The Endowment Fund Trust for Preservation of the Heritage of Sindh, in collaboration with the Herald Magazine and the Mohatta Palace Museum, organized a discussion, Critical Heritage: The Future of Pakistan’s Past, at the Mohatta Palace Museum, Clifton, Karachi on December 11, 2011.
Architect Kamil Khan Mumtaz, the keynote speaker, in his address, dilating on the subject of culture, was of the view that it is our value system which defines who or where we are; where we are coming from and where we wanted to go. On identity and tradition, he deliberated on questions like ‘Who and where am I? What is man? What is the cosmos?’ that needed to be addressed. He pointed out that modernism had reduced the issue between matter and mind, and made the physical world a primary reality, whereas the metaphysical world existed in the mind, a reflection of material realities.
Kamil Khan Mumtaz maintained that history could not be objective or unbiased; narratives preceded history. According to him in modernist discourse, progress was a linear process and development equated with economic growth. This development paradigm was a man made construct, and that knowledge allowed man to dominate nature. He claimed heritage was everything from the past – a pile of junk, a treasure trove or even a symbol.
Conservationist Dr. Anila Naeem gave a presentation on the historic city of Shikarpur. According to her, havelis were the most important building type of the town. She said the major threat vis-à-vis heritage in Shikarpur was the rapid demolition of old buildings.
Architect Sajjad Kausar made a presentation on the Shalimar Gardens. He lamented that despite efforts made to restore the site, no attempt has been made to restore its symbolism.
Architect and Trustee EFT Yasmeen Lari spoke of the Heritage Foundation and her efforts in restoring and preserving sites in Pakistan. She cited the successful restoration of Sethi House in Peshawar and the Edward House in Karachi.
Herald published a special Heritage issue in January, 2012 highlighting issues.
