KARACHI, July 17: The Chief Secretary, Fazalur Rehman, has directed concerned authorities to complete ongoing schemes of the provincial auqaf and culture departments at the earliest.

Addressing a meeting on Saturday at his office, he reviewed the progress of the Dargah Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalander project and asked its project director and contractor to complete the project on schedule observing all standards.

Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Ghulam Sarwar Khero gave a presentation to the chief secretary on uplift schemes related to the auqaf and culture departments.

The meeting expressed dissatisfaction over the standard of construction of the first phase of re-development of Dargah Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalander and decided to take steps to ensure the use of standard material in phase two besides getting the project completed in time.

Mr Fazal also directed the project director that the contracting company should be asked to compensate for unsatisfactory work done in the first phase.

It may be mentioned that the project has been divided into four phases costing a total of Rs498 million.

The first phase was about renovation of the shrine, and under the second phase, the Dhamal Court, entrance for public, mosques and office would be constructed.

Construction of a musafirkhana (tavern), lungerkhana (dining hall), public toilets, and a small courtyard would be undertaken in the third phase.

While construction of the golden gate, main entrance, main courtyard, museum, auditorium, shops and craft training centre are included in the fourth phase.

The meeting asked the secretary auqaf to prepare a strategy for proper implementation of phases III and IV.

The meeting also reviewed the renovation/construction of the Dargah Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai and expressed its deep concern that despite release of funds, the chief administrator auqaf had failed to even initiate the project.

Mr Fazal asked the secretary auqaf to himself take charge of the project and submit a report on reasons of its delay within 15 days besides ensuring implementation on the project from next month.

The meeting decided that all the said projects should be completed according to their schedules in a transparent way.

The meeting also reviewed the repair and renovation project of the Rani Kot Cultural Complex in Dadu and decided that it should be completed well on schedule.

It was also decided that services of expert wood workers would be hired to erect wooden roof over the historical rooms in the fort. All work should be carried out ensuring that it displayed the original historical and cultural touch of the Rani Kot complex, the meeting maintained.

The preservation and renovation project of Khuda Abad Masjid, Dadu was also reviewed by the meeting and it was decided that work on the project would be initiated after receiving a report from architects, which was due in two weeks.

The meeting decided to construct speed breakers on the Indus Highway in the nearby area to save the historical structure of mosque from vibration.

The meeting decided to set up a Kashi Conservation Centre, so that art of Kashi handcraft in areas of Halla, Nasrpur and Kashmore could be preserved and promoted.

The meeting was attended by Secretary Culture Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, Secretary General Administration Abdul Qadir Mangi, Secretary Auqaf and Religious Affairs Nadir Ali Markhiani, DCOs Qabool Ahmed Shaikh (Jamshoro), Aijaz Mangi (Dadu), Additional Chief Secretary Finance Javed Hanif and senior officers.—PPI