Lahore Conservation Society/Lahore Bachao Tehreek 3.52

Lahore Conservation Society was the brain child of Mr. Nayyar Ali Dada and Mr. I. A. Rehman. They were quite concerned about the dilapidated condition of the historical monuments. They, and some of the other concerned citizens like Mr. Kamil Khan Mumtaz, Dr. Ajaz Anwar, Zahir ud Deen Khwaja, Col.(R) Ejaz Nazim, Dr. Pervaiz Vandal, Dr. Zafar Omer, Dr. Pervez Hassan, Ms. Tanvir Hassan, Ms. Ghazala Rehman, Ms. Azra Hameed, felt that public awareness should be created for the maintenance of such historical monuments particularly as Lahore was historical and cultural capital of Pakistan.

These concerned citizens of Lahore were conscious of the fact that very little had been done for conservation of historical buildings of the city from the time it was attended first by Sher Shah Suri, and then by the British.

It was on 28.1.1984 that Lahore Conservation Society was formed and, on the proposal of Mr. Nayyar Ali Dada, late Zahir ud Deen Khawja was chosen as its first President.

After a series of discussions and slide illustrated lectures and field tours, broad outlines of conservation strategy was chalked out. It was assigned the role of a watchdog and a body to create awareness and was registered. Its major success was convincing the Government of the Punjab into promulgation of Special Premises Act 1985 and listing of important buildings under it. The encroachments in front of Jahangir’s [Tomb] were stopped, the highrise blocking the view of Badshahi Mosque was pulled down, so was the pedestrian bridge blocking the view of Chauburji. The Matti Haveli could not be saved, but TOLLINTON was. Upon the sad demise of Khawaja Zahirud Din, it was resolved to give a fresh impetus to the LCS and subsequently elections were held for a new Board of Governers that decided upon Mr. Kamil Khan Mumtaz as President, Ms. Imrana Tiwana as Secretary General, Dr. Ejaz Anwar as Secretary Information and Mr. Muhammad Shafeeq as Treasurer.

With new vigor Lahore Conservation Society looked up at the new challenges with un-daunting resolve. The Rose Tower was the first encounter in the wake of which came the assault on the trees especially along the canal, for which press conferences and on the site demonstrations were planned it was also realized that who-so-ever is sympathetic to the case of Lahore is in fact Lahore Conservation Society unto oneself and therefore all were welcomed. It may be proudly mention that A.I.A.P under the brave daughter of the soil, Imrana Tiwana had warded off designs on a Lahore High Court block. It was decided to include all the like aimed organizations under a broader umbrella of Lahore Bachao. The response was immense in form of investment of time, energy, ideas and generous donations.

(The above includes excerpt from the writings of legendary photo-journalist Mr. F. E. Chaudhary)