THATTA: The district administration of Thatta has launched a ruthless anti-encroachment operation to remove all illegal structures around heritage and cultural sites in order to facilitate their protection and preservation.

To begin with, spaces around a centuries-old mosque were completely cleared of all structures illegally raised over the years.

The mosque, locally known as ‘Dabgir Mosque’, was built by Amir Khusro Khan Charkas in 1688 and he had named it after himself, historians believe.

They say Amir Charkas was a descendant of Genghis Khan.

After living a turbulent life in his youthful age, including incarceration during the rule of Mirza Essa Tarkhan, Amir Charkas had later served as the administrator of Thatta and got many mosques, tombs, wells and bridges built in this region.

Thatta Deputy Commissioner Sarmad Ali Bhagat, who has ordered removal of encroachments, said that the operation was being launched under his ‘zero-tolerance policy’ against the menace. He said the aim was to restore historical and heritage sites’ surroundings to their original shape and facilitate their preservation.

Assistant Commissioner Shakir Faheem, along with the district’s anti-encroachment staff, police and officials of the revenue, local government and archaeology department, supervised the operation.

Heavy machinery was used to demolish concrete and other structures.

Similar action would be taken to remove encroachments around public and protected properties, besides places of historical importance, officials said. They urged citizens to refrain from raising such illegal structures again and to extend their cooperation to the district administration in ensuring preservation of all such monuments.

Dabgir Mosque is a 98x48-foot structure featuring a large central dome and two smaller adjacent domes. Its intricate tile work, carved stone arch and ornamental detailing are largely intact.

Archaeologists and other experts apprehend that the area’s saline soil, which has already caused decay to the mosque’s walls and columns, might further damage its brick structure.

DC Baghat described the ongoing removal of encroachments as the first step toward restoration of the heritage site’s surrounding area to facilitate its long-term preservation.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2026