Industrial Legacy of Pakistan and its Identification, Potential, and Recognition

Abstract

The thesis focuses on the recognition and management of industrial heritage in Pakistan. The author's personal motivation, acquired in Pakistan and nurtured in Belgium, led to the initiation of research on Pakistan's industrial legacy and its heritage. The study is formulated in three main parts to understand the concept and significance of international industrial heritage compared to Pakistan. Part 1, titled "The Concept of industrial heritage," explores international perspectives, the origin, and development of industrial heritage charters and policies, current practices, and case studies. It discusses industrialization's history, impact, management, and parallel effects on the Indian subcontinent. It lays the foundation for the main argument of the thesis, i.e., the Industrial legacy of Pakistan, its identification and management, and is based on a literature review. The second part of part 1 delves into the potential of adaptive reuse in preserving industrial landscapes left behind by deindustrialization. It examines the concepts of architectural heritage preservation and conservation in colonial to the post-colonial period. It highlights the need to reevaluate existing legislation to include colonial and post-colonial sites as heritage. It explores the historical milestones in heritage preservation, including the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act of 1904 and subsequent acts and amendments. It discusses the value and recognition of industrial sites as cultural heritage assets in Pakistan and emphasizes the need to recognize industrial heritage alongside archaeological and historical monuments. Part 2 also explores the unique heritage values of industrial sites and their potential for sustainable urban regeneration. It also examines industrial heritage typologies in Pakistan and provides case studies from Karachi and Lahore, including the Karachi Port Site, the PECO factory in Lahore, and the Mughalpura Railway Workshop. The last part of part 2 is the development of an inventory system for the industrial sites in Pakistan. Part 3 delves into the management and potential reuse of industrial heritage. It emphasizes the importance of identifying industrial sites in Pakistan and presents successful international examples of adaptive reuse. The need for a comprehensive inventory system is highlighted, building on effective heritage listing approaches. It underlines the value of repurposing industrial sites to address urban amenity challenges in densely populated cities like Karachi. Additionally, it outlines a course syllabus aimed at promoting knowledge of industrial heritage and adaptive reuse. The section concludes by emphasizing community engagement and collaborative efforts for the preservation and reuse of industrial heritage. The thesis is “Recognition of Industrial Heritage and Method of an inventorying system for industrial sites in Pakistan.” Overall, the thesis aims to raise awareness, promote recognition, and provide guidelines for managing and preserving industrial heritage in Pakistan. It emphasizes the importance of industrial heritage in understanding human civilization and advocates for adaptive reuse to preserve embodied energies and cultural values. The thesis examines the international perspectives on industrial heritage and its preservation and applies this knowledge to the context of Pakistan. It explores industrial site history, management, and adaptive reuse while addressing Pakistan's specific industrial legacy and heritage legislation. The research advocates for recognizing and preserving industrial heritage in Pakistan for its cultural, social, and economic significance. general, discussing the balance between preservation and innovation. It emphasizes the role of adaptive reuse in sustaining historical and cultural values while accommodating modern innovations. It provides case studies of successful adaptive reuse projects, such as the transformation of the Old Port of Montreal, CMine Genk in Belgium, and the Park Spoor Noord in Antwerp, Belgium. Part 2, titled "Industrial Legacy of Pakistan," focuses on the history of industrialization and deindustrialization in Pakistan, general heritage policies and acts, the state of industrial sites, and a proposed method for the identification and archaeology of industrial sites. It presents a historical overview of industrialization and deindustrialization in Pakistan, including the country's pre- and post-partition industrial history. In addition, the industrial revolution, colonization by the British, and the contributions of private entrepreneurs and investors to the industrial infrastructure are discussed. This part provides an overview of the development of heritage legislation in Pakistan, tracing its evolution from the