Can we afford Urban Conservation?

Lahore Walled
City
Author:
Ar./Plnr Azhar M. Sualehi

Associate Member, Institute of Architects, Pakistan

Registered Architect, Pakistan Council of Architects & Town Planners
Registered Planner, Pakistan Council of Architects & Town Planners
Email: azhar.mamoon@arch.uol.edu.pk
Abstract

The old, historic areas of a city are an historical artifact as well as a

living community. Both the artifact and the organism would be
deleteriously affected by any radical physical interventions. In view of
other pressing issues of development, situations of constrained economic
resources, demand a very clear and strong justification for conservation
of old areas. This paper is a continuation of my Masters thesis at AIT
Bangkok. The study through an evaluation of the Lahore Walled City
project proposals, relevant to upgrading and conservation, aims at
providing an answer to the vital question: Is upgrading and conservation,
a viable and desirable option for Lahore Walled City?
Keywords: Conservation, Upgrading, Lahore Walled City

Can we afford Urban Conservation? Lahore Walled

City

Abstract
The old, historic areas of a city are an historical artifact as well as a
living community. Both the artifact and the organism would be
deleteriously affected by any radical physical interventions. In view of
other pressing issues of development, situations of constrained economic
resources, demand a very clear and strong justification for conservation
of old areas. This paper is a continuation of my Masters thesis at AIT
Bangkok. The study through an evaluation of the Lahore Walled City
project proposals, relevant to upgrading and conservation, aims at
providing an answer to the vital question: Is upgrading and conservation,
a viable and desirable option for Lahore Walled City?
Keywords: Conservation, Upgrading, Lahore Walled City

Can we afford Urban Conservation? Lahore Walled City

The Encyclopedia of Urban Planning (1974) defines that the word
conservation is used in two senses. In the broadest sense, it means the
wise management of our resources, both natural and man-made, and
the careful planning of these resources to meet our future needs. The
need to ensure continuity in the supply of the natural resources so used
and managed is often embraced by this definition. In the narrower
sense, the term "conservation" refers to the conservation of buildings or
groups of buildings and their protection and enhancement.
The term 'conservation' has been given a specific definition in urban
planning and is undertaken to mean the best use of resources embodied
in the physical environment, particularly with regard to urban and rural
landscapes of great beauty, historical association or cultural identity.
Whereas historical preservation restores ancient structures to their
original state and seeks to perpetuate that condition, conservation is a
dynamic process which transforms and synthesizes the historical
context within the requirements of contemporary urban restructuring.
The conquering armies, as a normal practice of earlier warfare, sacked
the conquered cities. Today, the random demands of the modern life:
population pressures, increased prosperity, public services, private
speculation and above all, the motor vehicle, pose the greatest threat for
the present day cities. Most of these pressures are generated within the
city itself. New families need homes and jobs. They expect a higher
standard of life than their parents enjoyed; higher wages, better homes,
public services at their doorsteps.
Conservation of old, historic areas, is generally justified on
psychological basis, for the link it offers between the past, present and
the future of the built heritage. The old, historic areas of a city are an
historical artifact as well as a living community. Both the artifact and
the organism would be deleteriously affected by any radical physical
interventions. The alternative policy of redevelopment of such areas,
has been acknowledged as an unsound proposition, even in countries
with abundant economic resources. However, in view of other
pressing issues of development, situations of constrained economic
resources (developing countries), demand a very clear and strong
justification for conservation of old areas.

The European Context:

When the European countries began to industrialize a century or two
ago, there were functional links between industrialization and
urbanization. Directly or indirectly it was chiefly the factories which
made the cities grow. Water and steam power multiplied the numbers
of unskilled manufacturing jobs, made them productive beyond any
contemporary competition, and concentrated them into cities. Thus, the
force which made the cities grow also kept most of their people
employed, however irregularly at times. It is no longer possible to
repeat those particular industrial and urban sequences which enriched
one Western country after another from the 18th to early 20th century.
Mainly due to the fact, that in the developing countries (usually have
constrained economic resources) the advanced capital intensive
elements are hard to start, for want of capital and skill. Alternatively, a
lot of low skilled labor intensive production may be needed, in view of
the lack of capital. But it is difficult for those labor intensive methods to
succeed in a World which now includes advanced competitors with
many times their efficiency.

The principal economic feature of the process of urbanization is the

shift from agricultural to non-agricultural occupations. The historical
experience of the developed western world was that this process, while
it occurred at varying rates from country to country, has the basis of
their increase in the levels of economic productivity. The reason was
that the rise in technological enhancement of human productivity,
together with certain constant factors, rewarded urban concentration.
Hence, urbanization in the western world has given rise to the
understanding that, urban growth is connected to economic growth.
The rapid growth of the world's economy has contributed to the wellbeing of many and as a result the average standard of living is higher
today for most of the people of the world. Mass production has placed
at the disposal of large groups of people articles which were once the
prerogative of the wealthy. Of these products the automobile has been
perhaps, the most pervasive and has had profound effects on the
urban environment.

The Asian Context:

In the developing countries, the desire and need for rapid development
and the attitude of what is "modern is better", results in complete
disregard of the old and traditional except for its touristic values. In
recent years, there has been a gradual awareness of the strong sense of
continuity in the traditional areas and the need to conserve the past.
However, with the scarce resources that are available for development
in the developing countries, a very clear justification is required for
adopting conservation instead of redevelopment.
Conservation has been misinterpreted in the Asian context. It can be
separated into two distinct parts. Conservation till recent times was
envisaged, as to cover merely the preservation of historic monuments.
The second interpretation or rather misinterpretation has resulted in a
new genre of buildings, incorporating traditional and old European
architectural motifs and elements in a highly absurd manner.
"while such hilarious trends are definitely besides the
objectives of conservation, they might nevertheless point to
a certain revalorization of historical building environment.
It would be unrealistic, however to expect a positive impact
on conservation as attitudes and motivation of the latest
architectural fashion are rather incompatible with general
interest in historical values". (Kammeier, 1986)
Historically, the various architectural styles found in the countries of
South Asia, can be attributed to the various, deeply rooted religious
beliefs of the Asian people. (e.g., richly decorated buildings of the
Hindus, or comparatively simply decorated built forms related to the
followers of Islam). A second generation of built form found in the
region is an outcome of the period of subjugation and colonization these
countries, which had a profound effect on the evolution of historical
urban centers in the region. Though different from vernacular idiom,
the building style of the colonial masters was a thought mixture of the
traditional and imported built fabric, resulted in a richly integrated
townscape.
Generally, the rate of economic growth in Asian countries has been
outpaced by the higher rate of population growth and social changes
mainly in the urban centers of the region. This is also evident in the
rapid expansion and changes in the structural characteristics of these

cities. Until recent times, the desire for conserving the past has not been
the primary objective of the Asian governments, in general. In the name
of economic progress, the surviving traces of cultural heritage are being
recklessly desecrated and replaced by modern buildings. Apart from a
few national monuments, which are protected by legislation and
government actions, practically no positive action has been taken to
preserve the rich cultural heritage. The few protected monuments that
have been restored with considerable care, (mostly due to their
touristic potential) utilizing various sources of finance. These efforts
range from full restoration or protection through international support,
e. g., Bhaktapur, Nepal, to mere maintenance and necessary repairs,
through the use of insufficient finances earmarked for this purpose in
the national budgets.
The conservation of historic components of towns and cities has
become a focus for international concern over recent years, and yet to a
significant degree each individual national experience tends to exhibit a
particularity and uniqueness. In some respects, national problems of
urban conservation can reflect technical differences arising from the
vernaculars of architectural traditions reliance on local building
materials and the varied histories of urban settlement. Perhaps more
generally interesting, however, are those national differences which
emerge on one hand from the socio-economic context within which the
conservation movement is working and on the other from the political,
legal, administrative and financial framework which provides the
effective matrix for implementing a conservationist strategy.
A viewpoint on the effective adoption of European experience, in the
Asian context states that in European countries,
"Urban conservation has become a special planning discipline
and what is more important, a widely accepted public attitude
- - The European experience suggests that the strength of
professional and popular consciousness towards urban
conservation is inversely related to economic growth rates.
Expressed in another way, urban conservation movements
may not realistically be expected to gain sufficient strength
during the early stages of industrial development,
(Kammeier-, 1986)
Conservation in developed countries has become a part of economic and
strategic planning policy, with a range of incentives in terms of loans,
grants and tax benefits to reinforce what is an accepted part of the
general system of urban management. On the other hand, presently in
the Asian cities, there are more vital and important issues of
development that have priority over conservation. Moreover, the
existing situation of constrained resources, ineffective institutional
control and absence of popular support are not conducive for
implementing a conservation strategy.
The cities of the Third World are growing rapidly. In fact the growth of
the urban population in the underdeveloped world appears to be
occurring at a much faster rate than the growth of urban population in
their comparable period of European growth. Third world cities are
large, sprawling, lacking in jobs, houses, public services, and poorly
financed and organized. The majority of the population in the Third
World countries has a standard of living so low as to be inconceivable to
the average citizen of an industrialized country. For many the quest for
food, for themselves, for their children, is a daily struggle for survival.

According to a World Bank Report (1972); what most

distinguishes the current urban problems of the developing
countries is their scale and intensity. The severity of the
problems reflects primarily the rapidity of overall population
growth and acute shortage of resources with which to equip
the additions of urban populations. (Quoted in Qadeer, 1983)
An important consequence of this rapid growth process is the need for
more shelter, production and commercial space, public amenities and
facilities. The rapid growth of urban areas has far outpaced the ability of
Third world governments to provide adequate services. Urban living
has increased both the quantity and the quality of the economic needs
and desires of the population. Such changes are very important since
they raise individual expectations and impose added constraints on the
economic policies of governments.
The importance of conservation is not limited to maintaining the forms
of historical buildings for posterity; conservation is also the mechanism
for carry-over of the old building traditions, from the conceptual as well
as the functional viewpoint. Conservation is essentially a cultural
decision; thus the experience or approach to conservation in one
context is not suitable or acceptable in another. Conservation demands
a careful evaluation of the environment as a function of the people, as
the raison dtre of their history and as a provision for historical
continuity.
Education is universally important to instill pride and identification
with place. This pride can only be achieved through a sense of
continuity of the past. In the European context, where the modern
theory of conservation took shape, the problem of historical continuity
between the preindustrial and industrial city did not arise; since the
change that occurred at the time of industrialization, although
unprecedented was what may be termed as "home grown or local".
History did not have to be denied or rejected before it could become
modern. In comparison, in the Asian context in general, the change from
the past has taken place at many different times. In the past, cultural
change has been forced and westernization superficially imposed,
mainly through colonization. Thus, in Europe, change has continued
along the same lines, while in the colonial countries change has been
diametrically contrary to the traditional culture. For example, in Britain
there are many towns where one can experience the various stages of
growth; walking from the centre to the outskirts, one passes from
narrow medieval streets, through dignified renaissance terraces,
followed by Victorian bye-law streets, and finally in the open suburbs of
present time. Comparing this with the case of Lahore, where the
continuity of the traditional past was severed during the British colonial
rule, (the colonial past is very much a part of the history, no denying the
fact), no such gradual change can be experienced in this city what is
visible is the pronounced difference between the local traditional past
and the colonial past.
In developing countries, the traditionalists who wish to retain as much
of the cultural heritage as possible find themselves in constant conflict
with modernizers whose main concern is economic development.
Furthermore, conservation is generally seen to be mainly the concern of
the "idle" middle class and the elites. However, there is no denying of
the fact that conservation helps save some of the buildings which
provide low cost or low rental housing, commercial and even light
industrial space in the urban areas.

Another undeniable fact is that conservation costs money, at least to the

authority which is entrusted in carrying out the programs. Some funds
have to be spent on giving grants to owners of listed buildings to carry
out renovation works. Funds are also needed for the initial work to
rehabilitate the area earmarked for conservation. For instance, it was
reported that in Singapore, about $ 2.5 million was spent on the
conservation project in the Emerald Rill Road. In the Netherlands, an
annual budget of 160 million florins was spent to protect and
rehabilitate some 40,000 monuments. In the United Kingdom 3 million
Pounds is expended annually in grants and loans for conserving
240,000 listed buildings and over 3000 conservation areas. But most
authorities in charge of conservation, such as the local authorities in the
Third world cities usually face fiscal crisis - even to carry out ordinary
municipal tasks.
The trend and pace of value changes in some developing countries prior
to achieving full employment, economic take-off, and higher wages for
the masses already pose a serious dilemma. In view of the clamor for
scarce resources, (both at the institutional and individual level) in the
developing countries, the decision to invest in conservation projects can
be crudely, yet best represented in David Eversly's question, "The house
is on fire, which you would save, the baby, or the Rembrandt?" (Quoted
in Cantell, 1975).

Lahore Walled City

Lahore is an historic city, with a recorded history of about 1000 years,
though references to its existence can be traced back to the distant past.
It is both physically and culturally an Islamic city. This does not imply
that only Muslims have lived in it or even ruled it. Lahore may have
originated in antiquity, but its evolution has been determined
essentially by nine centuries of Muslim rule in India. It is only that the
Islamic Turko-Iranian cultural characteristics had a dominant influence
in the evolution of the city. The Walled City is the historical core of
Lahore, its network of narrow winding streets, clan quarters,
congregational squares, bustling bazaars, turquoise mosques, imposing
walls, gates and ramparts are living testimony to its Islamic heritage.

Model of Lahore Walled City

"Lahore can boast a long and proud history, a splendid

architectural and urbanistic heritage and thriving cultural
life. A major national center of trade and communication,
and at the time of Independence the largest city of the new
state, it had strong claims to become the capital of Pakistan
in 1947. But the city located only 20 miles from the frontier
with India, was strategically vulnerable and the role of
capital passed it by first to Karachi and subsequently to
Islamabad. Over shadowed by the extremely rapid growth of
Karachi, it is now the second biggest city and continues to be

a place of immense vitality and variety. A feature of the city is

the continued and flourishing existence of a traditional
bazaar economy arguably paralleling rather than
subordinated to the sectors of government and modern
business. This dualistic structure poses questions of great
complexity for the future development of Lahore and
especially for the future of the Walled City; the historic core
of Lahore." (Qadeer, 1983)
Lahore was originally a Hindu city, but in 1021 AD. the city was
conquered by the Afghans, under Mahmood of Ghazni. The Ghaznavid
Sultans later made it their capital. Unfortunately such a city,
strategically located in an unstable region, remained an important
military objective. Thus the City of Lahore has a history of alternating
periods of devastation, decay and imperial building. The constructions
of the Mughal era (1526-1767) being clearly the most significant.
The Mughals consolidated, refortified and embellished the city they
inherited. Outside of their WaIled City they covered a vast area with
richly designed mosques, tombs, mansions (havelies) and gardens for
the aristocracy. All of this was watered by an elaborate and extensive
system of canals. During the subsequent struggles with the Sikhs, who
eventually gained control of the area, these" suburbs" were largely
abandoned. Visitors in the nineteenth century found them in ruins and
partially buried. Around and over these remains the British built their
own extensive establishment. The legacy of Western colonialism
remains today, largely unchanged, side by side with the old Muslim city
each area retaining its distinctive character.

Gates and Religious

buildings in Lahore
Walled City

Havelis, Jharokas and

Houses in the Lahore
Walled City.

The intricate pattern of narrow winding lanes which provide the

circulation network within the koochas and mohallas, is a characteristic
feature of the WaIled City. Access to the lanes is gained through a
number of bazaars, which serve as arteries to and from each of the 12
gates of the city. The width of these lanes and streets has helped in
keeping the intrusion and penetration of vehicular traffic at its
minimum. The main mode of transportation within the walled City is

pedestrian. However on wide arterial lanes and main bazaars this is

mixed with bicycles, motorcycles, light vehicles, and animal drawn
carts; (tongas, rehras etc.) Several forms of public transport are
available immediately outside each gate.
The WaIled City of Lahore is one of the outstanding surviving examples
of a traditional city in the Indian sub-continent and the Islamic world. In
1641, during the reign of Shah Jehan, a Portuguese, Fray Sebastiao
Manrique observed:
"(Lahore) is beautifully situated commanding agreeable
views, having on one side a river with crystal which descend
from the mountains of Kashmir - waters It is a handsome and
well-ordered city with large gate-ways and pavilions of
various colors - - - I entered the city, a difficult undertaking
on account of the number of people who filled the streets,
some on camels, some on foot, some on elephants, others in
small carts, jostling one another as they went along. Those
who best could pass first". (Quoted by Leonard, 1985)
Nearly three centuries later, Sir Patrick Geddees who prepared a 'Town
Planning report for the city in 1917, said of it;
"no ordinary coldness of phrasing can express the surprise
and admiration, the delight, with which one makes
acquaintance with Lahore; even as a veteran tourist, long
familiar with many of the great examples of Muslim
architecture; domestic, palatial and monumental, and these
from Constantinople to Delhi and Agra, and across India from
Dacca to Ahmedabad. For here is certainly one of the most
picturesque of them all, with its piled up, many storied
groupings, its endless variety and enrichment". (Quoted by
Leonard, 1985)
Between then (1641) and now (1987) a lot of time has passed. The river
has now receded, and is scarcely crystalline, the elephants have gone
and the camels are rare, (although the traffic behavior has changed
little, but in spite of much neglect and decay the WaIled City still retains
much of the former vitality and excitement, both of its architecture and
its popular life.
Socially it is a well integrated society with roots and family ties, which
bind its members together into an intricate web of kinships, clans,
fraternities, ethnic and religious groups; which provides every resident
a sense of security and belonging. The incidence of crime is extremely
low and the one quality that strikes any visitor to the WaIled City is the
friendliness and hospitality of its residents.
The social structures and institutions in Lahore have gradually been
eroded by the process of industrialization, technological change and
establishment of formalized civil administration. However, the physical
structure of the WaIled City remains largely unchanged from its
traditional and spontaneously developed form. This is so because the
population of the WaIled City still lives under circumstances which
exclude them from the "modern" life style accessible to other "Lahoris",
and because new Western style urban development has been
accommodated in the more compatible and lower density "British city".

Glimpses of
Life in the
Walled City of
Lahore

Lahore WaIled City, the historic core and ancient Lahore is spread over
2.6 square kilometers which until 1859 AD was enclosed by a double
defensive wall, with 12 gates and a moat. This is the most densely
populated quarter of the provincial capital of Punjab; with an estimated
density of approximately 562 persons per hectare, and an overall
population of approximately 145,000 persons. (LWCA Survey, 2008)
The inner city continues to play a central role in the life of the
metropolis providing shelter and employment to a vast majority of the
low income households of Lahore. It also makes a contribution to the
urban economy by providing Rs. 7.0 million annually to the urban
exchequer as property tax alone. The high concentration of commerce
and small scale industry in the old city, accounts for an additional
revenue in terms of taxes conservatively estimated to be Rs. 53.0
million annually. In terms of real estate and capital invested in
buildings, utilities, technical and social infrastructure, the WaIled City is
valued between Rs. 15-25 billion and 7.5 billion respectively. Its
approximately 15,000 industrial and commercial enterprises provide
employment to well over 40,000 persons. Those of its working
population not employed within the old city are employed at walking or
cycling distances in what may be termed as the CBD of Lahore
metropolitan area. Furthermore, the average monthly income of a
household is Rs. 1000/= (US$ 100/=); implying that the majority of its
population belong to the low-income group. (LWCA Survey, 2008)
The present day Lahore-WaIled City faces a host of problems of which
the most pressing relates to buildings and utility services. The building
stock has effectively reduced over the time. The man made mound of
the old city provides an unstable base for foundations, this coupled with
a falling water table, frequent seepage of water mains and age has
resulted in many of the buildings being structurally weakened and even
dangerous. Of the 20,000 premises more than one-eighth lie vacant,
where houses have collapsed and not been rebuilt. More than one in
every ten is structurally unfit for habitation. As a result, about one-third
of the population now live in dilapidated buildings and most dwellings'
are over-crowded, with nearly 7 persons per household. The structures
mainly of burnt brick walls are densely packed into tiny plots of 2 to 3
marlas (40-60 sq. m) each, rising to a height of 3-4 storeys. More than
half the premises are occupied by a single household, about one quarter
contain two households each, while the remainder house three or more
households each (LWCA Survey, 2008).

The present day Lahore Walled City

The LWC Project - An Effort towards Conservation:

A detailed study of the Lahore WaIled City was carried out by the
Lahore Development Authority, as a part of Lahore Urban Development
and Traffic Study (LUDTS) during 1978-81. The primary emphasis of
the study was on the improvement of living conditions of the
inhabitants of the WaIled City. In order to achieve the goal of improving
living conditions of the population, the objectives of the development
and upgrading program as recommended by the LDA study are:
1.
2
3.
4.
5.

To improve sanitation,
To encourage building renewal,
To strengthen community and social infrastructure,
To strengthen the economic base,
To conserve culturally valuable elements

The Lahore Urban Development and Traffic Study, financed through a

World Bank loan, was undertaken by a joint team of foreign and local
consultants, for the Lahore Development Authority (LDA). The major
thrust of the LUDTS, was at the level of basic housing, health and social
infrastructure needs of metropolitan Lahore as a whole for the ensuing
five year (1981-1986) period, through proposals for concerted efforts
on land and the infrastructure development aspects of the foreseeable
growth of Lahore.
The WaIled City study provides a detailed account of the prevailing
state of affairs in the historic core, along with the possible future for the
WaIled City, if the present trends of deterioration of utility services,
water sewerage, refuse disposal, electricity, and gas and the
dilapidation of buildings are allowed to persist. The objective of the
LUDTS was to formulate a substantial program of improvements in the
living conditions or the low-income groups, mainly by improving the
level of environmental sanitation and providing social support
programs.
The study suggested policies to serve as a guiding framework for
planning, development, renewal and redevelopment activities in the
WaIled City:
1.
2.

No action should be taken which is likely to result in major changes

in the population size, overall density and income patterns.
No action should. be taken which is likely to result in major changes
in the present economic base of commerce and small scale
manufacturing.

3.

4.

5.
6.
7.
8.

9.

Internally the WaIled City should retain its present structure of

functional zones i.e., residential neighborhoods; commercial spines;
regional commercial centers; public areas (regional hospitals,
mosques, monuments, recreational centers and parks).
The present street system and transportation network should be
with local improvements to insure a network of adequate access to
every premises and access to a vehicular street retained pedestrian
mot more than 100 meters for any premises.
Water supply and distribution network, sewerage, drainage and
solid waste collection and disposal system should be improved.
Structurally unsound or otherwise dilapidated or inadequate
buildings should be improved or replaced.
Culturally valuable elements should be preserved or conserved.
The city should be divided into residential neighborhoods of about
2,000 persons, and each neighborhood should have the following
basic community facilities: a boys primary school; girls primary
school; a basic health unit; community space.
The circular garden around the WaIled City should be developed as
a public park with school sports fields and other outdoor
recreational areas.

The action program proposed by the study, specified projects to be

implemented in the five year period 1981 to 1986. Furthermore, the
WaIled City project was divided into three phases; each covering an
area of approximately 50 hectares (Not proposed by the project, this
was a later addition).
The nature of various components of the WaIled City project implied
that most of the urban agencies participate and coordinate their efforts.
Since the action program overlapped onto the field of several agencies,
the study proposed that the task of central monitoring should rest with
the Lahore: Development Authority (LDA), through a proposed newly
established WaIled City Project Unit. The project operations were
envisaged to start in 1981. The execution of development upgrading
work was proposed to be carried out by the approved contractors of
various agencies. The community centers as proposed were to be
constructed at a rate of 2 centers per year by LDA and after
commissioning these were to be handed over to Lahore Municipal
Corporation (LMC). The school program was proposed to be carried out
at the rate of 7 schools per year by LMC and later handed over to the
Education Department. The building renewal program was to be carried
out by the owners/occupiers under the guidance of LDA, and with the
financial support of House Building Finance Corporation (HBFC), in the
form of soft term loans.
The study proposed that the costs of the technical services, water
supply, sewage disposal, garbage disposal, street paving, lighting and
electricity supply be recovered indirectly through tariffs and taxes.
Whereas the cost of school upgrading, was to be financed through a
grant to LMC and was to be recovered through indirect means, the cost
of community centers was proposed to be financed by a loan to the
Auqaf Department. The recovery of the capital cost incurred on
construction of community centers was proposed to be done directly
through rentals for use of the centre. As mentioned earlier the cost of
building improvement program was to be financed mainly through
loans from HBFC, recoverable at 11% interest over 20 years. The
improved and preserved form of the WaIled City was envisaged to be
projected through a promotional campaign, so as to attract domestic as
well as foreign tourists. The after project WaIled City was conceived to
become a major touristic attraction, thus resulting in an increased
income from tourism, which would become a perpetual source of

revenue for the government and better income levels for the WaIled
City residents.
The question of a very clear justification for conserving old areas is
doubly important in the developing countries, in view of the scarce
economic resources in which the scramble for development on almost
any terms tends to sweep all other considerations aside. Hitherto, the
justification forwarded in support of conservation varies from
psychological to aesthetic reasons and from social to economic aspects.
However, from a developing country's point of view the conservation
and upgrading of Lahore WaIled City is necessary because if the present
trend of deterioration and decay is allowed to continue, the quality of
the environment will deteriorate to such a degree that the wealthier
sections of the population will move out of the WaIled City, ultimately to
be inhabited by the poorest sections of the population. For nowhere else
will they find accommodation as cheap and as close to their places of
work. At the risk of facing death, injury and disease due to the
unsanitary, unhygienic and structurally unsafe living conditions; only
because they are too poor to move.
As a result the city will turn into a stinking and dangerous slum,
property values may begin to fall, possibly then powerful business
interests will step in to buy up large areas, and clear them for
redevelopment causing massive displacements of population, and also
irreparable loss of the rich cultural heritage of the nation. The WaIled
City of Lahore is one of the richest repositories of the nation's cultural
heritage, with some 20 protected national monuments and another
4,500 buildings of cultural value representing a thousand years of
regional and national history (LUDTS Study 1978)
Closely linked with social decline are the changes that have taken place
and are taking place in the economy of the WaIled City. These are
characterized by residential premises being converted to commercial,
fabricating or storage use. While the nature of commercialization has
been generally adapted to the transportation constraints within and
around the WaIled City, commercial activities by sheer pressure of
storage space requirements are accelerating the pace of building
demolition and reconstruction. The rebuilding idiom deviates from all
aesthetic norms which should prevail in a historical locality. Certain
traditional commercial operations in the WaIled City, (e. g. grain and
spices wholesaling), with heavy transport requirements have suffered a
relative loss of market and size of catchment. Specialized wholesale and
retail sub-sectors show pervasive growth. However most shop and
plant owners no longer reside in the WaIled City, thus their interest in
maintaining its physical and social structure is diluted and the danger of
the WaIled City becoming a commercial dead-at-night district is real.
The two limiting factors to this conversion process are;
i)
The increasing non-centrality of WaIled City relative to
the growth of Metropolitan Lahore.
ii)
The acute housing pressure in the Metropolitan Lahore
which will continue to force poorer residents of the
WaIled City to remain living in dilapidated housing.

THE ROCKS, SYDNEY:

The Rocks, Sydney; is Australias first European settlement developed in
1788. This area had a distinct architectural style. In the desire of the
City Managers, to shed the convict past of Sydney towards the start of
19th century; The Rocks was at forefront of this transition from gaol to a
trading port. It soon became Sydneys first commercial heart. The
outbreak of bubonic plague in the early 1900s became a catalyst of

urban renewal in The Rocks area. The Local Government used the fear
created by outbreak of plague to demolish hundreds of houses and
other structures in The Rocks area, which was perceived as dirty and
overcrowded. The structures that survived demolition during the early
part of 1900 were demolished to make way for the Sydney Harbor
Bridge. During the 1960s, the local government had decided to promote
construction of high rise towers in this old historic area of Sydney. The
Rocks Residents Group (RRG), formed in 1970 by the local residents of
The Rocks area, forced the Government to conserve and restore all
buildings north of Cahill Expressway. Through the efforts of RRG only
10% of the old structures remain the balance 90% area is new
construction.

CONCLUSION:
In the present day world of rapid development and changing values,
changes in the urban environment have taken place at a fantastically
rapid pace, especially in the major cities of each country. The growth
has surpassed the predictions made by planners, architects and social
scientists. Many cities which had populations of a few hundred
thousand just a few decades ago now have become cities of a million or
more. The greater ones have grown enormously, engulfing nearby
towns, villages and municipalities and at times uniting into large
conglomerations forming Megalopolises.
The Lahore Walled City Authority has released the results of the latest
situation about the Walled City. The salient features are as follows;
Area
Population
Density

Number of Buildings
Commercial activity as %age of Land use
Encroachments in the Circular Garden
People Working in LWC

2.6 sq. km. (258 hectares)

145,000 (2008); 160,900 (1998);
562 persons/hectare (2008)
624 persons / hectare (1998)
20,000 (2007); 22,500 (1987)
49% (2007); 25% (1987)
1712 encroachments or 29 % of the
Circular Garden area. This is equal
to 14% increase since 1987
59.30% (2007); 80% (1987)

The above facts released by LWCA clearly show that the peoples
perception about the conservation of old Lahore is totally different
than the one perceived by the City Managers. In fact, the government
intervention during the 1980s had an adverse effect on the physical
conditions of Lahore Walled City. The population of this historic area
decreased substantially. On the other hand it has been observed that
the Commercial activity in the Walled City has almost doubled during
the same period. The trend clearly points towards the change in land
use from predominantly residential towards commercial. The reversal
of this trend requires effective legislation, strong political will, sound
financial backing and strong administrative controls. In the absence of
any one of the aforementioned factors the success of any intervention
by the LWCA with regards to Conservation of Lahore Walled City shall
be highly doubtful.
A City is not just streets and buildings every city is unique due to the
socio-cultural and economic characteristics of its residents. We may
be able to Conserve and Restore the physical elements of an historic
old area or city, but with the human desire to achieve better lifestyle
with each passing day it is very difficult, if not impossible to arrest or
freeze changes in socio-cultural and economic character, due to the
rapid pace of development. We as self professed technical experts
have a romantic affiliation with the old/antique places and items. We
are cut off from the bitter realities of life the dwellers of these old
historic areas. Majority of such experts live in modern

buildings/houses enjoying all modern amenities of creature comfort.

On the other hand, we expect the residents of these dilapidated
structures lined along narrow winding streets, to appreciate the
immense historic value of these old areas. Unfortunately, for us Brick
and Mortar is more important. In developing countries like Pakistan,
the most probable answer to the question; CAN WE AFFORD URBAN
CONSERVATION? is NO. A more humane option is to identify a
small area and Restore it; the remaining area of the Walled City should
be developed as a modern metropolitan area.

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Daifuku, Hiroshi, "Urban Retrieval Too", in the Conservation of Cities
UNESCO, The UNESCO Press Paris, 1975.
Kammeier, H.Detlef,"Squaring the Circle, or Urban Conservation with
Economic Development: The experience of Thailand"; A paper
presented at the International Conference on Urban Conservation and
Planning; Penang, Malaysia; June 1986
Lahore Walled City: Fact Sheet, Lahore Walled City Authority, Lahore
2007
Lahore Walled City: Study of Household and Sanitation Conditions;
Metropolitan Planning Wing, Lahore Development Authority, -Lahore,
1984.
Lewcock, Ronald in "Conservation as Cultural Survival" Renata Holod
(ed), The Aga Khan Award, Philadelphia, 1980.
Lim, William S.H."Environmental Identity and Urbanism", Habitat
International vol. 8, No.3/4, 1984, p 181-92
Page, Charles H. "Saving the Past for the Future", Ekistics No. 271, July/
Aug. 1978, pp. 283-284.
Papageorgiou, Alexander, Continuity and Change, Praeger, New York,
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PEPAC Ltd. "Conservation Issues and Intervention Alternatives: A
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Qadeer Mohammad A, Urban Development in the Third World: Internal
Dynamics of Lahore, Pakistan, Praeger, New York, 1983
Sorlin, Francois,"Europe: The Comprehensive Experience", in the
Conservation of Cities, UNESCO, The UNESCO Press, Paris, 1975.