The rehabilitation of the landscaping surrounding the Khwaja Parsa Shrine at the centre of Balkh focused on providing safe access and improved services and facilities for the public. In order to facilitate better access to the park new pathways and stairs were laid using brick masonry and, where appropriate, existing pathways were improved and made ready for use by large numbers of people. Laborers cleared debris from the site, leveled and graded the earth by hand, before laying 12,000 square meters of brick pathways using lime-mortar base and over 780,000 locally produced bricks. In warmer months, weekly markets selling food, spices, and used trinkets are located within the park and this itinerant commercial use of the site required the upgrading and paving of dedicated areas within the park, allocating fixed hard-surfaces for use by large numbers of people in order to avoid damage to trees and plants.
This final report documents the approach, methodology and processes employed by the
Aga Khan Cultural Services-Afghanistan to restore this important monument.
Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture
Aga Khan Cultural Service - Afghanistan
