THATTA: Federal Minister for Education, Professional Training and Heritage Shafqat Mahmood has said prolonged closure of educational institutions in the country had caused great loss to students in their academic studies during Covid-19 outbreak.

Speaking to the media during his visit to Makli necropolis here on Thursday, he said all federating units kept a close watch on the virus situation and took decisions at their periodic meetings to discuss how the loss could be covered and how and when the academic process can be normalised. He said finally, the federating units decided to allow resumption of educational activities at all educational institutions from Feb 1.

Speaking about his visit to heritage sites in Thatta district, he said the federal government had initiated a project under which preservation and maintenance of all heritage sites in the country as per international standards would be ensured. He said his visit was aimed at identifying such sites where federal government’s assistance was needed. He said that besides identifying the sites, he would recommend measures not only to help properly maintain them but also make them more attractive for foreign and local tourists.

The minister acknowledged that following the 18th Constitutional Amendment archaeological and other national heritage sites had been devolved to their respective provinces and their maintenance was entrusted to the province concerned. However, he added, the federal government realised its responsibility to help provinces with the upkeep of these sites and generate more revenues through tourism.

In reply to a question, Mr Mahmood rejected what he described as “propaganda” by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over the revelation made by a firm, Broadsheet. He pointed out that Broadsheet investigated Pakistanis’ assets abroad under an agreement with the government of General Pervez Musharraf. He said an investigation into the firm’s findings had already been ordered and any comment on them should be made once the outcome of the investigation was declared.

Instead of maligning PTI or others through a propaganda, the PML-N should focus on its own decline, he said.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2021