (Royal Bathhouse). Since 2015, in partnership with the WCLA and with support from international donors, it began working on Lahore Fort to oversee and implement appropriate conservation interventions. Subsequently, several monuments have been restored, including one of the largest murals in the world – the Picture Wall.
These initiatives will allow the people of Lahore and Pakistan to get better access to their heritage, history and culture in a manner that strengthens national cohesion and pride. It will also promote Lahore as a world-class tourism destination while introducing the historic walled city on a global scale.
For more information:
Khawaja Tausif Ahmad
CEO
Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan (AKCSP)
https://www.akdn.org/press-release/louv ... ahore-fort
Re: PAKISTAN INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES
https://www.dawn.com/news/1696706/harki ... f-our-past
Dawn 26 June 2022
harking back: Below the Fort’s top surface are secrets of our past
We like to describe the Lahore Fort as one of our finest historical monuments, for within it are contained several other unique monuments and structures. Amazing stories are attached to each aspect of its history. But then is this the complete story.
As the fort and the adjoining walled city are the major, if not the main, attractions of our past, it makes sense to keep our focus on the centrepieces. The condition of the walled city is well known with traders smashing its ancient walls for the bricks to build illegal structures, and the commercial spread expanding from the legally permissible 15% of the built area to an unbelievable 64%. Officially the law is ‘best ignored’. So in this piece let us concentrate on the fort and the bright future that awaits it.
A few years ago because of poor maintenance the north-eastern portion of the fort’s walls collapsed. They have rebuilt in the process discovering that lower down lay a vast world onto itself. The original Lahore Fort lies, so experts inform, below what we see on the beautiful top - full of gardens and exotic structures of the Mughal era. An effort was undertaken to follow two drains, and the deeper they went the greater were the discoveries. So they stopped the process.
But was that enough? A survey showed that besides well-known torture dungeons and secret rooms for soldiers and kings seeking to escape internal attack, lay yet another world. In short as a well-known architect and history buff tells me that there are beautiful baths and prayer rooms and resting rooms and kitchens and huge areas where once grass existed. “What lies above is not even half of what exists below”, she explained.
To expect the government to cough up enough resources, monetary and human, to fully understand the real history of the Lahore Fort is just expecting too much. When as a people we do not pay our tax dues, why expect our politicians and bureaucrats to focus on our cultural needs. But then there are people in this world who can manage to make things happen, and happen only it can if they care.
One such person is the Aga Khan, the son of Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, who played a major role in assisting Mr M.A. Jinnah create the Muslim League by becoming its first President. Sir Sultan was born in Karachi like Mr Jinnah, and yet he had a beautiful house in Lahore and it was because of his advancement of the ‘Two Nation’ theory that Pakistan came into being. His focus was on the educational and cultural uplift of the Muslims of the subcontinent. Yet his style was to not to be seen as a frontrunner. In 1937, he was chosen as the President of the League of Nations.
The present Aga Khan has an estimated wealth (Forbes claims) of well over US $13.3 billion, making him among the top 15 richest persons in the world. He has set up a number of organisations including the Aga Khan Development Network, as well as the Centre for the Promotion of Islamic Architecture, of which the Aga Khan Trust for Culture is a part. His numerous other educational efforts can be seen in the manner in which large areas of Northern Pakistan have been made 100% literate. “Educate the women and you will educate everyone” seems to be the motto.
In Pakistan besides major investments in education, for Lahore he made a major mark by raising German money for the Gali Surjan Singh project, which was completed in 2011. This effort led to the Walled City of Lahore Authority being set up in 2012, with the legal documentation being handled by an Aga Khan person.
His next effort was to concentrate on the Lahore Fort and their Lahore office has helped to handle most of the work in the walled city and the Lahore Fort. The Wazir Khan Mosque project has been yet another masterpiece with the surrounding buildings also being restored and conserved. That added immensely to the mosque’s ambience. Sadly, once the conserved buildings next to the mosque were handed over to the government, they auctioned them out and now we see the contractor trying to change those very structures with gaudy additions. This is illegal, but no one is bothered.
But back to the Lahore Fort and the Aga Khan. It seems he has got a detailed plan to explore and research the lower sections of the fort, some portions naturally being pre-Islamic, and a detailed plan has been put forward before the French government. Mind you the Aga Khan lives in France, so he has access to them.
My reliable understanding is that a US $20 million plan over five years is in the final process of approval, and once the skilled persons are put in place it will go ahead. One hopes that the vast history below the one on top is opened up for people and scholars to see and appreciate. Here we have the scope for archaeological research to lead the way, just as it did in 1958 when 50 feet below the front lawn of the Dewan-e-Aam in the seventh layer were found pottery carbon-dated at 4,500 years old.
The question is that will our ancient history be discovered as the French project gets under way. My plea over the years has been to undertake several such archaeological projects within the walled city. One such place would be at the Paniwalla Talab near Chuna Mandi, where over 1,200 years ago the Sun Temple of Bhandara existed. Come Mahmud the destroyer from Ghazni and it was flattened.
But then another mosque at the same place was demolished by a raging Mughal Babar. There is just so much below the surface. The effort of this column has been for such scientific research to be undertaken by the Punjab University archaeology students within the walled city. Sadly, no scholar of the likes of Prof Ahmed Hasan Dani exists.
But then when that north-eastern wall of the Lahore Fort collapsed, it finally came to the mind of our ‘authorities’ that ancient monuments have a science and a mind of their own. When unscientific additions are made they add to problems, not solve them, unless the addition is not invasive and was once part of the original structure. Large portions of the remaining fort wall need urgent attention.
On the Lahore Fort’s hidden secrets we will be learning more and more, and it might even take longer to bring back to life. My interest is also that all the honest great men who were tortured and/or killed by rulers past must be remembered. My list would include Dulla Bhatti, Guru Arjan and continue till Salmaan Taseer and other student leaders as well as political leaders like ZA Bhutto. Simple plaques will do.
The Lahore Fort is much more than part of our past, with great battles being fought there. How will this expected plan unfolds will be for everyone to see. It will certainly add to the glory of our finest monument. What lies below has always intrigued scholars, and now thanks to the Aga Khan and the French, we might yet add another chapter to our glorious past.
Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2022
Dawn 26 June 2022
harking back: Below the Fort’s top surface are secrets of our past
We like to describe the Lahore Fort as one of our finest historical monuments, for within it are contained several other unique monuments and structures. Amazing stories are attached to each aspect of its history. But then is this the complete story.
As the fort and the adjoining walled city are the major, if not the main, attractions of our past, it makes sense to keep our focus on the centrepieces. The condition of the walled city is well known with traders smashing its ancient walls for the bricks to build illegal structures, and the commercial spread expanding from the legally permissible 15% of the built area to an unbelievable 64%. Officially the law is ‘best ignored’. So in this piece let us concentrate on the fort and the bright future that awaits it.
A few years ago because of poor maintenance the north-eastern portion of the fort’s walls collapsed. They have rebuilt in the process discovering that lower down lay a vast world onto itself. The original Lahore Fort lies, so experts inform, below what we see on the beautiful top - full of gardens and exotic structures of the Mughal era. An effort was undertaken to follow two drains, and the deeper they went the greater were the discoveries. So they stopped the process.
But was that enough? A survey showed that besides well-known torture dungeons and secret rooms for soldiers and kings seeking to escape internal attack, lay yet another world. In short as a well-known architect and history buff tells me that there are beautiful baths and prayer rooms and resting rooms and kitchens and huge areas where once grass existed. “What lies above is not even half of what exists below”, she explained.
To expect the government to cough up enough resources, monetary and human, to fully understand the real history of the Lahore Fort is just expecting too much. When as a people we do not pay our tax dues, why expect our politicians and bureaucrats to focus on our cultural needs. But then there are people in this world who can manage to make things happen, and happen only it can if they care.
One such person is the Aga Khan, the son of Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, who played a major role in assisting Mr M.A. Jinnah create the Muslim League by becoming its first President. Sir Sultan was born in Karachi like Mr Jinnah, and yet he had a beautiful house in Lahore and it was because of his advancement of the ‘Two Nation’ theory that Pakistan came into being. His focus was on the educational and cultural uplift of the Muslims of the subcontinent. Yet his style was to not to be seen as a frontrunner. In 1937, he was chosen as the President of the League of Nations.
The present Aga Khan has an estimated wealth (Forbes claims) of well over US $13.3 billion, making him among the top 15 richest persons in the world. He has set up a number of organisations including the Aga Khan Development Network, as well as the Centre for the Promotion of Islamic Architecture, of which the Aga Khan Trust for Culture is a part. His numerous other educational efforts can be seen in the manner in which large areas of Northern Pakistan have been made 100% literate. “Educate the women and you will educate everyone” seems to be the motto.
In Pakistan besides major investments in education, for Lahore he made a major mark by raising German money for the Gali Surjan Singh project, which was completed in 2011. This effort led to the Walled City of Lahore Authority being set up in 2012, with the legal documentation being handled by an Aga Khan person.
His next effort was to concentrate on the Lahore Fort and their Lahore office has helped to handle most of the work in the walled city and the Lahore Fort. The Wazir Khan Mosque project has been yet another masterpiece with the surrounding buildings also being restored and conserved. That added immensely to the mosque’s ambience. Sadly, once the conserved buildings next to the mosque were handed over to the government, they auctioned them out and now we see the contractor trying to change those very structures with gaudy additions. This is illegal, but no one is bothered.
But back to the Lahore Fort and the Aga Khan. It seems he has got a detailed plan to explore and research the lower sections of the fort, some portions naturally being pre-Islamic, and a detailed plan has been put forward before the French government. Mind you the Aga Khan lives in France, so he has access to them.
My reliable understanding is that a US $20 million plan over five years is in the final process of approval, and once the skilled persons are put in place it will go ahead. One hopes that the vast history below the one on top is opened up for people and scholars to see and appreciate. Here we have the scope for archaeological research to lead the way, just as it did in 1958 when 50 feet below the front lawn of the Dewan-e-Aam in the seventh layer were found pottery carbon-dated at 4,500 years old.
The question is that will our ancient history be discovered as the French project gets under way. My plea over the years has been to undertake several such archaeological projects within the walled city. One such place would be at the Paniwalla Talab near Chuna Mandi, where over 1,200 years ago the Sun Temple of Bhandara existed. Come Mahmud the destroyer from Ghazni and it was flattened.
But then another mosque at the same place was demolished by a raging Mughal Babar. There is just so much below the surface. The effort of this column has been for such scientific research to be undertaken by the Punjab University archaeology students within the walled city. Sadly, no scholar of the likes of Prof Ahmed Hasan Dani exists.
But then when that north-eastern wall of the Lahore Fort collapsed, it finally came to the mind of our ‘authorities’ that ancient monuments have a science and a mind of their own. When unscientific additions are made they add to problems, not solve them, unless the addition is not invasive and was once part of the original structure. Large portions of the remaining fort wall need urgent attention.
On the Lahore Fort’s hidden secrets we will be learning more and more, and it might even take longer to bring back to life. My interest is also that all the honest great men who were tortured and/or killed by rulers past must be remembered. My list would include Dulla Bhatti, Guru Arjan and continue till Salmaan Taseer and other student leaders as well as political leaders like ZA Bhutto. Simple plaques will do.
The Lahore Fort is much more than part of our past, with great battles being fought there. How will this expected plan unfolds will be for everyone to see. It will certainly add to the glory of our finest monument. What lies below has always intrigued scholars, and now thanks to the Aga Khan and the French, we might yet add another chapter to our glorious past.
Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2022