February 03, 2009	Tuesday	Safar 07, 1430

KARACHI, Feb 2: The advisory committee on Cultural Affairs on Monday de-listed a building protected under the Sindh Cultural Heritage Protection Act while retained the three others as protected, it has been learnt here reliably.

According to sources, the committee, which is headed by the Sindh chief secretary, de-listed the Bankwala building, which is located in Bath Island.

They said that the committee further decided that the three other buildings – Captain House in Saddar, Zohra Centre near Merewether Tower, and the Spencer Bungalow near the Press Club – would remain protected under the Act.

The sources said that over a decade back the Sindh government had selected over 600 buildings in the city keeping in view their architectural and historical importance and had declared these buildings as protected under the Sindh Cultural Heritage Protection Act.

The sources said that these four buildings were among those over 600 protected buildings and their owners had applied to the government that these buildings be taken out of the ambit of the Act. The matter was referred to the advisory committee which, after getting its report from its technical sub committee on these buildings, has de-listed one building while continued to keep the other three buildings on the list of protected buildings.

The meeting also decided that the Sindh government shall see the management of centuries old Chowkundi graveyard that is located off the National Highway on the outskirts of the city with a view to ensuring its preservation comprehensively. The graveyard at present is being administrated by the federal archeology department.

The Chief Secretary, Fazal-ur-Rehman, who presided over the meeting also directed the Sindh culture department and the city government regarding the update on the Faizee Rahamin Art Gallery and asked both the organizations to evolve a future plan about it also.