OKARA, May 9 A team of archaeologists during a visit to Okara district has explored nine sites having significance for the world.

The sites include Addhu Pari, Chak 9/4L, Lal Habib, Akbar, Loonawala, Satghara, Sukhpur, Shah Yekka and Krori.

Renowned archaeologist Dr Farzand Masih, who heads the Punjab University archaeology department, led a team of his students along with Prof Aziz Farooq to Okara a week ago. The team undertook excavation work at several sites and discovered artifacts of ancient and medieval eras.

Dr Farzand has appealed to the government and common people to protect and preserve these heritages so that the posterity could gain knowledge and information about the civilisation, culture, etc. He said the sites and mounds found there were subjected to worst human vandalism and some of the sites had given estimation of life in the times gone by.

He has demanded that the district administration organise seminars to create awareness among public about cultural heritage.

He said enormous encroachments had developed on the sites which must be removed to learn more about them.