Yasmeen Lari
The Heritage Foundation of Pakistan is a non-profit organization based in Karachi, established in 1980 by architect and conservationist Yasmeen Lari and historian Sohail Lari as a conservation practice. The foundation is dedicated to documenting and conserving Pakistan’s traditional and historic built environment, creating awareness of the country’s rich and diverse architectural and artistic heritage, and promoting cultural heritage as a tool for social integration, peace, and development.
The foundation is actively involved in a range of humanitarian and conservation initiatives. Among these is the construction of low-cost, low-carbon bamboo shelters for communities affected by floods in Pakistan. Designed for rapid assembly using rope and reed mats for roofing, these shelters are supported by accessible YouTube guides produced by the foundation to enable quick and widespread construction.
In addition to disaster relief, the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan works to develop and sustain vernacular architectural traditions, particularly in the Sindh region. The foundation advocates for understanding tradition as a continuous process of accumulated knowledge, evolving through both modification and intervention.
The Heritage Foundation of Pakistan has received several international recognitions, including the UN Recognition Award for the Promotion of Culture and Peace (2002), the Islamic Development Bank Prize (2013), and the World Habitat Award (2018).
