LAHORE: The ongoing conservation and restoration of the Wazir Khan Mosque built in 1634 will be completed in 2023 with a cost of Rs550m.

The project being carried out by the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) is focusing on different components of the mosque.

The Wazir Khan Mosque Complex is a significant example of urban design of the first half of the 17th century.

The WCLA officials told Dawn that in 2017, the Punjab government had approved a five-year-long project. This was followed by the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the WCLA and the Aga Khan Cultural Service-Pakistan (AKCS-P) in 2018. The AKCS-P’s partnership with the WCLA thus far has evolved into distinct and visible interventions ranging from neighbourhood rehabilitation to monument conservation in the Walled City.

WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari while talking about the project said, “The objectives of the project are twofold, improving the historic urban fabric that surrounds the Wazir Khan Mosque and the mosque itself”.

Mr Lashari added that the two major components of the project were conservation of the monument as well as of the Hujras at the courtyard level.

“The first component is conservation of the mosque itself consists of several integrated components. They include structural consolidation and strengthening of the mosque structure using compatible material, rehabilitation of the building fabric, conservation of the mosque’s external and internal ornamental surfaces, detailed documentation and damage analysis: upgrading the mosque’s electricity system and ensuring effective drainage and rainwater systems are in place. The second component is conservation of Hujras at Courtyard Level (North-East Site). The conservation of 15 Hujras located at north-east side of the mosque courtyard has been completed. The restoration work is in progress on surface decorations, such as glazed tile mosaic, fresco, lime plaster and stabilisation of cut and dressed brick masonry. Eighty-five percent progress has been achieved,” he said.

The WCLA officials said conservation of the Calligrapher’s Bazaar was initiated in June 2021.

The scope of the work, comprising restoration of surface decorations (glazed tile mosaic, fresco and brick imitation), brick tile flooring at Hujra verandas and execution of rainwater disposal system.

The conservation of the Calligrapher’s Bazaar is divided into two main components –rainwater disposal and surface decoration and rehabilitation of neighbourhood context.

The 17th Century Chowk Wazir Khan is enclosed on the southern side with a series of residential historical building stock. Among these the properties H-686, H-687 and H-1088 are owned by the Auqaf Department and possess high architectural merit. The Houses, H-1088 and H-687, portray the amalgamation of the Mughal, Sikh and British styles and demonstrate the transition of early 19th century tradition of Indian architecture into the British era.

The officials said the Aga Khan Cultural Service – Pakistan carried out this conservation and rehabilitation project between August 2019 and May 2021. This was enabled by the friendly collaboration and partnership of the WCLA, which carried out acquisition of the properties and site facilitation while generous financial assistance from the US Embassy also made this project possible.

The conservation project has reclaimed the southern facade of the Chowk Wazir Khan through enhancing and improving visual impact of the urban environment as well as structurally and architecturally improved and increase longevity of the historical buildings for the benefit of the community. The conserved and rehabilitated historical houses are now managed by the WCLA.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2021