Karachi: Sindh Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities Syed Sardar Ali Shah stressed on engagement of public and civil society for the preservation of monuments across the province, a news source reported.
During the Question Hour in the provincial assembly, the minister said that it was difficult to conserve over 4,000 protected buildings in Sindh without the involvement of the public and civil society.
Shah suggested to the house that a Sindh Heritage Endowment Fund should be established to carry out the preservation and restoration of heritage sites systematically. Once created, he added, the provincial culture ministry would play its role as custodian of the protected buildings. He said that they needed an endowment fund, along with an independent body comprising of experts, civil society representatives, and elected members.
The minister also clarified that after the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, the restoration and preservation of protected buildings was both a provincial and federal matter. He also revealed the newly identified sites for conservation in Sindh in the foothills of Khirthar Range. These included Thul Bhit, Baheel Shah, Joho jo Daro, Jamali ja Quba, and Pat Suleman.
