THE Culture, Tourism, Antiquities and Archives Department of Sindh has recently announced various vacant positions in the directorate-general of antiquities and archaeology, directorate of archives, and directorate-general of culture. IBA Sukkur’s testing service is mentioned as the test centre for the vacant posts of the three directorates.

The various posts range, among others, from cataloguer (BPS-14), orientalist assistant (BPS-14) field technician (BPS-14) to typists and clerks (BPS-5). Many posts are directly linked to the fields of anthropology and archaeology, which are the two prime academic and professional subjects dealing with the study of culture, heritage, artefacts, museums and archives along with many other related areas of work.

However, it is deplorable that despite the close and direct relevance of the fields of anthropology and archaeology with culture, tourism, antiquities and archives, they have not been made part of the eligibility and qualification criteria for any post.

The snubbing of the fields of anthropology and archaeology for various posts shows the deliberate procedural and public policy negligence by the bureaucratic authorities of the culture department.

This exclusionary decision seems to downgrade the deserving graduates of anthropology and archaeology who have obtained a regular four-year BS university degree. It will only block the academic, professional and developmental growth of anthropology and archaeology disciplines in the country.

I urge the relevant authorities to provide equal career opportunities by including anthropology and archaeology in the eligibility criteria for the posts cited above.

Majid Jagirani

Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2021