THATTA, July 31: Sindh Minister for Culture and Tourism Sassui Palijo has said that there is an urgent need to preserve and save the cultural and historical heritage of Sindh under a comprehensive plan.

She was speaking at a meeting of writers and intellectuals convened to discuss Makli Master Plan here on Thursday.

Ms Palijo said that her government was preparing Makli Master Plan at a cost of Rs1,279.947 million and after completion of this plan, the world will see a new Makli where repair and renovation work would be carried out and books and other documentation would also be made.

In the first phase repair and renovation of tomb of Doolah Darya Khan would be carried out and a park would also be constructed. She said that a seminar on Doolah Darya Khan will be organised in September.

She said that construction of a cultural centre in Thatta will start next month which will house an auditorium, a library, a museum and an art gallery.

She said all the DCOs in Sindh have been directed to constitute and reactivate the historical societies in their respective districts.

The minister said that scholar like Monis Ayaz and Dr Mohammad Ali Manjhi have been inducted in the department, whose commitment and vision were well recognised. She said books on Marvi and Makhdoom Moinuddin Thattvi will be published in Sindhi, Urdu and English.

She said that department of archaeology have authority over 130 sites in the province and survey would be conducted to find out more such sites.

She said Sindh government has allocated Rs850,000 for the archaeological sites of three districts while this amount was insufficient even for construction of boundary wall of Moen Jo Daro.

The meeting was attended by secretary culture Shams Jafri Monis Ayaz, Dr Mohammad Ali Manjhi, Aziz Jafrani, Mariam Majeedi, Rasool Bux Dars and others.