US Ambassador Richard G Olson visited the Makli Hill necropolis to announce the inaugural Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) project in Sindh province. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) named Makli Hill a World Heritage site in 1981.
"The Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation is a centre piece of America's partnership with Pakistan in the area of art and culture," said Ambassador Olson. "We are honoured to work with Yasmeen Lari of the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan, and to have the support from Sharmila Farooqi, the Minister of Culture and Tourism for Sindh province, to restore the 400 year-old tombs of Sultan Ibrahim and Amir Sultan Muhammad at Makli Hill.
According to Ambassador Olson, the US Embassy has worked with partners in federal and provincial governments on 17 projects throughout Pakistan. This is the first project in Sindh. "Our investments in these cultural preservation projects demonstrate our respect for the rich heritage and diversity of Pakistan," he said. Makli Hill is among the largest cemeteries in the world. The site includes the tombs of kings, queens, governors, saints, scholars, and philosophers from the 14th to 18th century. The US is providing more than $260,000 to restore the ancient tombs of Sultan Ibrahim and Amir Sultan Muhammad.
The US AFCP supports preservation of cultural sites, cultural objects, and forms of traditional cultural expression in more than 100 countries around the world. Projects include restoration of ancient and historic buildings, conservation of rare manuscripts and museum collections, preservation and protection of important archaeological sites, and documentation of vanishing traditional craft techniques and indigenous languages.-PR
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