A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the department of culture, tourism & antiquities of the Sindh government and the Endowment Fund Trust (EFT) for the preservation, restoration and conservation of 11 protected heritage monuments in Sindh.
The sites that will to be restored include the Muhammad Bin Qasim Fort Tower, Mausoleum of Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhora, Ranikot Fort, Diwan Shurfa Khan Tomb at Makli, Satyan Jo Astan Sukkur, Tomb of Shah Baharo Larkana, Mir Tombs Hyderabad, Mian Adam Shah Kalhoro Tomb Sukkur, tile work of Dabgir Mosque, Jain Temples and Sati Stones Tharparkar, said a press release issued on Thursday.
The works will be carried out under the supervision of a sub-committee of the department of culture tourism & antiquities and EFT which will be executed by the EFT project director.
An annual work plan indicating the activities with the assistance and the consultation of the culture tourism & antiquities department will be worked out. Funds for restoration will be provided by the EFT and necessary technical and ground staff of the department will join the group for on-site training. Report of activities will be placed on the internet.
Negotiations between the culture department and the EFT have been going on for some time and both the institutions have agreed to step up restoration works on these important sites, a step to be taken for the first time in Sindh.
The MOU was signed by the secretary of department and EFT secretary in the presence of Minister for Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Sharmila Farooqi.
Farooqi emphasized the need for public awareness, ownership and public participation to ensure that heritage sites all over Sindh are saved through public vigil.
Work has already started on important sites with the permission of the department – the Ranikot Fort – which is comprehensively being restored for the first time in Pakistan. The Shah Baharo mausoleum and Ghulam Shah Kalhora monument & Fort is also under restoration. The work on the other sites will commence soon.
