Daily Times

KARACHI: The Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Department has recognised 10 sites as cultural heritage of the province.

The decision taken on recommendation of the Advisory Committee of Sindh Cultural Heritage under sub section 1 of section 6 of the Sindh Culture Heritage (Preservation) Act was communicated to the media through a notification issued this week.

The notification has been issued by Secretary Ghulam Akbar Laghari.

Three of these sites are in Sukkur. These are the tomb of Adam Shah, Lakheen Jo Daro and Qadir Buz ja Quba. Chauhan Daro from Benazirabad, Nahuto from Umerkot, Venjhrot jo Dhaoro from Ghotki, Taheeman ja Quba from Shikarpur, Dalail Dero Fort from Nawab Shah, Daran ji Tarki from Qaber and Pari Nagar from Tharparkar are the other sites given protection under the Act and declared among the cultural heritage of the province.

The notification stated that these heritage sites represent age-old traditions of Sindh dharti (soil).

Three of these sites are in Sukkur. These are the tomb of Adam Shah, Lakheen Jo Daro and Qadir Buz ja Quba. Chauhan Daro from Benazirabad, Nahuto from Umerkot, Venjhrot jo Dhaoro from Ghotki, Taheeman ja Quba from Shikarpur, Dalail Dero Fort from Nawab Shah, Daran ji Tarki from Qaber and Pari Nagar from Tharparkar are the other sites given protection under the Act and declared among the cultural heritage of the province

The tomb of Adam Shah along with a graveyard in Adam Shah Colony in Sukkur date back to 1744 A.D. Lakhian Jo Daro goes back all the way to the Indus Valley Civilization. Chahun Daro in Shaheed Benazir Abad is about 60000 square metres area based on maps prepared by French Archaeological Mission. Nahoto in Umerkot spans 70 acres.

The notification further said that any intentional act to destroy, deface or change and imperil the Protected Heritage or to build structures near these buildings or other antiquities of the province would lead to serious action against those found involved.

Antiquities Department director general Manzoor Ahmed Kanasro told Daily Times that many development projects were in progress at these sites. He said the government was undertaking conservation work on many monuments. We are installing weather stations, fixing cracker monitor units, providing garbage dumpsters, and enhancing security at these sites by providing motorcycles and arms to guards. To beautify the surroundings, all graffiti from walls from these sites is being removed, he said, adding that roads leading to the sites are being repaired. “We are fixing the boundary wall around the graveyard as well,” he said.

The purpose of these actions is to promote tourism at these sites in a way that it doesn’t harm their structures.

He said immediate action has been initiated to save the monuments from seasonal effects. “Conservation planning is being done to preserve the ruins from adverse weather conditions.”

Published in Daily Times, February  15^th 2018.