Archeology dept awaits funds

LAHORE: Nearly two months have passed since the approval of the federal budget, but the Federal Archeology Department is yet to release a single rupee for the restoration and preservation of archeological sites

A senior official in the department told The Express Tribune that the planning division of the ministry of finance has not yet approved the cash-work plan given to them by the archeology department.

“No new excavation, preservation or restoration work is underway,” the official said. Proposals for the preservation and restoration of eight projects are awaiting funds. These projects include the Shahdra Complex (Noor Jehan and Emperor Jehangir Tombs), Iqbal Manzil, Jadiala Sher Khan Project, Rohtas Fort, and Moosa Pak Mohallah.

Another senior official said it was expected that only 12 to 20 percent of the allocated budget for archeology would be used this year. “The planning division is not likely to release the funds before September,” he said. “We will have the funds by December, when half the financial year will be gone. The remaining funds will laps.”

Some officials believe that the federation wants to hold on to the funds till May 11, after which the archeology department will no longer be a federal subject. However, others say that even after the abolishment of the concurrent list, the archeology department falls under the auspices of the federation.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2010.