LUMS has launched a major initiative, Heritage at LUMS, aimed at preserving, digitising, and reimagining Pakistan’s cultural memory for future generations. The launch event, held on September 26 at the university, brought together faculty, students, and members of the wider community to explore the importance of connecting the region’s future with its past. The initiative reflects an urgent recognition of Pakistan’s extraordinary yet fragile heritage, much of which faces the risk of being lost without coordinated preservation efforts.
The event began with an address by Dr. Ali Khan, Dean of the Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani School of Humanities and Social Sciences, who emphasized the intellectual and cultural value of heritage preservation. Faculty members including Dr. Ali Raza, Dr. Ali Usman Qasmi, Dr. Nadhra S.N. Khan, Dr. Suleman Shahid, and Dr. Murtaza Taj presented their extensive work spanning over a decade. Their projects combine expertise in the humanities with innovations in computer science, covering digitisation of archives and monuments, immersive exhibitions, and sound collections. This multidisciplinary approach highlights the university’s role in developing methods that not only safeguard heritage but also make it more accessible and meaningful for contemporary audiences.
Among the highlights of the launch was the unveiling of Icons of Devotion: Jain Artefacts in the Lahore Museum, a detailed catalogue that brings attention to a rare and often overlooked collection. Developed through extensive archival research and object study, the catalogue was the product of collaboration between students, faculty, and museum staff. The effort included tracing the origins of artefacts, analyzing inscriptions, and curating narratives that help place the Jain tradition within Pakistan’s wider cultural history. The formal presentation of this catalogue to the Director of the Lahore Museum symbolized the spirit of institutional partnership and knowledge-sharing at the core of the initiative.
In his remarks, Vice Chancellor Dr. Ali Cheema underlined the wider significance of this work, stressing that heritage should not be seen as only about preserving the past but as something essential to shaping the way society thinks about its future. Faculty members echoed this sentiment, presenting heritage as a living narrative that informs identity, fosters collective memory, and connects communities across generations. By positioning cultural preservation within both academic and civic contexts, Heritage at LUMS demonstrates how universities can play a leading role in bridging scholarship with community engagement.
Heritage at LUMS also connects national and international collaborations, creating opportunities for research partnerships, training, and knowledge exchange in the fields of history, art, and digital humanities. With its emphasis on digitisation and new media, the initiative allows Pakistan’s cultural treasures to reach broader audiences, ensuring their survival and relevance in the digital age. By preserving monuments, archives, artefacts, and intangible heritage, the program creates both educational resources and pathways for creative reinterpretation. For students, it provides hands-on exposure to methods of documentation, curation, and digital archiving, equipping them with skills relevant for heritage projects at both local and global scales.
By giving renewed voice to stories that risk being forgotten, Heritage at LUMS reaffirms the country’s commitment to valuing its rich but vulnerable cultural legacy. It positions LUMS as a hub for cultural preservation and digital innovation, connecting the university’s scholarship to broader efforts of ensuring that Pakistan’s heritage remains alive and accessible in contemporary society.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
