05 November 2004	Friday	21 Ramazan 1425

LAHORE, Nov 4: The Punjab government is signing an agreement with Unesco for the preservation of the Lahore Fort on Saturday that would result in immediate beginning of work on the restoration of its lawns and those of the Shalamar Gardens.

An approval to this effect was given by Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi while presiding over a meeting here on Thursday.

According to official sources, the information and culture department would sign the agreement with Unesco which would be its first with any foreign institution after the recent transfer of the Lahore Fort and the Shalamar Gardens from the federal government to it.

They said under the project Unesco would extend a $600,000 grant to the province for the restoration of royal kitchens and other places in the Lahore Fort. "We are hoping to start work from Nov 15," officials said.

They said this would be the second phase of the Unesco supported plan to restore the Lahore Fort. The agreement for the first phase was signed between Unesco and the federal archaeology department under which the latter has already restored the roof of Sheesh Mahal in the fort.

"The federal archaeology department would continue to execute the remaining part of the first phase which include restoration of the compound of the Sheesh Mahal and other allied minor work," official sources said.

They said the lawns and gardens in and around the Lahore Fort and in the Shalamar Gardens would be restored in their original shape by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA).

The chief minister allowed it on Thursday to execute the projects under which Rs20 million had been earmarked for the Shalamar Gardens and Rs12.5 million for the fort.

The chief minister directed the PHA director general to restore the original look of the lawns in both the monuments within three months. He was also directed to restore the gardens outside the boundary wall of the fort after removing all encroachments on them.

The information and culture department which heads the Punjab archaeology department was asked to catalogue all monuments of historic and cultural importance in the province and establish museums in all important districts.

Sources said the chief minister took a serious notice of the poor cleanliness at the historic places and directed the PHA director general to remove all graffiti, posters and wall chalking from them.

There should be no encroachments and garbage, he ordered.

Meanwhile, according to a handout the chief minister approved Rs40 million development schemes for the Lahore Fort and the Shalamar Gardens during the meeting which was also attended by chief secretary Kamran Rasool and P&D chairman Salman Ghani.

He ordered to allow free entry to women and children in the Shalamar Gardens from January next year.

The chief minister said concrete steps were being taken to highlight the cultural and historical aspect of the city which would leave a positive impact on the tourism industry.

He said the restoration of the cultural and historical heritage of the city would attract tourists from home and abroad.