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Charters
and Legislation on Architectural Preservation:
Pakistan:
(DRAFT)
National Charter for the Conservations
and Preservation of
Cultural Property: Lahore
1.0 Preamble
1.1 Pakistan with its specific geographical
and social background has a history of cultural evolution and
problems of its own. Accordingly having regard to the International
Charter for the Conservation and
Restoration of Monuments and Sites (Venice 1966) and the Resolution
pf the 5th General Assembly of ICOMOS(1978), the following charter
is proposed to be adopted for Pakistan.
2.0 Objective
2.1 The cultural heritage that exists today
in physical form and in historical records, is the common heritage
of us all, giving us an awareness of our common history and common
future, as well as being an essential part of our cultural identity.
Being custodian of this common heritage, we are responsible for
its preservation and continuation for the benefit of our present
as well as future generations. This responsibility is to be shared
jointly and scrupulously by the society so that its continuity
is ensured in the full richness of its authenticity for the times
to come.
3.0 Definitions
For the purpose of this Charter:
3.1 Cultural
Property: means historical monuments, buildings, groups
of buildings or areas, historic garden archaeological sites and
structural remains, and their traditional environmental settings,
works of art and science & technology or any part or portion
thereof. Historic areas in urban or rural settings containing
vernacular architecture forming a physical environment of exceptional
quality also from part of cultural property.
3.2 Conservation:
means all processes to ensure retaining the particular value(s)
of a cultural property. It includes interventions normally referred
to as maintenance, rehabilitation, revitalization, relocation
for adaptive or extended use, retrieval and recycling.
3.3 Preservation:
means maintaining the existing state of cultural property
and retarding its deterioration, including relocation for preserving.
3.4 Restoration:
means returning the existing fabric of the cultural property
to a known earlier state by removing accretions or by reassembling
existing components with or without introduction of new materials.
4.0 National
Policy
4.1 The conservation and preservation of cultural
property be carried out under a uniform national conservation
policy. This policy be formulated to outline priorities for categorization
of cultural property at the three levels i.e. national, regional
& local levels, and in interventions required thereto. Under
this national policy the functions of concerned national organizations
be coordinated and cooperation extended to international agencies
entrusted with conservation of cultural heritage.
4.2 A body of noted professionals from all related
disciplines and intelligentsia be formed to formulate, update
and monitor the national conservation policy.
4.3 As a matter of policy efforts be made to
bring cultural property moved out of country back to its place
or setting of origin.
5.0 Guiding
Principles
5.1 The aim of conservation is to retain or
recover the value of cultural property and to ensure its future
by security and maintenance.
5.2 Effective measures be taken to make public
aware of the need and value of conservation and preservation of
cultural heritage, and to promote participation from all spheres
of the society.
5.3 Interventions for conservation and preservation
be timely and aimed as minimum necessary. These interventions
should be reversible and not prejudice future interventions, if
technically possible. These should also be harmonious with original
material and setting and should in no way attempt to alter authenticity
of the cultural property.
5.4 Items of cultural value which form an integral
part of a monument or site may only be removed from it if this
is the sole means of ensuring their preservation.
5.5 The process of restoration must aim to preserve
and enhance the aesthetic and historic value of the monument.
It must stop at point where conjecture begins, and all interventions
must be distinct and carry a contemporary stamp.
5.6 Conservation activity be recognized as separate
from normal building activity. It be made distinct part of national,
regional and local planning policy, be provided with special non-lapsable
funds; and be carried out by trained and experienced professionals
and craftsmen. Economic and social incentives are required to
ensure
survival of traditional building crafts which are necessary for
conservation of historic buildings.
5.7 Traditional urban environment identified
as cultural property be protected from transformation of its character
through economic and social pressures present within and outside
of the historic precincts. Area rehabilitation and change of use
be directed towards being compatible with traditionally existing
pattern and strengthening the local conservation policy.
5.8 Public be made an active partner in the
conservation effort. Cultural property, whether in public or private
ownership be promoted as national asset. Society should share
to discourage illicit activities in clandestine excavation operations
and trade of cultural objects, and encroachments in and around
areas of cultural significance be made a taboo. Involvement of
local concerned public groups is a must for protection and preservation
of cultural heritage. Private donors must also be encouraged to
participate in funding of conservation efforts.
5.9 Living religious movements form a substantial
portion of our cultural heritage. Traditional ‘waqf’
system be channelized to contribute in conservation effort. All
interventions to bring religious monuments be in harmony with
their use, sympathetic to the faithful, allow future interventions
and should not alter or destroy physical historical evidence.
5.10 Efforts must be made to fully document
all cultural property. All interventions must be scientifically
documented before, during and after carrying out and should aim
at pteserving historical and archaeological evidence.
5.11 As an essential pre-requisite to conservation,
the existing legal framework should be re-examined with a view
to strengthening it as necessary. The planning boundaries of protected
buildings, sites or areas should
extend sufficiently into their surroundings to have an effective
control over their immediate environs for their preservation.
5.12 Additions to or improvement and upgrading
of services and facilities for cultural heritage monuments and
areas should only be permitted if dictates of their architectural,
aesthetic and environmental significance are strictly and scrupulously
obeyed.
5.13 Wherever possible efforts be made to make
preventive measures effective against natural disasters for preservation
of cultural property. In no case desire for reconstruction after
a nature or man caused disaster should result in pulling down
of remains of cultural property. Salvage must be the first recourse
considered after such disasters.
5.14 Archaeological sites are amongst the richest
of our national cultural assets, yet have remained the least studied.
Archaeological digs should be encouraged to increase our wealth
of knowledge on past cultures of the area. Local resources &
expertise are available and willing, and must be harnessed for
the purpose. Rapid urbanization makes it all the more urgent to
work on excavation on known & unknown historical sites around
urban centers before valuable evidence is lost or covered up for
ever.
5.15 It is recognized that, cultural heritage
encourages tourist activity. The policy for promotion of tourism
should not be in conflict with the conservation policy and effort.
It is best that economic gains from tourism are absorbed locally.
6.0 Promotional
activities
6.1 The cultural heritage will only survive
if its value is understood and appreciated by the people and in
particular by the younger generation. A positive will to
preserve our cultural heritage is emerging and need to be promoted.
6.2 Promotion of conservation education is to
be encouraged through academic institutions, as well as through
publication and mass media. Special programmes meetings, exhibitions
and seminars etc. aimed to arouse public awareness and interest
are also useful. Scientific publication and documentation be properly
prepared and made available to public through archival records.
6.3 Improvement of presentation at sites and
museums to enhance understanding of their cultural significance
will help for publicizing the cultural heritage and encouraging
public involvement in their conservation.
This
document, dated 1989, has been posted in its entirety with the
permission of, from the document supplied by the Department of
Archaeology, Government of Pakistan.
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