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Sindh govt gets control of archaeological sites Karachi (PPI): Federal government has transferred administrative control of 130 archeological sites of Sindh province to the Government of Sindh, and a separate department in the provincial government is established in this connection, said Provincial Minister for Culture and Tourism, Sassui Palejo here on Thursday. Addressing a crowded news conference along with Chief Secretary Sindh Fazlur Rehman, Secretary Culture and Tourism Shams Jaferani and Secretary of newly established Sindh Archeology Department, Dr Kalim Lashari at New Sindh Secretariat, she said Prime Minister Secretariat Islamabad has issued a notification in this regard. "When in tenure of Zafrullah Jamali as Prime Minister, federal government handed over control of Shahi Fort Lahore and Shalimar Garden to the Punjab government, Sindh province also demanded control of its 130 archeological sites," she said adding in fact, archeology is a provincial subject, in other countries also this sector is being supervised by provincial or local governments. Only 25 sites of Makli Graveyard are registered with the government as archeological sites and not the total graveyard; however, provincial government would conduct survey of the whole graveyard to compile documentation as Makli Graveyard is a biggest graveyard in Asia and a historical monument, she observed. We have sent a summery to Prime Minster for getting Rs2 million to be utilized for improvement of Lakhino Jo Doro. I have visited the site 15 days back to review encroachments there. With the help of Chief Secretary Sindh, orders have already been issued to remove encroachments from the site. I appreciate research work being carried out by Shah Latif University Khairpur at the site, she stated. Sussui Palejo further said the government has earmarked Rs1 billion for improvement of archeological sites. I myself have visited Khudabad, a historical monument of Kalhoro era. Mohinjo Daro also need more funds as only Rs0.850 million annually is not sufficient for its preservation. From 1904 to onward, only 130 sites of Sindh province could be registered as archeological sites, while there are several other sites that could get registration in this category. Indus Valley ivilization is as old as civilizations of China and Egypt, she added. Chief Secretary Sindh, Fazlur Rehman said due to great efforts by the Chief Minister Sindh and Provincial Minister for Culture and Tourism, control of the archeological sites was transferred to the provincial government. Dr Kalim Lashari of S& GAD was appointed Secretary of Archeology Department while more officials would be recruited through Sindh Public Service Commission soon, he said. First of all, we would conduct survey of archeological sites to compile full documentation and then other steps for their improvement would be taken. A meeting will be convened within a week to review matter of encroachments at archeological sites and other related issues, he added The Frontier Post: Friday, March 06, 2009, |