Punjab sets aside Rs 400 million to protect cultural heritage

The Punjab has set aside Rs 400 million in the annual development programme of the budget to protect and promote its cultural heritage, sources have revealed.
Targets and major initiatives include: revamping historical monuments near the Metro Orange Line, developing garden walkways, access roads and tourist information centre at Hiran Minar in Sheikhupura, and the Taxila Museum, proving basic amenities at Noor Jahan's Tomb in Lahore, a central archaeological laboratory at the Lahore Fort and preparing documentaries of monuments and development of a well-equipped resource centre.
"The vision of the archaeology sector is to protect and built the heritage of Pakistan located in the Punjab through archaeological explorations, documentation, analysis, interpretation, conservation, preservation, restoration and exhibition of material and artefacts," the sources said on Monday.
They also said during 2015-16, Rs 400 million were allocated and the Punjab Archaeology Department had completed several schemes including the upkeep of the museum at Kalar Kahar and the Katas Raj Temple, both in Chakwal, establishment of a museum and an art gallery in Gujrat, capacity-building of the Directorate General of Archaeology and Preservation and restoration of Shahi Masjid Sarghana in Vehari.