LAHORE, Oct 18: The Punjab government has decided in principal not to award a Rs20 million contract to the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) to illuminate the Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens.

Sources said on Wednesday that the decision had been taken following the PHA’s failure to restore the Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens to the satisfaction of the provincial government. The PHA, which began the Rs36 million project in 2004-5, has yet to complete it.

Even the chief minister had expressed his displeasure over the manner the PHA carried out the project.

They said the provincial government, which allocated Rs20 million for the project, was considering to hand it over to either Philips or Bega, a German company.

“After the selection of the company, work on illuminating the Lahore Fort will begin. In the case of the Shalamar Gardens, work will begin after its restoration,” they added.

It was learnt that the archaeology department, which is responsible for the upkeep of both the monuments, had objected to the award of the contract to the PHA. It was of the view that the PHA was not an expert body to carry out the task.

The department proposed hiring of some national or multinational firms having expertise in illuminating archaeological sites and historical buildings for the task.

The sources said the PHA had prepared a PC-I for Rs15 million project on its own and got it approved from the secretary housing. They, however, said the planning and development board had rejected it, saying the PHA had nothing to do with the monuments. —Zulqernain Tahir