KHAIRPUR, April 8: Prof Dr Mohammad Rafique Mughal, the professor of archaeology & heritage at the Boston University, US, has called for the establishment of a museum in the historical city of Mansura and to name it after Dr N.A. Baloch in recognition of his great contributions towards the history and culture of Sindh.

He was delivering the Dr Nabi Bukhsh Baloch lecture on ‘Mansura — the first Islamic capital of Sindh and Multan’ organised jointly by the Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU) and the Endowment Fund Trust for Preservation of the Heritage of Sindh at the university on Monday.

Prof Mughal highlighted the historical importance of Mansura and Sindh, and said that Sindh had special characteristics because evolution of the ancient culture of the region started from the lands of the Sindh. In this regard he made mention of Rani Kot, Moenjodaro and the 1,000-year-old Makli graveyard.

He said that great scholars like Dr N.A. Baloch born in an area that was located near Mansura. The first excavation work in Mansura had been carried out in 1966, he said, adding that he roads, streets, bazaars and other structures of the historical city resembled those of Bhanbore. He said that more than 4,000 coins and other articles of historical importance discovered during excavation in Mansura should be put on display in a museum to be established within the city and named after Dr Baloch.

Prof Mughal also called for restoration of the city’s original layout and conservation and restoration of the excavated structures. He said government should encourage and facilitate visits to the city by foreign and local people and arrange for publication of the material concerning discoveries in Mansura.

He also stressed the need for teaching and training of Islamic archaeology and establishment of an institute of Islamic archaeology affiliated with SALU and introduction of syllabi of Islamic arts, archaeology and civilisation, as well as training courses for heritage management and preservation.

Prof Mughal said that a dossier should be prepared for bringing Mansura on the world heritage list.

Delivering her presidential address, SALU vice chancellor Dr Parveen Shah thanked Prof Mughal and EFT secretary Abdul Hameed Akhund for their efforts in organising the lecture. She described Dr Baloch as a versatile capability who was a committed administrator, dedicated historian and outstanding academicians.

She said Dr Baloch was an illustrious author of valuable books mostly on the history and culture of Sindh. His compilation of the Shah Jo Risalo was the best guide for research students, she added.

Deans of various faculties, professors, teachers, researchers and a large number of students attended the lecture.