LAHORE, Aug 10: The federal culture ministry has finally decided to hand over some 390 monuments under its administrative control to provinces. The decision was finalised at a meeting in Islamabad on Thursday with Federal Culture Minister G.G Jamal in the chair. The federal culture secretary, all provincial culture secretaries, culture ministers of the NWFP and Balochistan, the federal and Punjab archaeology departments’ director generals and the NWFP archives DG were also present.

Punjab archaeology department’s Orya Maqbool Jan told Dawn that the meeting had decided that the federal staff working at these monuments would also be handed over to provinces.

He said the federal government would provide budget to Balochistan for three years and Sindh and the NWFP for one year after the execution of the decision.

“During this period, archaeology departments of the three provinces will strengthen themselves for proper upkeep of monuments under their control,” he said and added that Punjab would generate its own funds for the restoration of the handed over monuments which were 147 in number.

Mr Jan said a summary in this regard would be sent to the prime minister for approval. “The notification regarding the handing over of the federally administered monuments to provinces is likely to be issued in a month,” he said.

Two historical monuments — Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens — have already been transferred to Punjab.

Sources said the federal archaeology department director general was against the decision citing inability of the provinces for proper upkeep of monuments.

The provincial archaeology departments’ capacity to interact with the international donor agencies has often been questioned by some quarters.

Some officials of the federal archaeology department have taken a strong exception to the decision describing it a conspiracy to divide the culture. They are of the view that some elements at the helm of affairs have vested interests.

However, a provincial archaeology department official hopes that with the transfer of all the technical staff like architects, engineers, excavators, anthropologists, curators and paper conservators, provinces will be in a better position to look after the transferred monuments.

Of the total 390 federally administered monuments, 147 are in Punjab, 88 in the NWFP, 127 in Sindh and 28 in Balochistan.