CDA to preserve capital’s past

As many as 150 sites identified for preservation.

ISLAMABAD:

The civic authorities and other organisations have joined hands to conserve the remnants of ancient Gandhara civilisation and other heritage sites in and around the federal capital. Representatives of civic agencies and cultural bodies at a meeting on Thursday identified 150 such sites where they will jointly work to secure the past of this region.

The heritage sites in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) jurisdiction also include 13 places where hundred years old Banyan trees exist.

Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi constituted a nine-member committee to preserve the centuries-old archaeological sites of the capital. The civic agency’s environment director-general Dr Suleman Sheikh has been appointed as head of the committee with CDA members and officials of other departments as its member. DG Archaeological Department of Pakistan, Director Taxila Institute of Asian Civilization of Quaid-i-Azam University Dr Ashraf Khan and Evacuee Property Trust’s regional planning director Wahab Gul are also members of the committee.

Dr Suleman Sheikh told The Express Tribune that under the plan, the civic agency would develop 2,400-year-old Sadhu ka Bagh and Shah Allah Ditta caves.

Besides, centuries-old trees of different species including  kau, phulai, banyan and peepal would also be protected under the project. According to a survey conducted by the CDA, Islamabad has 32 date palm trees, 126 kau trees, 86 phulai, 176 banyan, 54 Mango, 12 peepal, 57 badh and 135 trees of other species.

The project would cost Rs26 million. Of which Rs19 million would be spent on the preservation of Sadhu Ka Bagh. It was also decided in the meeting that CDA would also preserve the historical sites adjacent to the caves to attract the visitors.

CDA chairman said that his organisation will never carry out development at the cost of heritage.

Fauzia Minallah, a member of Citizens Committee, appreciated CDA’s steps taken for preservation of the Rock Shelter commonly known as Lizard Rock or the ‘Tongue of Islamabad’ on Kashmir Highway in Sector G-13.



Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2011.