Federal govt to hand over Moen jo Daro

Deadlock over employees and funds to be resolved in next meeting.

KARACHI: The federal ministry of culture and archaeology will hand over the Moen jo Daro archaeological site to the Sindh antiquities department along with some other archaeological sites, projects and employees.

This move comes as part of the next phase of the devolution process in which five more federal ministries will be given to the provinces.

Being one of the largest settlements of the Indus Valley civilisation, Moen jo Daro remained under the control of the federal government until now.

The Sindh government requested the president to hand over 129 historical sites of the province, including Moen jo Daro but the federal government was unwilling to do so.

Officials said that two meetings were held in the culture ministry in Islamabad to discuss the devolution process. In these meetings, the federal government assured Sindh that it will hand over Moen jo Daro to the antiquities department. There is still a deadlock between the two departments over employees and funds but these issues are likely to be resolved in the next meeting, said an official.

Antiquities department secretary Kalim Lashari said that they have completed their homework and are prepared to receive Moen jo Daro from the federal government.

He added that devolution is a very sensitive issue so “we are taking it very seriously and things are happening as per the process which means it will take more time for adjustment”.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2011.