LAHORE, Oct 26: The Punjab archaeology department has decided to set up a “Heritage Study Centre” at the Sahiwal Campus of COMSATS Institute of Information Technology.

A ceremony for signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Punjab government and COMSATS was held here on Saturday.

According to the MoU, a two-year BS (Liberal Arts) discipline will be initiated at the institute’s Sahiwal campus where specialised courses will be offered in history, archaeology, regional geography, anthropology, tourism and geographical information system.

Speaking on the occasion, Punjab education minister Rana Mashhood said Pakistan was custodian of one of the most ancient cultures of the world called Indus Valley Civilization.

He said the Harrappa relics spreading over 130 acres of land were being destroyed as the local people paid no attention to the site. Mr Mashhood said the government had allocated budget for erecting a boundary wall around the site.

The minister said the archaeologists from all over the world would be invited to COMSATS’ Sahiwal campus where boarding and lodging facilities would be provided to them so that excavation at Harappa could be completed in a scientific manner.

He said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had ordered Punjab archaeology department to conduct historical mapping of the whole province.

The minister said some 450 heritage sites had been discovered in Punjab, adding that he had decided to set up heritage clubs in educational institutions of every area.