ABSTRACT
Effective management of heritage assets in Pakistan remains subject to many challenges and setbacks; either due to the redundant ‘colonial’ period practices overbearingly influenced by monument-centric approaches rooted in the system, or arising from conflicting rifts created by religious, political, sectarian, or ethnic polarities injected in the society. A consensus on what forms the crux of Pakistan’s heritage representations is yet to be matured enough to encompass the real flavor of enriching diversity that the country holds within the scope of its cultural traditions. This representation gap is visible in policies, regulations, and administrative routines applied to historic environments. Using select case studies, this chapter looks into prevailing trends within public and private sector practices, and their impact on the well-being, or otherwise, of heritage resources. The analyzed purview reflects on the often compromised sanctity and authenticity of heritage sites that have become an accepted norm due to the lack of a professional approach based on scientific principles of internationally accepted standards.
