Cultural Heritage of Pakistan - A Sorrowful Tale!

While Pakistan stands out for its extraordinary military panache and prowess; ironically for the past two decades has been caught up in the midst of terror and turmoil. Where, a lion's share of the budget goes to the Defence of the country and the other pies that needless to mention don't emulate anything close to human development or science and technology or for that matter arts and entertainment. So it may make sense to even a lazy mind why the country finds itself heavily dependent on the funds from other countries for cultural restoration.

Country like Pakistan that is supposed to boast a rich culture and history, finds itself in terrible straits because of the poorest form of preservation. Almost all the historical monuments and archaeological sites in Pakistan bespeak the least amount of interest of the Authorities and the State which are apparently responsible to uphold them.

Underwhelming maintenance or protection of a historical place is exasperating to anyone who has an inclination towards history. Broken tiles, derelict guards, littering by the visitors are the most obvious features of Badshahi Mosque (over 200 years old architecture) in Lahore.

Where Hiroshima rose from the ashes and proved their resilience to the entire world by not only reestablishing what was lost but has also ensured to have the country's historic landmarks saved. With the constant upgrading of worth of million of dollars, it is commendable on how Japan never has believed in quitting on saving what belonged to them and will always be a part of them.

Unfortunately, Pakistan on the other hand is super fast in replacing anything that's archaic with a gaudy shopping mall or a housing project scheme which obviously are more promising ventures in terms of revenues. Country's myopic approach has failed it miserably in drawing global attention towards its history and culture in the manner its neighboring countries have.

Where India and Turkey have tourists swarming from all across the world on daily basis despite having their short comings, Pakistan in absentia of its native people, suffers a huge gap in tourism. Let me assure the reader, its not the country's law and order situation or the political instability, its actually the absence of a structural and procedural design that is at the moment is country's last priority.

Cultural heritage brings a unifying and binding strength among the nation. What was ours is glorious and is worth the care and protection comes from the mindset of a society that is determined to last and sustain while strengthening their roots every passing day. A tree with a stronger roots stands the wind to enjoy the sun.

Treasures of the past are not meant to be overlooked by considering them as a futile part and parcel of the events that have already happened. Rather should be considered as a valuable reminder of what happened, when happened, why happened and how it happened.

Muhammad Bin Qasim in Sind or Alexander the Great in Kalash, Mughal era or British Empire in Lahore or birth of democracy in Pakistan, vestige of Sufism or existence of the shrines - anything that takes us back to the times when people existed for a reason should not be pushed into a black hole of nothingness. It all should be drawn into light whilst protecting it with sincere efforts.

Basing the entire dependency on the foreign fund lenders to have the country's profound cultural heritage intact puts a big question mark on the so-called caretakers of the country. The biggest question it poses is what will happen if the outside interest ceases to take place?

While the state may not be too concerned in handing down almost nothing to the future generations at this very moment but will for sure be remembered and preserved as the most daunting highlight of the country's history by the posterity.

History will not absolve us for our sheer carelessness and lack of interest in it!

About the Author: Believes in herself!