Auqaf dept blamed for encroachments

Published February 21, 2007

LAHORE, Feb 20: A meeting, headed by Punjab Archaeology Department director-general Oriya Maqbool Jan, regarding removal of encroachments in and out of historical monuments was held here on Tuesday.

Jan directed the participants, including town nazims and Auqaf and federal archaeology departments’ representatives to prepare lists of encroachments during the next two days.

Talking to Dawn, the director-general said the Auqaf department had ‘legalised’ encroachments in and around monuments by renting them out.

Jan said he had called the next meeting on Feb 26 in which all stakeholders would present their lists of encroachments.

He said another meeting had also been called with the Auqaf department on Wednesday (today) to discuss those shops and kiosks it had rented out in and around the monuments.

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