June 12, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 07, 1429

LARKANA, June 11: Sindh is holding negotiations with the centre to take possession of 130 archaeological sites, said Minister for Culture and Tourism Sassui Palijo.

She was talking to journalists after visiting Moenjodaro on Wednesday. She criticized the Archaeology Department for neglecting the site and termed it a conspiracy to discourage tourism in the province.

She said there was only one director to take care of a big number of sites in Sindh and Balochistan which makes impossible for him to do justice to his responsibilities. Therefore, Sindh would request the federal government to bifurcate the circle by creating posts for separate directors for the two provinces, she said.

The minister questioned the credibility of the Department for giving up investigation into theft of 42 artefacts.

Prime Minister had approved a plan worth Rs57 million for conservation, preservation, and creation of facilities at Mohenjodaro for being neglected like RaniKot, Makli, Kotdeji, Sadh Belo and other sites she said and added the federal government was finalizing a plan of Rs2 billion to bring it at par with international sites with the posting of a permanent director, also.

Sindh government would table a bill in the Assembly for an authority for archaeological sites, said the minister.

She said public libraries run by Culture Department would be provided free Internet facilities from 30 June and appreciated the standard of Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto Memorial Library, Larkana.

She said an open air theatre with the capacity for 200 would be inaugurated soon as work on it had been completed. Sambara Inn would be upgraded to a four-star hotel and an arts council would also be established in Larkana, she said.