Daily Times

SHIKARPUR: Shikarpur city, also known as Paris of Sindh in past due to its beauty and heritage sites, is suffering due to the poor performance of concerned authorities, specially its centuries old heritage sites are on the verge of destruction.

According to official data of Sindh Culture Department, in 1998 there were 1203 ancient places in the district, which were declared as protected heritage sites. But in last fifteen years, 250 of those protected heritage sites were demolished and the remaining one are in deteriorating conditions.

Among these remaining site, around three and a half centuries old unique ancient Jamia Masjid Lakhidar, around 100 meters off from Clock Tower, which is a masterpiece of architecture work, is also losing its beauty due to the negligence.

According to retired professor Abdul Hayee Moriani, who has done a lot of work on Masjids of Shikarpur, the Jamia Masjid Lakhidar, Shikarpur was built in 1661, on the directives of Ahmed Shah Abdali, a ruler and he also known as founder of Durrani empire, in the supervision of Nawab Saadat Ali Khan, the governor of the state.

With a capacity of sitting of around 1000 persons and having two gates, all the walls of this ancient mosque are 4 feet wide and it has a dome with wind catcher for ventilation and for light.

This officially declared site is fading with the time and it needs immediate repair and renovation.

Expressing his concerns over the dilapidated condition of the mosque, Professor Moriani demands Sindh government to take action to protect this centuries old heritage site.

Molvi Shafique Ahmed Qadri, the chairman administrative committee of Jamia Masjid told Daily Times that Auqaf Department is not having interest in repairing work and renovation into the Masjid while Auqaf Department is taking keen interest to collect revenue and rent from the shops, which are set up in front of Masjid.

Abdul Hameed Akhund, the Chairman Endowment Fund Trust for preservation of the Heritage of Sindh, talking to Daily Times said that endowment fund trust is trying their level best to preserve the national heritage, but almost building owners are not cooperating with trust to maintain or renovation their ancient protected heritage declared buildings, if the In-charge of Jamia Masjid Lakhidar wants to renovation or maintain the Masjid the then he can contact with EFT, the then EFT would get approval from Auqaf Department to maintain or renovation of the Masjid, Hameed Akhund added.

Naseer Ahmed Shaikh, the Manager Auqaf Department Larkana, told Daily Times over phone that he did not receive application pertaining repair or renovation for Masjid from caretaker of Jamia Masjid so far; however I will visit soon to Jamia Masjid.

The prominent writer Khalil Moriani, famous Travelogue writer Agha Sanaullah Khan, social activist Haseeb Nayab Mangi, columnist Nasim Bukhari, human rights activist Naveed Alam Abro, senior journalist Sultan Rind, Chairman Shikarpur Bachayo Tehreek Ali Asghar Pahore, Mian Zafar Alvi and other city notables demanded of the higher authorities to take keen interest into an ancient Masjid because Jamia Masjid Lakhidar was declared as heritage by Sindh government while government should come forward and play their vital role to maintain and renovation because of 250 ancient places has already been demolished.