PESHAWAR, March 20: Peshawar is considered to be the oldest living city of South Asia but it is fast losing old buildings and features of an old walled city due to encroachments and lack of care, say locals.

In the city known for historic bazaars, gates and monuments, the remaining portion of the old city wall is disappearing.

“It is so sad to see the wall vanish and the city deface due to encroachments and commercial plazas,” Aftab, a resident of Peshawar city, told Dawn on Tuesday.

Part of the wall near Sir Asia, Thund Khui, Kohati, Gunj and Lahori gates is intact.

The wall was encroached upon many years ago but the widening of City Circular Road proved a blessing in disguise for it as removal of encroachments made it visible at several points, according to another local.

People of Peshawar city said they wanted the government to conserve the wall for next generations.

When contacted, provincial minister for tourism and archaeology Aqil Shah said the government won't let anyone take away even a single brick of the wall and would seek the court's orders for its conservation.

He said recently, he contacted the district government bosses to ensure removal of encroachments from the wall.

“We'll take action against those encroaching upon and destroying the wall,” he said.

According to historians, Sikhs captured Peshawar in 1818 before ruling it until 1849. The old city wall was built during the reign of Sikh Governor General Avitabile, who was basically an Italian mercenary and remained in office from 1838 to 1842. It was made of mud, which was later replaced with bricks by Britishers after they took over the city in 1849.

The original wall ran around the old city and had 16 gates. Two of them exist in original form, Sir Asia Gate and Thund Khui Gate (Sard Chah Gate), while others have been rebuilt on the government orders.

Several residential quarters of Christian community adjacent to Lahori Gate were demolished by the local government department and the town one administration for the widening of Circular Road.

People have demanded early preservation of that portion of the wall and the one contiguous to Gunj Gate fearing they may be encroached upon by land grabbers working in connivance with local government authorities.

When asked about old monuments, including the old wall, threatened by new constructions and encroachments, noted archaeologist Professor Fidaulah Sehrai said such sites should be preserved without delay but the community should also let authorities know about encroachment whenever it crops up.

He said the community should play its due role to safeguard historic monuments, including old wall.

People said the archaeology department should preserve the remaining wall and develop greenbelt instead of allowing construction of illegal shops there.

“Although it may not be possible to restore the original wall that is 16,500 feet high, at least some parts of it should be saved,” said citizen Aftab.