The Punjab government has developed the first comprehensive long-term conservation strategy for the UNESCO World Heritage Property of Taxila, replacing decades of fragmented restoration with an integrated management program designed to safeguard one of South Asia’s most important archaeological landscapes.
According to official documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the initiative marks a fundamental shift from isolated restoration projects to an integrated heritage management framework for the wider Taxila World Heritage Property, with major conservation interventions undertaken at the ancient sites of Mohra Moradu and Sirkap.
The programme aims to safeguard the authenticity, integrity and Outstanding Universal Value of Taxila while ensuring its sustainable preservation for future generations.
The World Heritage Property has suffered for decades from natural deterioration, incompatible restoration methods, moisture damage, uncontrolled vegetation, erosion and increasing environmental pressures.
Previous conservation efforts were often undertaken independently without an overarching management framework, while the use of reinforced concrete and cement in earlier repairs adversely affected the historic fabric of several monuments.
To address these challenges, the Punjab government commissioned The Urban Unit to prepare Taxila’s first comprehensive master plan, followed by an implementation programme developed by NESPAK.
The strategy integrates archaeological research, structural conservation, environmental management, museum development, visitor facilities, digital documentation, accessibility improvements and institutional capacity building within a multidisciplinary framework.
The conservation programme began at Mohra Moradu, one of the finest Buddhist monastic complexes of the Gandhara period, where reinforced concrete structures installed over the Main Votive Stupa were removed and replaced with a lightweight protective shelter designed in accordance with internationally recognised conservation principles.
The project also introduced accessibility measures by creating a discreet earthen ramp for persons with disabilities without disturbing the site’s original stone staircase.
Archaeological investigations uncovered the monastery’s original drainage system and rediscovered a historic sacred water well, improving site preservation while enhancing archaeological understanding.
At Sirkap, conservation teams removed extensive vegetation and accumulated debris that had concealed archaeological remains and accelerated structural deterioration.
Conservation work focused on stabilising vulnerable masonry using compatible materials and minimum-intervention techniques rather than speculative reconstruction.
For the first time, the conservation programme was supported by comprehensive scientific documentation, including archival research, archaeological investigations, Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, three-dimensional laser scanning, structural condition surveys, Heritage Impact Assessments and material compatibility studies, providing a technical baseline for future monitoring and conservation.
The programme has also resulted in the preparation of Taxila’s first Conservation Management Plan, establishing long-term policies for conservation, maintenance, visitor management, disaster preparedness, environmental monitoring and institutional coordination.
The programme also strengthened legal and spatial protection through the delineation of buffer zones around component sites.
In addition, proposals were developed to improve visitor facilities, interpretation, site presentation and museum display facilities to better present the site’s historical significance.
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