The apathy on the part of government can be witnessed from the nearly 91-year-old building of ‘District Council Larkana’, which is under threat of demolition in the name of renovation by the PPP government. The foundation of the building was laid down by Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto, the father of PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1920s, and was once home to Pakistan Movement activists.
The district administration has allocated funds and awarded a contract to local masons to demolish a portion of the building without taking its heritage significance into account. Three bungalows located within its premises are under encroachment by government departments. Some venal minded people have turned its employees’ quarters in to a cattle farm. It is shocking to see the negligence by the PPP, which is in its third consecutive term at the head of the provincial government.
Heritage and archeological experts contend that any building with a history of 75 years or more has archeological value or historical importance and as such ought to be regarded a heritage site worthy of protection. Yet the PPP government appears in no mood to preserve the rich culture, archaeology and heritage of Sindh.
Concerns have been raised about other historic buildings as well that have either been demolished or are under occupation of influential persons. It is high time that the PPP leadership took strict action and told the departments concerned to devise a plan to declare this old building a heritage site and save it from the clutches of the land and contract mafia.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2018.
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