Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has directed the culture department to coordinate with district and divisional administration to remove encroachments around the heritage buildings and restore them in their actual glory for public.
He issued these directives while presiding over a meeting of culture department at the CM House on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Special Assistant to Chief Minister for Culture Sharmila Faruqui, Principal Secretary to CM Alamuddin Bullo, Additional Chief Secretary (Dev) Mohammad Waseem, Secretary Culture & Tourism Niaz Abbasi, Secretary Finance Sohail Rajput and others.
The chief minister said that he personally witnessed encroachments and illegal occupations along and around the cultural monuments. “There is massive encroachment at Shahjehan Mosque Thatta, near Masoom Shah’s Minar Sukkur, Chowkundi graveyard, Lakhian Jo Daro, Makli, Pacca Qila Hyderabad and other areas,” he said and directed his Principal Secretary Alamuddin Bullo to talk to divisional and district administrations to cooperate with culture department in removing encroachments from the heritages.
Giving presentation to the chief minister, Sharmila Faruqui said that 11 schemes would be completed by the end of June 2016. These schemes include preservation of Chitori Graveyard at Mirpurkhas, Khairpur State Museum, Sindhi Cultural Village Karachi, Old Mukhtiarkar Building Shikarpur, Cultural Complex Rani Kot, rehabilitation of wooden roof of Shahi Bazaar Shikarpur, construction of motel at Baqar Lake, conservation of Thatta and Karachi Press Club Buildings, construction of visitors facility at Malki, conversion of zoo garden into Natural Science Museum Tando Mohammad Khan and establishment of Tourist Information Centre at divisional headquarters.
Secretary Culture Niaz Abbasi gave details of the schemes near completion and said that Chitori graveyard Mirpurkhas was approved in 2014-15 for Rs 55.11 million. Under this scheme, conservation of 12 tombs was being carried out, he said, adding that 99 per cent work on this project had been completed.
Talking about Khairpur Museum, Abbasi said that the conservation of the building was being made for Rs 41.408 million and 90 percent work had been completed.
Sharmila Faruqui said that she had started construction of Sindhi Cultural Village at National Museum Karachi for Rs 30 million. Under the scheme, Landhis (wooden house/structure), Chaunra (Thari straw houses) and construction of bazaar with traditional material and design with raised platform, bamboo cladding, brick flooring and katcha ghar have almost been completed. “The chief minister said that he would love to inaugurate this cultural village. It would help to organise cultural event there.”
The secretary culture said that restoration of old Mukhtiarkar building Shikarpur had been initiated for Rs 44.61 million. Under the scheme, conservation of main building, servant quarters, kitchen and construction of toilet and compound wall will be carried out. It was a 100-year old building and might be converted into a club, he added.
He said he had constituted district heritage committee under concerned deputy commissioners. The committee would look after the restored buildings, visit the buildings to stop encroachments, maintain directory of the building means areas, measurement, rooms, toilets, doors-quality of wood and such other items. The chief minister directed all the deputy commissioners to comply with the instructions.
Minister Culture Sharmila Faruqi said that a scheme of rehabilitation of wooden roof of Shahi Bazaar Shikarpur had been launched for Rs 54.7 million. “This bazaar is about one kilometer long and has wooden rood. In the roof teak wood has been used. It is about 100-year old. People locally call it as ‘dhak’ (covered) bazaar,” she said. On this, the chief minister directed her to rehabilitate old shops and cover the open drain running along the bazaar. “You can generate some funds from the shopkeepers,’ he suggested. Briefing about cultural complex at Rani Kot, the secretary culture said that it was an Rs 32 million scheme to construct compound wall, sheds, water tank and drinking water arrangements. It is also near completion. The project will turn to be a good facility for the visitors.