Editorial

Zahida Quadri- Editor

The utmost purpose of heritage is preservation. Preservation, for today and forever. Although circumstances, climate effects, and policies sometimes intervene, and the objective does not serve the purpose. Keeping it in view, the present issue of Sindh Antiquities Vol-06, No: 02-2020 focuses on the risk study that most of the heritage property in Pakistan is facing. This issue begins with departmental reports. These are risk mitigation studies conducted by the Directorate General of Antiquities & Archaeology, Government of Sindh with the assistance of field experts and specialized universities of Pakistan to understand the exposure of heritage to danger. Papers presented in this volume vary in theme, a few of them focus directly on risk preparedness, some reference related issues, including the importance of maintenance and some have discussed the connections and problems between heritage and threats to the heritage. These papers also highlight the limitations in the management, preservation, and conservation of heritage property in Pakistan and have identified possible solutions to these issues, including the legality of existing heritage laws. This issue has emphasized understanding the relationship of heritage properties with its surrounding forces and examining it from a grassroots perspective. The number 02 of Volume 6 is an attempt to provide an understanding of the phenomena that decaying the heritage building and has recommended appropriate interventions that mitigate their deterioration to length the lifespan. The preservation methodology adopted in almost all the heritage properties in Pakistan is critically examined in this publication which overlooked the human-centered approaches and separated the two in the process of managing heritage properties, similarly, the landscape around heritage properties has also been neglected while maintaining its historic values. The case of Empress Market and an account of Interventions in the Traditional Historical Buildings will be an interesting read which explores the development of the surrounding vicinity and its contribution to the historical setup of built heritage. Also, the alteration and adaptation in the built heritage. conservation process is the part of discussion throughout this publication which disfigured the heritage property, and its structural elements, as a result, building materials start deteriorating at a faster rate. This issue is not just limited to risk studies, but it has another account of the period, ‘Chaukandi Graveyard’ in Karachi: Historical Background by
Dr. Kaleemullah Lashari, Ph.D., SI, a treat for historians who are interested in funerary architecture and their inter-tribal relationship. This number has a voice from the Mascarene Islands seated in the Southwestern Indian Ocean, discussing explorations, and biological invasion, and highlighting the consequent threats and loss of biodiversity focusing on Mauritius. Another interesting read will be a study on petroglyphs of northern and north-western Pakistan by Dr. Zahir Mohammad that have elements of the
Gandharan stupa and Chinese pagoda constructions tradition To this end, the present number of Sindh Antiquities is an attempt to openly discuss and showcase problems in heritage maintenance and management. However, this has not covered yet the stores of several unused buildings that are decaying rapidly. The frescos on the walls of tombs and monuments, artifacts stored in reserves, the wound inside religious heritage like temples and churches, or the furniture of historic houses are also subject to decay where the adverse weather has its effect on the other hand. Hence, it’s a concern of major neglect. Nowadays, it is also expensive to keep the heritage in a good state. There is a need to study heritage in the context of the “present”. We, therefore, feel the need to involve critical heritage studies in Sindh Antiquities, emphasizing risk elements. It is hoped that this number will increase the interest of archaeologists, heritage practitioners, and researchers in critical studies of heritage with the connection of present social and cultural values. 

 

 

 

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