Saving Heritage of Gilgit-Baltistan

 

    Heritage is one of our most important assets. It is both our inheritance and our future. Heritage is a living thing which describes our origins and informs our understanding of who we are today. Heritage helps to define for a community a sense of place and identity. It can contribute to feelings of connectedness, and community pride and confidence. Heritage can excite curiosity about our past and enrich our daily lives.

            Occasionally, heritage preservation is portrayed as being opposed to economic growth. But this is misleading. Conservation is not a waste of money. In fact, heritage preservation makes very sound economic sense.

            Preservation of the architectural heritage is considered a fundamental issue in the life of modern societies. In addition to their historical interest, cultural heritage buildings are valuable because they contribute significantly to the economy by providing key attractions in a context where tourism and leisure are major industries in the 3rd millennium.

    The need of preserving historical constructions is thus not only a cultural requirement, but also an economical and developmental demand. In cases where historic preservation has been ignored, a community’s connection to the past is lost. Their foundation is removed and with it goes pride and a sense of belonging.

Comments