Aleppo, July 24 (SANA)Authorities in Aleppo are moving ahead with plans to restore the city’s UNESCO-listed Old City, aiming to preserve its historic character, revive centuries-old markets and encourage residents to return as part of broader efforts to support economic recovery, a local official said on Thursday.Abdul Hamid Dahna, director of theOld City Directorate in Aleppo Governorate, told Syria’s Al-Ikhbariya TV that restoration work is underway on five historic markets and several landmark buildings damaged during years of war.The projects, scheduled under the 2025-2026 restoration plan, include the rehabilitation of the Al-Attarin, Al-Battiya, Al-Sarmatiya, Istanbul and Al-Joukh markets. Crews are also clearing debris, reopening access routes and stabilizing damaged heritage structures, including the Shadbakhtiya and Halawiya schools. Restoration of the Halawiya School is expected to begin in 2027.Dahna saidthe Aga Khan Trust for Culturehas played a central role in the restoration effort. The organization began operating in Syria in 1999 and has carried out conservation projects around the Aleppo Citadel and parts of the Old City’s historic markets since 2006, based on studies designed to meet international heritage preservation standards.He described the restoration of the historic markets as a highly complex process, comparing it to “surgery” because of the extensive destruction suffered by some sites, several of which were completely destroyed. He said reconstruction requires detailed engineering and archaeological studies before work can begin and continues to face challenges, including funding constraints and the impact of exchange-rate fluctuations over recent years.Restoringthe Old City’s historic marketsis not only about preserving cultural heritage but also about reviving Aleppo’s economy, Dahna said. Historically, the city served as a major commercial hub at the crossroads of the Silk Road and regional trade routes, and restoring its markets is expected to help stimulate economic activity across Aleppo and northern Syria.He added that the Old City Directorate is working with the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums to ensure restoration complies with internationally recognized conservation principles while safeguarding the city’s historic character. Encouraging residents to return to the Old City remains a priority, he said, describing their presence as essential to restoring the area’s vitality.Earlier on Thursday,Aleppo Deputy Governor Ali Hannouramet a delegation from the Aga Khan Development Network, led by its Syria Executive Director Mohannad Obeido, to discuss ongoing restoration projects in the governorate and plans to expand them. The two sides also reviewed progress on conservation work at the Aleppo Citadel under a project funded by the network.