LAHORE: Work on the restoration of the historic Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens has resumed on the orders of Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, official sources said here yesterday.

The Parks and Horticulture Authority had abandoned the project on September 1 without informing the Punjab government. Official sources say Elahi had taken a serious notice of PHA’s sudden pullout and directed its new head to carry out the work to the satisfaction of the provincial archaeology department.

They said the PHA had been given 30 days to plant certain saplings, replace grass in different areas with the one recommended by experts, remove debris and improve overall condition of the Shalamar Garden lawns.

"After completing the work, the PHA staff will remain at the disposal of the archaeology department for at least three months to carry out any assignment asked by the latter," they added.

Archaeology department director-general Orya Maqbool Jan said the department had never been satisfied with the PHA work since the launch of the over Rs36mn project in the 2004-05 fiscal.

He said the department had spent $50,000 and engaged 18 experts for the preparation of a study regarding the restoration of both monuments but the authority was least bothered to execute the project on its lines.

Jan said the department’s main concern was the growth of the grass in Shalamar Gardens. "We want the Mughal period soil to be dug for the growth of grass but the PHA was totally averse to the proposal."

Under the contract, the PHA was supposed to restore and maintain the lawns of the Shalamar Gardens and Lahore Fort, measuring 38 acres and 25 acres, respectively. The restoration and maintenance included scrapping of four inches dead surface of the lawns, irrigation system, removal of debris, supply of canal silt, purchase of pesticides, urea, DAP, grass, seasonal flower seeds and earthen pots.

Even at the time the contract was being awarded to PHA, the document did not bear the signatures of the archaeology department’s director general.- Internews