Three years is not much time in which to learn about a society as diverse, complex, and fascinating as Pakistan. However, for foreign diplomats, it is a fairly long tour. As I leave, I wanted to share with the Express Tribune readers what I hope will be an interesting and unique perspective on this great country; on some of the things that we, in the American government, have done with our Pakistani partners; and, of some of the things I have most appreciated during my time here.
Viewing Mughal Architecture
I have lived in India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan off and on since 1999, and I have always been impressed by the symmetry, the beauty, and the science of Mughal architecture. Lahore and Punjab boast so many examples of 16th and 17th century architectural excellence that it is like a giant museum, open for the edification of all comers. Walled City Authority, the Agha Khan Cultural Service Pakistan, and the Punjab Department of Archaeology are doing an exceptional job of restoring and interpreting these treasures. In the future, I hope that more Americans and westerners will come here and have the chance to see what I have seen.
Sources:
- My top ten memories of Pakistan | Tribune Express Blogs
- Leaving a (guarded) optimist | The Friday Times Pakistan
- U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Supports Conservation of Lahore’s 17th Century Chowk Wazir Khan | Consulate General of the United States in Lahore
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- Rejuvenating the Mughal recipes hidden in ‘Royal Kitchen’
- A Report by Aga Khan Trust for Culture – World’s largest picture wall of Lahore
- Wazir Khan Hammam: A 17th century wonder | Daily Times
- Pakistan aims to revive glory of ancient Mughal city Lahore | gulftoday
- Pakistan: The Punjab government and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture discuss the protection of historical places
- International Workshop on Conservation being held at Lahore Fort
- Renovated by Aga Khan Trust for Culture Pakistan, Wazir Khan Mosque Chowk restored to its original form
- AKTC and WCLA: Joint efforts preserving the heritage in Pakistan
- Illumination of Lahore Fort’s picture wall
- Aga Khan Trust for Culture & WCLA start conservation of Picture Wall of Lahore Fort
- Download: Heritage of the Mughal World | Archnet
- Shahi Hammam, an Aga Khan Trust for Culture intrepid project in Lahore, Pakistan an epicenter of tourists
- Shahi Hammam, an Aga Khan Trust for Culture project in Lahore, Pakistan wins UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation ‘Award of Merit’
- Aga Khan Trust for Culture efforts to highlight the opulence of Mughal culture with the restoration of Sheesh Mahal (the Mirror Palace) in Lahore, Pakistan
- Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Walled City of Lahore completes rehabilitation of northern facade of Wazir Khan Mosque
- Aga Khan Cultural Services Pakistan’s Conservation of the 17th-century Shahi Hammam receives UNESCO Asia-Pacific Merit Award
- AKTC’s Walled City of Lahore’s Master plan to save heritage
- Outgoing US Consul General in Pakistan shares his Top Ten Memories: AKTC restored Walled City Project
- Restored by Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Shahi Hammam Lahore has become one of the most visited sites
- Conservation of Wazir Khan Masjid begins in Lahore
- Google Cultural Institute: The Royal Trail (Shahi Guzargah) Walled City of Lahore
- The Walled City of Lahore: Protecting Heritage and History | The Diplomat
- Wazir Khan Hamam in the Walled City of Lahore
- Wazir Khan Mosque rehabilitation starts in Lahore Pakistan
- Aga Khan Trust for Culture Pakistan starts renovation of outer wall of Lahore Fort
- Synergy: Aga Khan Culture Service Pakistan, Royal Norwegian Embassy and Walled City Lahore Authority to restore Lahore Fort’s picture wall
- Lahore Fort’s historic Picture Wall to be restored by Aga Khan Culture Service Pakistan | Daily Times
- Pakistan: AKTC’s conservation work at Shahi Hammam in the Walled City of Lahore completes, bringing the historic monumental building back to life
- Wazir Khan Mosque was built during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan
- Pakistan’s Lahore Wazir Khan Mosque readies for virtual tours
- Aga Khan Trust for Culture Pakistan to restore Dilip Kumar’s old House in Peshawar
- Government of Pakistan & Aga Khan Trust for Culture open Walled City Lahore’s Mughal Era Shahi Hamam
- Shahi Hammam, Delhi Gate, Walled City, Lahore
- Synergy | Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan & Norway to assist Walled City of Lahore Authority to renovate Masjid Wazir Khan
- Shalimar Gardens in Lahore: The venue of the first awards of Aga Khan Award for Architecture
- Preserving history of Lahore, Pakistan: Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s restoration project
- Aga Khan Cultural Services, Pakistan and Walled City Lahore Authority: Rescuing Lahore’s Masjid Wazir Khan
- Walled City Lahore: Progress of excavation work for Shahi Hamam project with the help of Aga Khan Trust for Culture
- Monuments and Historical Mosques within the Walled City of Lahore
- Aga Khan Trust for Culture Restoring Shahi Hamam – The only surviving public bath from the Mughal era in Pakistan
- Looking again at Lahore’s Walled City
- India looks to Aga Khan Trust for Culture for Red Fort Restoration as it commends renewal work at Humayun’s Tomb
- Hundred year old cupboard excavated from Wazir Khan Mosque
- In Lahore, Improving Livelihoods and Preserving Heritage Go Hand in Hand
- Walled city of Lahore: Six degrees of restoration
- Donors & Partners: Aga Khan Trust for Culture – for Walled City of Lahore Authority
- Lahore Going Back To Its Old Ways
- Saving Lahore’s fabled walled city – Globe & Mail
- Walled City of Lahore: Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s work helped develop a Geographical Information System (GIS)
- Lahore authorities battle to restore splendour of ancient Walled City | The Guardian
- The Walled City no longer has any walls | Opinion | DAWN.COM
- Endangered heritage: Lahore’s walled city | Opinion | DAWN.COM
- Aga Khan Trust for Culture and World Bank withdraw from major Pakistani project
- Documentation and Conservation of Wazir Khan Mosque, Lahore, Pakistan: Aga Khan Cultural Service
- Lahore restoration project aims to revive old city’s lustre | The Guardian
- Rehabilitation of historic homes in the Walled City of Lahore | German Missions in Pakistan
- Prince Karim Aga Khan appreciates government’s efforts for poverty alleviation | Associated Press Of Pakistan
- Shiraz Hassan: Walled City and Gates of Lahore (Part 1)
- Germany provides Rs 9.3 mln for rehabilitation of historic houses in walled city of Lahore
- Aga Khan Foundation – Alumni Portraits: Salman Muhammad
- Walled City (Lahore) to be restored in 2 decades
- Foreign experts to help rehabilitate Lahore’s Walled City | Dawn
- Aga Khan Foundation provides technical assistance in various renovation projects
- Notes from a Walled City – The Hindu Magazine
- Architecture vs. Extremism
- World Bank and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture to help preserve heritage of Lahore Walled City
- Lahore: Caretaker CM calls for Walled City’s quick rehabilitation
- Celebrating great design across the Muslim world
- Catalyst for change
- Foster’s practice scoops Islamic prize
- Building a better world, one brick at a time
- Lahore Walled City Project to Benefit from a Public-Private Partnership between Government of Punjab and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture
- Lahore, Pakistan: Chief Minister meets delegation from Aga Khan Trust for Culture
- Update on AKTC project in Lahore
- Aga Khan Trust for Culture Plans for Lahore
Ismailimail 