Provincial Minister for Health, Population Welfare and Archaeology Departments Salima Hashmi said that Pakistan has unprecedented treasure in the shape of monuments of ancient civilisation and historical buildings and local and international tourism can be promoted many times by preservation and conversation of the archaeological heritage.
She expressed these views while presiding over a briefing session of Punjab Archaeology Department here on Saturday. Director General Archaeology Punjab Dr Ismat Tahira, Director Dr Saleem-ul-Haq, Maqsood Ahmed Malik and Curator Lahore Fort Afzal Khan and other officers attended the meeting.
Salima Hashmi stressed the need for conservation and preservation of the residence of great writer of Urdu literature Saadat Hassan Munto in Laxami building as special premises so that new generation can realise the outstanding services of Munto for the promotion of Urdu literature and a relation between new generation and national heritage could be maintained. She said that there is a need to establish institutions for study, training and research in the subject of archaeology to train professional archaeologists in Pakistan. She said that outstanding and highly qualified/specialised archaeologists are required for conservation of antiquities and historic buildings as this great work cannot be carried out in its true letter and spirit by the ordinary archaeologists.
DG Archaeology Dr Ismat Tahira briefed the Minister about the departmental activities and steps taken for the conservation/preservation of archaeological sites, historical buildings, monuments and special premises. She informed the Minister that due to the crossroads into the Rohtas Fort Jhelum this world class heritage is facing great dangers. She proposed that in order to save this historical place, traffic should be bypassed from the Rohtas Fort.
Salima Hashmi directed the DG Archaeology to co-ordinate with the concerned departments for bypassing the traffic from the fort. She said that she would personally intervene to solve this issue. DG Archaeology informed that during 2012-13's budget the department is working on 19 ADPs of preservation/conservation of historical buildings and monuments. She informed that the department has completed 70 conservation projects and won Agha Khan Award for preservation/rehabilitation of tomb of Shah Rukan Alam whereas four heritage museums have also been established in different cities. Moreover, archaeological survey of districts Attock and Chakwal has also been completed. She told that archaeological investigation of Pattan Minara and Sardhi have also been completed.