Daily Times

KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has been pursuing a Rs 160 million-corruption scandal involving preservation of the Moenjodaro archaeological site since 2014. Work on the project started in 2014 under the World Heritage preservation project of the UNESCO and funds for the project could not be utilised till May 2016.

The archaeological site is in ruins and facing threat of a complete decay.

Daily Times has learnt that the NAB received a file about corruption in the Moenjodaro preservation project, say the sources in the Sindh Archaeology Department.

The Sindh government had approved the Rs 160 million project for preservation of the archaeological site in 2014 and it was scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2016. The then Sindh Culture Secretary Aijaz Ahmed Memon awarded the contract to contractor Waliullah Bhutto. Work on the preservation project has not been started even two years after award of a contract in this regard, the sources said.

Curator Zaheeruddin Shar said that he was unaware of any preservation project because he did not see any work at the site. Talking about the dry core drilling work, he said that this work had been done and samples had been sent to Hyderabad for examination.

Sources said that Moenjodaro museum and the archaeological site had been ruined completely. There are several projects and funds were available for archaeological sites in Sindh, according to Sindh government’s budget book 2015-16 and the website of the Culture Department, but all these projects were in the doldrums.

An allocation of Rs 15 million per year, National Fund for Moenjodaro and many other funds are available, but they are not being utilised.

Sources said the World Monuments Fund in Sindh was an ADP project. As many as Rs 10 million was being drawn every year for protection, preservation and development of Moenjodaro, but no work was being done on the project. However, the website of the Sindh Culture Department shows that all funds are being utilised every year.

There is no accountability for funds and the authorities brutally looted the development funds. The recent rains severely damaged all parts of the Moenjodaro site. The general public also vandalised Moenjodaro. Scientific steps are needed to preserve and protect the Moenjodaro heritage site.

It is pertinent to mention here that Additional Secretary Moosvi carried out work on the Moenjodaro museum and closed it. Articles and original books of the museum were shifted to Karachi, but not returned later, the sourced said.

The Technical Consultative Committee of the National Fund for Moenjodaro held several meetings on development and preservation of Moenjodaro. However, issues like mismanagement and corruption were not addressed. Appointments to senior positions had been made in violation of the rules and inefficient officials have replaced competent officials.