History matters: Archaeology Dept gets Rs400 million

Rs88 million reserved for restoration of Shalamar Gardens.

LAHORE: The government on Friday announced a Rs400 million developmental budget for the Archaeology Department.

According to budget documents, Rs1.616 million has also been allocated for the preservation and restoration of Katas Raj Complex and Rs16.64 million for the restoration of the Samadhi of Bhai Wasti Ram and the temple of Jhingar Shah Suthra.

Bhai Wasti Ram is regarded to be a spiritual guide to Ranjit Singh and Suthra is a Hindu mendicant from Aurangzeb’s time. Rs88 million has been earmarked for the preservation and restoration of Shalamar Gardens. The job will be carried out in two phases over the next five years.

Strategic interventions of the past year include the conservation of Shalamar Gardens, the Lahore Fort, Katas Raj Complex, the tomb of Bibi Jiwandi and archaeological sites of Taxila and Harappa. Most of these projects will be carried forward to the new fiscal year.

The proposed projects include the conservation and renovation of Allama Iqbal Museum, Javed Manzil, at a cost of Rs 10 million, and the restoration of Musa Pak Shaheed’s tomb. The government says it aims to protect historical monuments in line with international standards. It says it also aims to generate employment by engaging skilled artisans and craftsmen in restoration works.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2015.