Lahore, 25 November 2021 (TDI): A six-member delegation of the State Historical Architectural Reserve from Baku are on a visit to Lahore.

The State Historical Architectural Reserve Icherishehar delegation arrived in Lahore on 23rd November and was warmly welcomed by the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WLCA). Asgar Alakbarov, Chairman of the board of the State Historical Architectural Reserve Icherishehar is leading the delegation. Asgar thanked Kamran Lashari, Director of WLCA, for his hospitality on their arrival.

The delegation on its first day was given a tour of the Wagah Border, where the delegation experienced the lowering of flags ceremony. Earlier today the delegation visited the National College of Arts, toured around the campus, and interacted with the students.

Later in the evening, a formal ceremony was arranged at the historic Huzoori Bagh. There, both the parties signed a ‘Protocol of Friendship and Cooperation. Director Kamran Lashari hosted a dinner for the visiting delegation.

About WLCA

The ‘Sustainable Development of the Walled City of Lahore’ was an initial project launched in 2006 as a joint venture by the Government of Punjab and the World Bank. Later in 2007, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture was taken aboard which facilitated the execution of the project and in technical assistance. Eventually, in 2012 under the Walled City of Lahore Authority Act the WLCA was established as an autonomous body.

The WLCA aims to protect and preserve the heritage and tangible and intangible culture of the old city of Lahore by providing formal legal frameworks and special institutional arrangements.

The 6 member delegation touring around NCA

Icherishehar or the Walled City of Baku on the other hand is also a vibrant walled which has been well preserved as a heritage site of Azerbaijan and such cultural exchanges between both cities signify a promising future.

Azerbaijan and Pakistan

The WLCA and State Historical Architectural Reserve of Azerbaijan’s signing of the protocol have been welcomed by Pakistan’s Foreign Office. Baku and Islamabad have strong brotherly diplomatic ties. Pakistan was the first country to recognize Azerbaijan as a sovereign nation in the early 1990s and is the only country that doesn’t recognize Armenia.

Similarly, Baku has also always supported Islamabad’s stance on important international issues like that of Kashmir. This coordination between the State Historical Architectural Reserve and WLCA can be viewed as a very positive move that will further strengthen cultural ties between both the friendly countries.