Punjab Heritage and Tourism Board

Punjab Heritage and Tourism Board
Name	Punjab Heritage and Tourism Board
Formation	1997
Headquarters	Lahore
Region served	Punjab, Pakistan
Leader title	Chairman

Punjab Heritage and Tourism Board is the provincial statutory body responsible for preservation, promotion, and development of cultural heritage and tourism resources in Punjab, Pakistan. Established to coordinate conservation of monuments, management of museums, and promotion of pilgrimage, cultural, and eco-tourism, the Board operates across urban and rural settings including Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Sialkot. Its activities intersect with national bodies and international institutions engaged in heritage conservation, museum studies, and tourism marketing.

History

The Board traces origins to provincial initiatives following devolution policies and legislative reforms in Pakistan during the 1990s and early 2000s, influenced by precedents set by agencies such as the Archaeology Department of Pakistan, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, and the ICOMOS charters. Early collaborations referenced models from the British Council, the Asia-Pacific Heritage Network, and the Department of Archaeology and Museums in neighboring regions. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s the Board coordinated with the Punjab Archives, Lahore Museum, Pakistan National Council of the Arts, and foreign missions including British High Commission, French Embassy in Pakistan, and United States Embassy in Pakistan on restoration of landmarks linked to figures like Muhammad Iqbal, Allama Iqbal, and events such as the Partition of India. The Board’s timeline includes projects alongside the Sikh Reference Library stakeholders, the Evacuee Trust Property Board context, and inputs from academic institutions like Punjab University, Lahore College for Women University, and NCA Lahore.

Mandate and Functions

The Board’s statutory remit covers identification and conservation of monuments, management of provincial museums, inventorying archaeological sites, and facilitating tourism infrastructure. It works with regulatory frameworks referenced by the Antiquities Act (Pakistan), engages with international standards from ICOM, ICOMOS, and adopts guidelines from UNWTO. Major functional areas include heritage impact assessments for projects such as China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, coordination with the Ministry of Culture (Pakistan), and policy advice to provincial entities like the Tourism Department, Government of Punjab and municipal authorities in Islamabad, Gujranwala, and Faisalabad.

Organizational Structure

The Board is headed by a Chairman and comprises committees mirroring practices in institutions such as the British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, and provincial trusts like the Punjab Archaeology Department. Specialist wings address conservation (drawing expertise from University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore), museum curation (linked to Lahore Museum), community engagement involving NGOs like Heritage Foundation of Pakistan and academic partners including Beaconhouse School System outreach programs. Legal, finance, and planning units coordinate with bodies such as the Planning Commission of Pakistan and provincial finance departments; procurement and public-private partnership liaison reflect models used by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

Major Projects and Initiatives

Prominent initiatives include restoration of Mughal-era sites in Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens (Lahore), preservation efforts for Sufi shrines associated with Data Ganj Bakhsh, Bahauddin Zakariya, and Shah Rukn-e-Alam in Multan, and conservation of colonial-era buildings in Railway Station, Lahore precincts. The Board has undertaken archaeological surveys in regions like Taxila, Harappa, and Koh-e-Takht supported by collaborations with Department of Archaeology, University of Peshawar and international teams from Smithsonian Institution and British Museum. Tourism-oriented projects include development of heritage trails in Walled City of Lahore, restoration of havelis in Haveli of Nau Nihal Singh, and interpretive projects at the Gandhara archaeological corridor.

Heritage Sites and Attractions

The Board oversees or partners on a roster of sites spanning eras: Mughal Empire monuments (e.g., Badshahi Mosque), Sikh Empire heritage (e.g., Gurdwara Dera Sahib), colonial architecture (e.g., General Post Office, Lahore), Indus Valley remains near Harappa, Buddhist sites in Taxila, and landscape heritage like the Cholistan Desert and Salt Range mines linked to Khewra Salt Mine. Cultural attractions include festivals celebrating Basant, Sufi urs such as at Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, and craft centers in Sargodha and Sheikhupura showcasing traditions connected to artisans from Multan and Sialkot.

Tourism Development and Promotion

Promotion strategies align with campaigns by Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation and international promotion at fairs such as ITB Berlin and World Travel Market. The Board has promoted pilgrim routes for Sikhism devotees to sites like Nankana Sahib and collaborated with transport providers including Pakistan International Airlines and rail services from Pakistan Railways. Marketing partnerships have involved media outlets like DAWN and The Express Tribune, and digital initiatives echo practices by organizations like Tripadvisor and Lonely Planet to target inbound visitors from United Kingdom, United States, Germany, and regional markets including India and China.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding streams combine provincial budget allocations, grants from multilateral lenders such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, cultural grants from UNESCO and bilateral agencies like DFID and the U.S. Agency for International Development, and public-private partnerships with corporations and foundations including Aga Khan Foundation and local chambers like the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Collaborative research and capacity-building have involved universities including Punjab University, LUMS, and international partners such as SOAS University of London and the University of Cambridge.

Category:Heritage organisations in Pakistan Category:Tourism in Punjab, Pakistan