I RECENTLY watched a video by a vlogger who visited the historical Ranikot Fort situated near Sunn, Jamshoro, showing the negative effects on the structure of official neglect. The fort was built by the Talpur dynasty in the 19th century and is also known as the Great Wall of Sindh. It is spread over about 32km and was nominated for the Unesco World Heritage site status in 1993.

It is heart-wrenching to see the apathy of those who are supposed to protect this heritage, especially when this can attract local people as well as tourists from across the world.

We can take a cue from the United Kingdom, where such sites are preserved and promoted for tourism. I once visited Ranikot Fort in the winter of 2020 and found it a breathtaking place. I recommend people to visit this place, especially in the winter season.

However, I was surprised to note that there was not a single washroom, no canteen or a hotel for refreshment at the site. Most importantly, there was no tourist guide who could have guided us about the history of the fort.

It is the responsibility of both federal and provincial governments to protect such places for our future generations, and for promoting tourism that may also generate revenue for the country in these tough times. It will be a win-win situation.

Name withheld on request
Jamshoro

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2022