The Khilwat Khana Chambers are located directly below the Shah Burj forecourt and the Khilwat Khana Quadrangle of the World Heritage Site of Lahore Fort. The historic chambers cover an area of about 625m2 (6,727 ft2), with thirty-three or more interlinked rooms, passages and stairs defining the area.

In 2007, the Government of Punjab (Gopb) and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) began a decade-long urban conservation initiative in the Walled City of Lahore. Since then, with the help of various donor agencies, Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan (AKCSP), in partnership with Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) have spearheaded many projects including the restoration of the Picture Wall, Summer Palace, and Royal Kitchens located in the World Heritage Site of Lahore Fort.

In July 2022, an agreement between the Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) and the Government of Punjab (Gopb) was signed. As per the agreement, the general objective of the “Heritage and Urban Regeneration: Tourism Development in Lahore Fort and its Buffer Zone” (HURL) project is to contribute to tourism development through heritage conservation, new facilities, and urban regeneration in the Lahore Fort. Amongst the first few components of the extensive project is the complete rehabilitation of the Sard Khana Basements.

As per the masterplan for the Lahore Fort, which is simultaneously being developed, it is proposed that visitors be allowed to walk through a section of the Khilwat Khana basements, where some spaces will be equipped with audio-visual elements and other spaces will display information related to the history and evolution of the interlinked rooms and passages. The structures will be structurally consolidated and carefully conserved while also addressing significant water percolation and drainage concerns. It is expected that this component of the HURL project will be completed by June 2025, at an estimated cost of about PKR 88.81 million. The document consists of the following chapters:

Chapter 2 outlines the aims to boost tourism by preserving heritage, introducing new amenities, and revamping Lahore Fort's urban landscape. One of its initial components is the restoration of the Khilwat Khana chambers, consisting of three levels of interconnected underground chambers within the fort's Khilwat Khana Quadrangle. These chambers have been altered multiple times throughout history. The document's objectives include documenting the chambers, proposing their adaptive reuse and conservation, defining the scope of work, and providing a budget.

Chapter 3 discusses the significance of the Khilwat Khana site as a repository of historical and evidential value. It covers the site's history, its importance, historical sources, and the changes and interventions that have occurred over time. Additionally, it describes the current conditions of the chambers and provides detailed accounts of the changes made in history with supporting visual evidence.

Chapter 4 encompasses the site's condition assessment and thorough architectural and digital documentation. This involves recording the current state of the spaces through detailed drawings, plans, elevations, cross-sections, high-resolution photography, and historical research. The documentation, investigation, and analysis are crucial for the current project and will also serve as a valuable record for future works on the chambers.

Chapter 5 outlines the scope of work for the conservation and adaptive reuse of the chambers. The masterplan for Lahore Fort proposes allowing visitors to explore a section of the Khilwat Khana basements, featuring audio-visual elements and historical displays. The structures will be consolidated and conserved, addressing water percolation and drainage issues. Visitors will access the basements from the top level of the Khilwat Khana Quadrangle through a new entrance structure. Conservation proposals have been developed for the Khilwat Khana chambers, divided into levels 0, 1, and 2, and the entryway structure at level 3. The scope of work includes cleaning, stabilising, and conserving interior surfaces, as well as external conservation and electrical and illumination services. A detailed work plan outlines the conservation and adaptive reuse efforts, including timelines for completion.

Chapter 6 covers the safety protocols implemented at the site to ensure its safety. A Hazard Identification Risk Assessment (HIRA) identified specific risks such as structural stability concerns, inadequate lighting, limited access, communication challenges, ventilation issues, slip and trip hazards, and potential contamination from soil. To mitigate these risks, measures were implemented, including additional structural support, a robust electrical distribution system, thorough lighting, emergency alarm systems, safety signage, additional emergency exit routes, ventilation fans, fumigation, disinfection, repairs to damaged stairs, and checklists for personal protective equipment (PPE) use.The chapter also outlines future plans for training and managing health and safety.

Chapter 7 includes the estimated total budget. The budget is divided into categories such as Human Resources (HR), Consultancies, Manpower, Materials, and Office Operational Costs. This breakdown offers a comprehensive view of how the total cost is distributed among various aspects of the project's conservation process.

Chapter 8 mentions how AKCSP manages its finances by following internationally recognized accounting principles aligned with AKDN financial policies. The project follows a Delegation of Authority (DOA) approved by AKTC, ensuring compliance with financial and procurement policies. All procurement processes will comply with the policies outlined in the attached Annex of the DOA. Additionally, the chapter contains architectural drawings illustrating the current state of the site and plans for its future use.

Report prepared in December 2023.

Aga Khan Cultural Service - Pakistan. Project Document: Khilwat Khana as part of the Heritage and Urban Regeneration: Tourism Development in Lahore Fort and its Buffer Zone. 2023.

Aga Khan Trust for Culture