LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on Friday sought a detailed report from the Punjab chief secretary about preservation of cultural heritage and architectural value of the Walled City.

Pleading a petition against uncontrolled and beyond rules commercialisation in the Walled City, Advocate Azhar Siddique argued before the court that the Walled City in itself was a heritage and the Walled City Act was enforced to safe and protect the grandeur and aesthetic sense.

However, he said, since 2002 as admitted by the Walled City of Lahore Authority more than 400 commercial and high rise buildings had been constructed that lacked safety standards as well.

The lawyer further argued that no building regulations were promulgated to control and regulate the Walled City. He pointed out that construction of a plaza near an historic Imambargah in the Walled City had been allowed in violation of rules.

He said the land adjacent to the Imambargah was residential and could not be used for commercial purposes as it was situated in small streets and in case of any fire or other incident neither ambulances nor fire brigade could enter the premises.

The chief justice sought a reply from the chief secretary on the matter and adjourned hearing till July 25.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2016