Crimes against history

When it comes to historical richness, Pakistan occupies an enviable position. Not only is the land that now makes up the country one of the busiest crossroads of history, it is also the cradle of one of the earliest civilisations.

We live over a potential goldmine for historical tourism. And yet, when it comes to historical landmarks, our history is one of missteps and persistent negligence.

The crown jewel, if one could actually pick one, in Pakistan’s rich assortment of historical sites would be Mohenjo Daro. Believed to be the main hub of the Indus Valley Civilisation, its remains present a picture of life 5,000 years ago in remarkable detail.

In scale and importance, it rivals the pyramids of Giza, the stone city of Petra or Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, to name a few. But where these sites have been cultivated into major attractions by the governments of their respective countries, ours seems to be content with letting the ancient city be lost to time once more. Only, this time it would be permanent.

When it comes to Mohenjo Daro, there is a litany of ‘crimes against history’. Improper restoration and overall negligence have led to significant weathering damage and placed the remains under threat of erosion. And then there was 2014’s Sindh Festival, which subjected the ancient site to further ‘abuse’.

Now, the PIA, as part of its move to close operations at non-viable airports, has suspended flights to the Bronze Age city, making it further inaccessible to the few visitors it attracts. Most of them tend to be foreign researchers, who at times seem to be the only ones interested in preserving our history.

There are suspicions that the step may have political motives. True or not, if the government is serious about kickstarting tourism, it needs to revisit its most valuable historic assets.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th, 2019.

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