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Pakistan documents 16 temples for conservation

LAHORE: For the first time since a number of temples were damaged in this eastern Pakistani city in reaction to the demolition of the Babri mosque in India in 1992, the archaeology department has documented some 16 Hindu shrines for conservation.

Only one shrine in Lahore — the famous Krishna temple — is currently functional and some 300 or so Hindus gather there for major festivals such as Diwali.

Three other temples Maharashi Guru Balmik Swami at Nila Gumbad, Taxali and another one inside Bhatti Gate are being taken care of by some families.

Unlike the Krishna temple, the other shrines have no patronage from the Evacuee Trust Property Board, a government body that is primarily responsible for the maintenance of gurdwaras and temples across Pakistan and for facilitating visiting pilgrims from India and other parts of the world.

Punjab Archaeology Department director Shahbaz Khan said that the temples were places of worship and an integral part of Pakistan’s heritage that should be conserved.

“We have documented some 16 temples damaged in 1992 and they can be restored with a budget of not more than Rs. 10 million [$1,25,000],” Mr. Khan told PTI.

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