Archaeology concerns: With greater responsibility comes bigger budget

Development budget tripled as department takes over federal projects.

LAHORE: The Archaeology Department has been allocated a much higher development budget this year as it takes responsibility for six projects previously being handled by the federal government.

The department has been allocated Rs350 million in the Annual Development Programme for 2012-13, more than triple its allocation of Rs109 million for the year before.

The six formerly federal projects are for the development and restoration of archaeological sites from Taxila to Sawat (Rs30 million); the conservation, preservation and rehabilitation of Iqbal’s residence in Sialkot (Rs0.3million); the restoration of Rohtas Fort (Rs25.7million); the restoration of Jahangir’s Tomb (Rs30 million); the conservation of a tank at Hiran Minar in Sheikhupura (Rs25million); and the restoration of a well and a temple at Jandiala Sher Khan (Rs5 million).

Of the budget, Rs277 million has been allocated for 20 ongoing projects while an unapproved sum of Rs72.48 million has been set aside as a block allocation. Anjum Qureshi, director of the Archaeology Department, said no new projects were planned, but if the department came across something that needed immediate attention, they would seek funding for it from the block allocation.

Qureshi said six projects would be completed this year. These are for the establishment of museums at Kallar Kahar (Rs10 million) and Gujrat (Rs6.2 million); the restoration of Anarkali’s Tomb (Rs2.4 million); the restoration of Sher Singh’s Baradari (Rs12.9 million); the restoration of Walled City gates (Rs 1 million); and the conservation of Ghazi Khan Tomb in DG Khan (Rs2.814 million).

He said projects for the restoration of Shalamar Gardens (allocated Rs54.9 million) and the Lahore Fort (allocated Rs30 million) would take several years. Work on a parking area and a public utility area would start at the Shalamar Gardens this year, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2012.