President Asif Ali Zardari has directed the federal government to give control of some 130 archaeological sites back to the Sindh government so that their proper maintenance could be ensured, it is learnt. Sources in the Culture and Tourism Department told Business Recorder on Monday that the decision was taken in a meeting presided over by President Zardari.
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Chief Secretary Fazal-ur-Rehman attended the meeting, held at the Aiwan-Sadr on Saturday. They said that the President spoke to the Chief Secretary Sindh over the control of these sites and the reservations of the provincial government. They said these historic sites, declared as cultural heritage, were in shabby conditions and the Sindh Culture and Tourism Department could not take measures for its maintenance and renovation.
Whenever the provincial government took some initiative for rehabilitation of these sites unfortunately, the federal government took strong notice, accusing provincial government of working outside its jurisdiction, they said. "After the decision, the control of these sites will be transferred to the province within two weeks," they added.
"Sindh government approached federal government for taking control of these historic sites back, as they are the property of Sindh," the sources said. They said that only one Archaeology Director had been appointed for the historic sites of Sindh and Balochistan. However, both the provinces will have separate directors for these cultural sites, they said and added that many of these sites need urgent rehabilitation for their preservation.
In this regard, the provincial government would prepare PC-I and start rehabilitation of these sites, they said. It is pertinent to mention here that the federal government had the custody of 130 historic sites and their proper maintenance, renovation and rehabilitation could not take place for several years.
Now, the officials said that they were making all out efforts to preserve and protect these ancients cultural heritage. However, the control of Makli, historic graveyard of the Asia, Moen Jo Daro and Tharparkar will remain under the control of federal government.
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