The Picture Wall conservation project at Lahore Fort is among the most ambitious heritage efforts ever undertaken in Pakistan, both in scale and complexity. This monumental tile mural, especially its northern section located east of the Shah Burj, features intricate panels dating to the Jahangir period. Later, Shah Jehan added to the section of the wall from Shah Burj up to the western façade. These include human figures (possibly royal portraits), depictions of workers, birds, animals, and eventually mythical creatures like mirrored fairies and dragons, foreshadowing the full visual grandeur on the north and west walls of the Shah Burj.

The conservation of the northeast section of the Picture Wall involved detailed documentation, condition assessment, emergency stabilization, and the preservation of tile and fresco work. Detailed scientific testing and analysis as well as experimentation with different materials were conducted for each section. The conservation approach combined traditional craftsmanship with scientific techniques. All historic craftwork was carefully stabilized using appropriate methods. The work also included the reconstruction of missing tilework and pigeonholes, completion of brick repairs, and precise application of façade plastering.

All sources of water ingress in the façade and related structures were either rerouted or sealed where rerouting was not possible. Excavation revealed the original Mughal floor level, circa six feet (2m) below the current ground level, leading to the removal of later infill and the construction of soakage wells. These wells now divert thousands of gallons of water annually into the aquifer, supporting groundwater recharge. Newly installed electrification and illumination has been particularly designed to highlight the site’s features for nighttime viewing.