DADU: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that Sindh has a centuries-old history yet to be studied and great archaeological treasures that need to be explored. The gigantic task requires enormous funds and availability of a research institute of international standards within the province. Research scholars of international repute have to be invited and authentic reference documents made available to local archaeologists to undertake the research and exploration work in the province.

The CM was speaking at a ceremony held at the Sehwan Fort for the groundbreaking of its preservation work, assigned to the Endowment Fund Trust (EFT), on Saturday.

He said he was fully satisfied with the work carried out by the EFT for the preservation and restoration of Naukot Fort in Tharparkar district and Ranikot in Jamshoro district. Appreciating the EFT for accomplishing the extremely tricky task, he expressed his confidence that the preservation work of Sehwan Fort would also be done as per the international standards and with required care.

‘Measures being taken to preserve Sindh’s all historical sites’

Tracing history of Sindh, the chief minister said “it’s spread over centuries, much before Alexander the Great came to this region”. He regretted that due attention had never been paid to Sindh’s heritage in the past few decades. But following transfer of the heritage portfolio to the provincial government under the devolution plan, the Sindh government had been taking measures to ensure preservation of the treasure, he said.

While the government was in a constant touch with foreign experts in this regard, local archaeologists, historians, scholars and literati as well as all those having interest in the field should come forward with their proposals and plans to help restore and preserve each and every historical site in the province, he said.

“It’s time to preserve the research work and information about the art, history and culture of Sindh region,” he said.

CM Shah advised the EFT to establish a ‘conservation lab’ somewhere in Dadu and also impart training to youths in collaboration with the culture and antiquities department, besides honing skills of such professionals.

He also pledged his government’s full support in the establishment of a research institute to be named as ‘Trans-Indus Research Institute’ under the EFT in Karachi.

He announced that an international conference on Alexander the Great and Sehwan would be held next year and asked the EFT to propose names for a committee and prepare a plan for the event.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2022