KARACHI, March 8: The Director-General of Projects and Special Initiatives (P&SI) has proposed to the provincial revenue department to reconsider the allotment of over 68 acres to an industry near the historic Chaukandi tombs and said a heritage park be developed on the same site.

The revenue department has allotted a land measuring over 68-15 acres adjacent to the historic Chaukandi Graveyard in Bin Qasim Town which has threatened the very existence of the historic tombs and also created a huge hue and cry among the local population who want parks and other entertainment-oriented projects on this land.

“I have proposed an ADP scheme for the coming year where in a park will be developed if the land is made available to us,” the DG said in a letter written to the Member (Land Utilisation) of the Board of Revenue Karachi.

The letter referred to the people’s anguish on the issue reflected in the protest and a resolution passed by the Bin Qasim Town for the cancellation of the subject allotment and the issue was raised by various newspapers. The deal was first published in Dawn last month in which the Land Utilisation Department’s allotment of 68-15 acres of land in Deh Kantho of Bin Qasim Town to a private firm M/S Precious Industrial Park was revealed.

Dr Kaleemullah Lashari, DG (P&SI) said the sandstone graves of exquisite beauty are a specialty of Sindh and no where does such unique funeral architecture exist, which is why the site is a major tourist attraction. The historic Chaukandi tombs are made of sandstone of local origin that unfortunately is not very strong and can be damaged by industrial exhausts in the air, he added.

“The setting of this graveyard is of utmost importance as it stands on high ground and its builders wanted it to be seen from all around,” said Mr Lashari. These protected monuments deserve our respect and we must not distort their setting. According to international heritage conventions, the area between the archaeological or historical sites and neighbourhood is to be separated by creating a buffer zone,” said the letter.

Another expert said: “There should be a park to promote the site. Instead, the government decided to threaten the very existence of the historic tombs by creating an industrial estate violating the Antiquities Act by allotting even the transit area.”

The experts said the government should have consulted the department of environment before putting a huge industrial area in the middle of the populated locality.