Conservation of Buddhist, Mughal era historical sites in Punjab on the cards

Summary of projects has been sent to higher officials for approval

With the aim of restoring historical sites to attract tourists and thereby promoting tourism in Punjab, the archaeology department has started the process of conserving archaeological sites dating back to the Mughal and Buddhist eras.

In a recent development, the provincial archaeology department decided to restore and conserve historical sites in different districts across Punjab. The officials sent project cost summaries of six historical sites to the higher authorities for their renovation at a cost of Rs142 million. The projects will be executed under the annual development plan of fiscal year 2017-18.

The conservation of an ancient Buddhist site Mound Dillu Roy – located on the border of Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan districts at Jampur Tehsil – was among the six proposals prepared by the archaeology department.

The study carried out at the site and the ancient objects found from there showed the site remained occupied by Buddhists in the Scytho-Parthian period and was around 3,000 to 5,000 years old. The site is about 2,5 miles north-west of Jampur Town in Mauza Khanpur and spread over an area of 262 kanal.

However, three kanal area lies in (Jampur) Rajanpur district and rest in Dera Ghazi Khan district. Its conservation will cost Rs87 million, including Rs45 million for land acquisition and rest for preservation.

Similarly, 400-year-old mausoleum of Hazrat Ali Akbar at Suraj Miani in Multan which resembles mausoleum of Hazrat Shah Rukn-e-Alam that is considered country’s best conserved sites will also be restored to its original condition. Its conservation would cost around Rs22.65 million.

Other schemes included conservation of 250 to 300-years-old mausoleum of Hazrat Shah Hussain Saddozai at Abdali road in Multan, Shahi Masjid at Fatehpur in Mailsi which was built during the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb-Alamgir, mausoleum of Fateh Khan Joiya at Fatehpur in Mailsi and mausoleum of Nawab Shuja Khan in Shujabad.

The schemes would be executed during the next fiscal year subject to final approval by the Punjab government.

Shahi Masjid. PHOTO: FILE

A number of conservation projects, including at some World Heritage sites are underway in Pakistan. The most important concern for conservation of these monuments is to maintain their authenticity. Although many monuments have been conserved, preserved and restored in the past, the aspects of originality are often neglected.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2016.