The ancient archaeological sites, and historic buildings, are now more preserved and protected, besides discouraging illegal excavation, and smuggling of antiques, objects, under the new proposed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Antiquity Act 2015.
The Antiquity Act, recently endorsed by provincial cabinet during its meeting, is much effective, to prevent illegal demolishing of historic buildings, structures, especially smuggling of antique/objects, and construction on ancient sites, said Secretary Archaeology, Museums, Tourism, and Youth Affairs, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azam Khan here.
He said the strict penalty has been recommended in the proposed Act, for those who were violating the rules. Under the new law, he said it was proposed up to Rs.2million, as penalty, against demolishing of historic buildings, illegal construction on archaeological sites, and smuggling of ancient objects as well.
Following the 18th constitutional amendments, he said the department of Archaeology had devolved to provinces, along with transferring of a sizable number of archaeological sites as well.
Previously, he said the federal antiquity Act of 1975 and NWFP 1997, implemented to protect the archaeological heritage in the province.
“There was dire need to formulate rules and regulations at provincial level, on pattern of federal one, following devolution of department, as per constitutional amendments”, Azam Khan said. He, therefore, said KP government in collaboration with department of Archaeology, and other authorities concerned, has outlined an effective Antiquity Act 2015, which is formally presented in provincial cabinet and approved.
With the effective enforcement of the new Antiquity Act, the secretary expressed the hope that it would have stopped developers from demolishing heritage buildings, besides preservation and protection of ancient archaeological sites, will also be carried out in benefiting manner.
While commenting on approval of KP Antiquity Act 2015, Director Archaeology and Archaeology KP, Dr Abdul Samad said the act is more effective and rigid to prevent demolishment of archaeological structures, and relics in the province. Earlier, he said in absence of act like Federal Antiquity Act, the sites were not preserved and protected appropriately but, he said the illegal excavation, smuggling, besides erasing/construction of archaeology/heritage sites, will be easily preventable, with the proper implementation of the proposed Antiquity Act, across the province.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Antiquity Act 2015, presented during meeting of provincial cabinet, in which the act was unanimously adopted. It stated that the draft of Antiquity Act was prepared following the analyzing the previous Federal Antiquity Act 1975 and NWFP Act 1995. The act will deal with matters, relating to heritage assets, Archaeology and Museums in KP.