HYDERABAD, Sept 27: The district government would organise a three-day Hyderabad Festival in March next year to highlight the historical background, cultural heritage and traditions of the historical city.

This was decided at a meeting held here on Thursday under the Chairmanship of district nazim Hyderabad Kanwar Naveed Jamil at his office.

The nazim said that Hyderabad possessed historical heritage of Sindh which has remained capital of the province and it is our prime duty to protect and preserve our cultural heritage.He said that there are numerous historical and old buildings in and around Hyderabad City which are now in decrepit condition.

He directed to prepare a list of all such buildings, monuments and details of constructions for repair to protect them.

It was decided that provincial government would be moved to immediately declare about 100 buildings of Hyderabad as protected buildings under preservation of heritage buildings law.

The district nazim informed that all encroachments from Holmstead Hall have been got removed and vacated and a library would be established there. Besides, Municipal Museum would be established at old D.C. House while an Art Gallery would be established at Mukhi House.

Kanwar Naveed Jamil said that an amount of Rs20 million has been allocated for establishment of library at Holmstead Hall while renovation and betterment work have been initiated at Rani Bagh at revised estimates of Rs150 million which would be completed by June 2008.

He said that Hyderabad festival would include illumination of renovated historical buildings such as Hyderabad Fort, Katcha Qilla, Market Tower, Tombs of Meers, Sindh University Old Campus, Basant Hall, Civil Hospital, Sessions Court Buildings, Mukhi House, Shamdas Park, S.K. Rahim School, Kewal Ram Building and etc.

The district nazim further said that Hyderabad (Neroon Kot) is an old city amongst present the main cities of the country and Hyderabad Festival would highlight and project the importance and image of the city.

He added that various events such as flower shows, books fairs, old photographs, ornaments, manuscripts shows etc, Malakhro, musical cultural programmes and colourful concerts at various places of city, would be organised during the three-day festival.

It was also decided that to celebrate the occasion, a book containing collection of articles/essays on history, culture and other aspects, with photographs, would be published and issued on the occasion.

A committee headed by Mir Haider Ali Talpur was constituted to chalk out a programme to this effect and a report would be submitted within a month.

Mir Haider Ali Talpur, Ishrat Ali Khan, EDO (CDD) Hyderabad and others attended the meeting.

SENATE ELECTIONS: Sindh university teachers here on Thursday elected 12 members for the university senate from professors, associate professors, assistant professors and lecturers of the university.