Commissioner orders restoration of historic sites

67 heritage sites were banned from commercial use and instructed to be restored by the SHC

HYDERABAD: A meeting discussing the preservation of the archaeological and heritage sites decided once again to stop the damage, alteration and demolition of these buildings in Hyderabad on Monday.

The buildings in questions included the Sindh University Old Campus, KP Azeem Khan Building, Basant Hall, Pakka Qila, Jamia Arabia High School, Neval Rai High School, Thora Charhi Girls School, Sindh Government Law College, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences building, Ganga Ram Building, Mukhee House and Market Tower.

"The restoration of these buildings will not only add to the beauty of the historic city but will also attract tourists," said Hyderabad commissioner Abbas Baloch, in a bid to create a sense of responsibility among concerned officials and archaeology departments. He maintained that these historic sites are the identity of any nation and therefore repairing, maintaining and restoring them is a national duty and responsibility.

Additionally, he has asked assistant commissioner Ayesha Abro to play her role in this process by rehabilitating the historic Ladies Club and begin utilising the space for the purpose for which it was established. Along with this, Baloch instructed those present at the meeting to ensure that banners around these historic sites be removed at the earliest possibility. Furthermore, he has asked the Sindh culture department to inform private owners of historic buildings and heritage sites about the laws that prohibit the demolition and destruction of such structures.

Meanwhile, Dr Nilofar Sheikh, former vice-chancellor representing the Sindh Endowment Fund, informed the meeting that the repair and maintenance process is a highly technical job for which the participation of experts is necessary. She added that there are hundreds of pre-partition buildings in downtown Hyderabad and among these many have been demolished while others are in a state of decay.

On June 7, 2017, the Sindh High Court had ordered the protection and restoration, and banned the commercial use of 67 declared heritage buildings in Hyderabad, stating that, "the commissioner shall ensure that all properties declared as heritage in the May 20, 2011, notification are protected within the spirit of the Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act, 1994." However, the order has not been complied with even after the passage of over two and a half years.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2020.