KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Wednesday directed the Culture Department to coordinate with district and divisional administrations to remove encroachments around the heritage sites and restore them in their actual glory. He issued the directives while presiding over a meeting of the Culture Department here at the CM House.
The Chief Minister said that he had witnessed encroachments around the cultural monuments. "There are a lot of encroachments at Shahjehan Mosque Thatta, near Masoom Shah's Minar Sukkur, Chowkundi graveyard, Lakhian Jo Daro, Makli, Pacca Qila Hyderabad and at various other areas," he added.
He directed his Principal Secretary Alamuddin Bullo to talk to divisional and district administrations to cooperate with the Culture Department for removing encroachments from heritage sites. Giving presentation to the CM Sindh, Sharmila Farooqui said that 11 schemes would be completed by the end of June 2016.
These schemes included preservation of Chitori Graveyard at Mirpurkhas, Khairpur State Museum, Sindhi Cultural Village Karachi, old Mukhtiarkar building Shikarpur, Cultural Complex Rani Kot, rehabilitation of wooden rood of Shahi Bazar Shikarpur, construction of resort 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, she said.
Secretary Culture Niaz Abbasi giving details of the schemes near completion said Rs 55.11 million was approved for conservation work at the Chitori Graveyard Mirpurkhas in 2014-15. Under the scheme conservation of 12 tombs was underway, 99 per cent work had been completed, he added.
Talking about Khairpur Museum, Niaz Abbasi said that 90 per cent conservation work of the building had been completed, for which Rs 41.408 million was approved.
Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Culture Sharmila Farooqui said that the construction of Sindhi Cultural Village at National Museum Karachi had started at the cost of Rs 30 million.
Under the scheme Landhis (wooden house/structure), Chaunra (igloo type of Thari houses) and construction of bazar with traditional material and design with raised platform, bamboo cladding, brick flooring and katcha ghar) have almost been completed, she added. The CM Sindh 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 has been initiated at Rs 44.61 million.
Under the scheme conservation of main building, servant quarters, kitchen and construction of toilet and compound wall are included. He added that it was a 100-year old building and may be converted into a club.
He said that he had constituted district Heritage Committee under concerned deputy commissioners.
The committee would look after the restored buildings, keep visiting the buildings to stop encroachments, maintain directory of the building means areas, measurement, rooms, toilets, doors-quality of wood and such other items.
The CM Sindh directed all the deputy commissioners to comply with the instructions because these committees have been constituted on his directives.
Sharmila said that a scheme of rehablitation of wooden Roof of Shahi Bazar has been launched for Rs54.7 million. This bazar is about one kilometer long and has wooden roof. In the roof teak wood has been used. It is about 100-year old.
Local people call it as `dhak (covered) bazar. This is a unique bazar, she said.
On this the CM Sindh directed her to rehabilitate old shops and cover the open drain running along the bazar. "You can generate some funds from the shopkeepers," he suggested.
Briefing about Cultural complex at Rani Kot, the Secretary Culture said that it was a Rs 32 million scheme to construct compound wall, sheds, water tank and making drinking water arrangements. It is also near completion. The project would turn to be a good facility for the visitors.
Secretary Culture Niaz Abbasi said that Baqar Lake Resort at Sanghar is also a good project launched for Rs 28.6 million.
Under the scheme construction of resorts, quarters and compound wall with steel gate has been undertaken. It also has a beautiful view for visitors.
He said that restoration of Thatta and Karachi Press Club projects has been started at a cost Rs 17.2 million. The buildings of both the press clubs are historical. The restoration of Thatta Press club has been completed while 60 work of Karachi Press Club has been done so far.
Niaz Abbasi said that the project of construction of Museum, up- gradation of visitors facility at Makli has been launched for Rs 53.2 million.
Under the plan museum building, compound wall, external development, water tanks, soil testing and electrification works have been undertaken. Over 30 work have been completed.
The Secretary Culture said that on the directives of CM Sindh two important schemes are being launched.
One is of double-decker bus service which would take visitors from Mohatta Palace and go around the old city. In this way the old city would be opened up for visitors. Under the other scheme two 50-seater boats are being purchased for visitors.
One boat would be kept at Beach Site near KPT to show the visitors sea sites of Karachi and other one at Sukkur, near Labe Mehran from where it would take the visitors and sail them in the River Indus up Rohri. Both the boats would provide ferry service.
Niaz Abbasi also told the chair that he was establishing six Archeological and Cultural Monument Centers. These centers would be established two in Karachi, one each at Makli, Bambhore, Moen-Jo-Daro, and Kotdigi.
On these centers the crystal, wooden, bronze, brass and pottery souvenirs would be put on sale and display.
The souvenirs would contain impressions/carving of cultural monuments like Moen-jo-Daro, Dambooro (one stringer instrument of Shah Bhittai), Tomb of Bhit Shah and such others. The CM Sindh appreciated the efforts of the Culture department and urged them to ensure quality work and work in time.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary to CM Alamuddin Bullo, Additional Chief Secretary (Dev) Mohammad Waseem, Secretary Culture and Tourism Niaz Abbasi, Secretary Finance Sohail Rajput and others.
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