A 2-member Mission from UNESCO visits Lahore to see the damage to the heritage

Lahore: A 2-member Mission from UNESCO comprising Junhi Han Program Specialist, WHC UNESCO and Elena Agrini Conservationist WHC UNESCO visited Lahore for briefing on construction of Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project.

A committee of the officials of the Government of the Punjab was constituted to address the concern of UNESCO world heritage center regarding the possible effects of construction of Metro Orange Line Train Project on historical site of Shalimar garden. Detailed briefing was delivered to the mission at 90-SQA by G.M NESPAK, D.G. LDA Commissioner Lahore, here today.

After detailed presentation, the delegation took note of the technical details of the video presentation and also observed that the Government of the Punjab has undertaken the Heritage Impact Assessment as well as various technical research pertaining to the project to see that all necessary precautions for the safety of the world heritage center of Shalimar Garden were ensured, both in planning and execution stage. With this in view, the delegation highlighted that the Government of the Punjab would submit the results of HIA as well as other relevant details of the project; on the basis of which state of conservation report as well as set of recommendations on the property will be prepared tee to and submitted to the 40th convention of the World Heritage Committee to take place from July 10^th to 20^th, 2016 in Istanbul.

The delegation further highlighted World Heritage Conservation Centre is  a strong advocate for sustainable development and the provision  of the operational guidelines, in particular paragraph A 2 was elaborated in view of the guiding the state parties to the right direction in a sustainable manner for the project implementation.