Sindh, Pakistan's second largest province with 30.44 million inhabitants has always been the country's most urbanized region; but its urban population is un-evenly distributed -i.e. 71% concentrating in only three major cities. This imbalanced urban growth is the result of disproportional distribution of development investments through public or private sector establishments. Additionally the natural resources have been mismanaged drastically creating socio-economic disparity, poverty alleviation and urban-rural divide in the region. Seeds of these problems are accredited to colonial period changes; further worsened by latter 20 th century developments transforming the landscape. Lack of participatory community involvement in development processes, insensitive spoliation of natural resources and a disregard for traditional built fabric has resulted in loss of unique historic environments; craving for recognition as invaluable regional resources. This paper seeks to instigate a consciousness towards significance of historic urban centers, identify directions to reinstate their value as historic, economic and environmental assets, and gauge their potentials for a possible revival directed towards restructuring a balanced and sustained urbanization in the region.

NED University of Engineering and Technology originated in 1922 from what is now known as its ‘City Campus’ or ‘Old Campus’ located in the hub of Karachi’s historic areas. Shifting of university campus to its present location on University Road in 1975 led to the abandonment of this historic site for more than twenty years; adversely affecting the structures due to neglect and disuse. In 1997 NED City Campus was declared as a listed heritage of Karachi given protection under the Sindh Cultural Heritage Preservation Act 1994. In 2000, realizing its importance as an invaluable asset the NED university’s Department of Architecture and Planning conceptualized the vision for restoring this campus and putting it to use; not only on grounds of its historic significance but also for reasons of sustainability, environmental enhancement and regeneration of historic fabric. Restoration of NED City Campus is envisioned with an approach of minimal interventions and respect to the original setting, layout and materials of construction; closely following the international principles of heritage conservation. The approach is to achieve optimum utilization of campus premises primarily as an educational hub; but additionally introducing a variety of ancillary activities to facilitate extended usage of the property. Being an extensive undertaking the project is planned and being executed in phases; the first major phase being the restoration of ‘Bai Puribai Becharbhai and Bercharbhai Raichand Block’. This paper gives an overview of this first phase, with a focus on interventions carried out to consolidate the existing structural members of the historic building.

An international conference on “Asian Urban Heritage,” organized by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Thailand Association, took place in the city of Phuket 15–17 October, 2011. The conference was organized and hosted in collaboration with Phuket Province, Phuket Municipality, the Thai Perankan Association, Phuket Old Town Community, Old Phuket Town Foundation, Department of Architecture–Chulangkorn University and the Department of Architecture–Thammasat University. The conference invited papers on five subthemes: Heritage Management, Legal Protection and Incentives, Historic Urban Landscapes, Climate Change and Disaster Prevention, and Industrial Heritage.

To my parents: the cherished memories of my mother, the fostering support of my father Table of Contents List of Acronyms Glossary of Local Terms Acknowledgements Author's Note 1 Shikarpoor Historic Town Introduction, Background and Development Historical Background The Daudpotas

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