Wazir Khan Mosque: Conservation of the North Facade

The congregational Mosque of Wazir Khan was built in 1634-35 CE (AH 1044-45), by Hakim ‘Ilm ud Din Ansari, famously known as Wazir Khan, the governor of Punjab during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. Constructed over a period of seven years,Wazir Khan Mosque stands apart in the sheer scale of its decorative features, which display the sublime artistic skill of the period and the diversity of its cultural influences. The complex includes the Mosque itself, the introductory space of the Chowk Wazir Khan, and a double row of shops integrated in the entrance system meant specifically for calligraphers and bookbinders. It also includes additional shops on the eastern and northern façade built into the body of the monument, a caravanserai, a public bathhouse (the Shahi Hammam), open land and two wells all bequeathed to the Mosque by Wazir Khan for its upkeep and maintenance.

In 2009, Aga Khan Cultural Service-Pakistan (AKCS-P) carried out a comprehensive documentation, condition and risk assessment of the mosque, followed by a technical report published in 2012. Work on the rehabilitation of the urban square by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) began in October 2015.

This brohure showcases the work of the Aga Khan Cultural Service-Pakistan to restore the north facade of the Mosque.

Wazir Khan Mosque: Conservation of the North Facade. Aga Khan Cultural Service - Pakistan: Lahore, 2023.

Aga Khan Cultural Service - Pakistan