MANDATE OF BALTIT HERITAGE TRUST

Meaning of 'heritage':  features belonging to the culture of a particular society, such as traditions, languages, or buildings, that were created in the past and still have historical importance: According to the Oxford Dictionary, heritage is defined as “property that is or may be inherited”, “valued objects and qualities such as historic buildings and cultural traditions that have been passed down from previous generations”, “denoting or relating to things of special architectural, historical, or natural value that are preserved for the nation”, “a special or individual possession”, and “Christians, or the ancient Israelites, seen as God’s chosen people” 1.
Linked Presentation

BHT:
You must have heard about the famous Baltit Fort of Hunza but how much do you really know about this architectural monument of historic importance and the purpose of restoration by the AKDN in 1996? 

AKTC became active in the north of Pakistan in 1989, in response to concerns that the unique culture of the area was under threat due to developments that followed the completion of the Karakoram Highway in 1978.  Increased accessibility to remote valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan, which were part of the old Central Asian Silk Road but which had remained inaccessible to vehicular traffic, coupled with the impact of tourism, introduced a rapid transformation of local customs and economic patterns.  These changes called for a new strategies and procedures that were capable of steering ongoing rapid change.

The conservation of the Baltit Fort – the earliest elements of which date back more than 700 years – and the stabilisation of the historic core of the village of Karimabad - historically BALTIT - in the Hunza Valley, were the Trust’s first major interventions in Pakistan. The project was finished in 1996, but conservation efforts continued. The AKTC’s country affiliate, the Aga Khan Cultural Service-Pakistan (AKCSP), was formed in 1991.

Baltit Fort is now a museum

After the restoration of Baltit Fort in 1996, the fort was opened for public. It is now being managed by the Baltit Heritage Trust. An estimated 15,000 people visit the Baltit Fort every year which includes locals, domestic and foreign visitors.

It took 6 years to renovate the Baltit Fort

The fort was renovated by Aga Khan Cultural Services for Pakistan (AKCSP) and opened for public in September 1996. The restoration work of Baltit Fort took AKCSP about six years to complete with the support of Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC). The fort was inaugurated after restoration by His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan and then president of Pakistan Mr. Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari.

The Fort remains open all year round and seven days a week, with the idea of being a self-sustaining cultural centre supported by the sale of entry tickets, souvenirs and generous donations of individuals and organizations entrusted to the promotion and preservation of cultural and historical heritage of this part of world.

 "I have summarized for you here a complex array of information, hoping that it may spur attention and interest, especially in discussing not only the “what” of cultural development but also the “how.” Whether it be in Asia, Africa or the Middle East, in high mountain or coastal areas, in urban or rural environments, in peaceful or post-conflict situations, the case is proven in my mind that cultural development can contribute, in unique and distinctive ways, to the human aspiration for a better quality of life. And that of course, precisely, should be the objective of the post 2015 development agenda.
SPEECH DELIVERED BY His Highness the Aga Khan, LOCATION Hangzhou, China (15 May 2013)
FEATURED SITE

Hunza Cultural Forum Islamabad and BHT: 

Baltit heritage trust is the main institution in Hunza towards preservation and promotion of heritage of hunza. Now we have the son of soil heading this organization that gives us the hope that the trust will provide the needed impetus even to the diaspora. My advocacy: Hunza Heritage through BHT chair.

Prof Maj Gen Salman Ali HI(M)

• Chaiman BHT
• MBBS(KE), FCPS(PAK),FCPS(BD),FRCP(London)
• PRINCIPAL AND PROFESSOR OF PAEDIATRICS
• Fazaia Medical College Islamabad,
• Senior Vice President The College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan
• Member National Bioethics Committee and
• National Immunisation committee technical group Ministry of National health services and regulations Islamabad
• Member expert Committee Pakistan Paediatric Association
• Patron National neonatal division of Pakistan Paediatric Association 

"Strengthen faith through culture" - based on:

  REORIENTATION - Ordained by the Imam since 2000 - Details on:

                (1)   Book - "Where Hope Takes Root" authored by MHI. 

                (2)    TALIM CURRICULUM -the relevant beliefs now available through the TALIM

                         curriculum rather than the POLLUTED forms of "DAS AVTAR" scripture compiled by

                         Pir Saddruddin or Wajh-e-Din/Zadul-Musafirin compiled by Pir Nasir-e-Khisraw.

                  (3)    CIVIL SOCIETY LEARNING PUBLICATIONS.

                  (4)    THE ISMAILI CONSTITUTION

                  (5)    WEBCAST -11th July 2017

a.     Starting step: On line availability of collections on heritage of Hunza in BHT library.

b.     Initiation of programs and projects 

How can anyone participate and contribute towards the MANDATE: Open the document on this link and update with your input, be it an audio clip, a video, a saying, historical event etc - anything that deals with culture/civilization of past, present or the thoughts for future.

Response to THE COMING “MEGA DISASTER” IN HUNZA - Karim Rehmat

What each one of us contributing towards a positive development is more important. An institutional challenge requiring collective effort. Remember we can pool the efforts through Baltit Heritage Trust - one of the primary institutions with the mandate, which should be trusted as an anchor for Hunza.

ROLE OF CULTURE, AKDN PHILOSOPHY ALLTHINGS HUNZA