ISLAMABAD, Aug 3 (ABC): The Punjab government has developed the first comprehensive long-term conservation strategy for the UNESCO World Heritage Property of Taxila, replacing decades of fragmented restoration with an integrated management programme to protect one of South Asia’s most important archaeological landscapes.
According to official documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the initiative marks a shift from isolated restoration projects to an integrated heritage management framework for the wider Taxila World Heritage Property. The programme includes major conservation work at the ancient sites of Mohra Moradu and Sirkap.
The strategy aims to preserve the authenticity, integrity and Outstanding Universal Value of Taxila while ensuring its sustainable conservation for future generations.
Long-term conservation strategy
According to the documents, the World Heritage Property has suffered for decades from natural deterioration, moisture damage, erosion, uncontrolled vegetation and incompatible restoration methods.
Previous conservation work was carried out without a comprehensive management framework. The use of reinforced concrete and cement in earlier repairs also damaged the historic fabric of several monuments.
To address these challenges, the Punjab government commissioned The Urban Unit to prepare Taxila’s first master plan. NESPAK later developed the implementation programme.
The strategy combines archaeological research, structural conservation, environmental management, museum development, visitor facilities, digital documentation, accessibility improvements and institutional capacity building.
Restoration at key heritage sites
The conservation programme began at Mohra Moradu, one of the finest Buddhist monastic complexes of the Gandhara period.
The project removed reinforced concrete structures from the Main Votive Stupa and replaced them with a lightweight protective shelter designed according to internationally recognised conservation principles.
The programme also improved accessibility by constructing a discreet earthen ramp for persons with disabilities without affecting the site’s original stone staircase.
Archaeological investigations uncovered the monastery’s original drainage system and rediscovered a historic sacred water well, improving both preservation and archaeological understanding.
At Sirkap, conservation teams cleared extensive vegetation and debris that had concealed archaeological remains and accelerated structural deterioration.
The work focused on stabilising vulnerable masonry with compatible materials and minimum-intervention techniques instead of speculative reconstruction.
Scientific documentation and future management
According to the documents, the programme introduced comprehensive scientific documentation for the first time.
The work included archival research, archaeological investigations, Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, three-dimensional laser scanning, structural condition surveys, Heritage Impact Assessments and material compatibility studies. These measures provide a technical baseline for future monitoring and conservation.
The programme also resulted in Taxila’s first Conservation Management Plan. The plan establishes long-term policies for conservation, maintenance, visitor management, disaster preparedness, environmental monitoring and institutional coordination.
In addition, the programme strengthened legal and spatial protection by defining buffer zones around component sites. It also proposed improvements to visitor facilities, interpretation, site presentation and museum displays to better showcase Taxila’s historical significance.
