Sites of interest: ‘Protecting heritage a national duty’

LAHORE:

Chief Secretary Khizar Gondal on Wednesday ordered the formulation of a preservation and rehabilitation strategy for archaeological, historical and cultural sites across the Punjab.

Gondal was chairing a meeting of the Punjab Heritage Foundation board of governors. He said all steps would be taken to preserve archaeological, historical and cultural sites as they were national assets.

The chief secretary directed officials of relevant departments to work hard on this account and seek the assistance of international agencies for this purpose. Archaeology DG Ismat Tahira told those present on the occasion that 400 monuments province-wide had been listed as heritage sites. Archaeologist Mehmood Hussain stressed the importance of adding more sites in the list as it did not encompass all places of archaeological interest in the province.

The administrative and financial matters of the foundation were also discussed on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2015.