KARACHI – The Karachi Buildings Control Authority (KBCA) has declared as many as 157 buildings “dangerous”, including 22 protected heritage sites, said Sindh Culture Minister Sassui Palijo at the Sindh Assembly session on Friday.
Responding to questions asked by different members during the question hour, the minister said that the issue of repairing historical buildings will be raised at a meeting of the National Heritage Committee, which is headed by the Sindh chief secretary.
She admitted, however, that the committee has not had a meeting since the past six months due the chief secretary’s engagement is post-flood rehabilitation efforts. Palijo said the Federal government was also providing funds for the maintenance of Mohatta Palace, and the setting up of a new museum complex.
The federal government has provided Rs25 million while the Sindh government granted Rs10 million for the project during the financial year 2009-10, she said, adding that the museum complex will be a source of pride not only for Sindh and Karachi but also Pakistan.
In reply to another question, the minister said that the construction of a road affecting the Mohenjo-Daro was stopped after the Sindh government intervened into the matter. She explained that the National Highway Authority wanted to use some part of the historical site for the construction of road, but was stopped from doing so.
Responding to yet another query, Palijo said that a police constable named Yaqoob Shah and family members of a local, Raju Kokri, have occupied the historical site of Nehal Darya Mandar in Thatta. The Sindh government has issued directives to the district administration to get the site vacated, she added.
Construction of roads: Sindh Works and Communication Minister Manzoor Wasan informed the house that repairs of 1,178 kilometres roads had almost been completed under a short-term plan. Responding to a point of order raised by PPP member Ghulam Shah Jilani, the minister said that work on the long-term project of roads would be completed within a period of one-and-a-half years.
The PPP member had complained of the deteriorated state of roads in Taluka Johi, District Dadu following the floods. Another PPP member, Jam Tamach Unnar suggested that an administrative secretary of a department should not be transferred before two to three years from a department for continuity of development work.
