LARKANA, March 31: Appropriate knowledge should be acquired to examine and preserve relics without damaging their originality.

This was said by the regional advisor for culture in Asia and the Pacific, UNESCO, Richard A Engelhard, while talking to Dawn here on Sunday night.

He said modern techniques which could damage relics should not be adopted.

He said a study was being conducted at Moenjodaro to evolve a long-term strategy to preserve the site. Similar studies were conducted at Taxilla and Shalamar Garden, Lahore, two years back, he added.

Answering a question regarding a burglary incident at the Moenjodaro Museum, Mr Engelhard said the assistance of Interpol should be sought to get the stolen seals back.

He said all the signatories of the 1970 Geneva Convention should extend help in recovering the seals.

He suggested security should be beefed up at museums.

When asked why not UNESCO was initiating a plan to preserve Moenjodaro by utilizing unused funds of the abandoned Authority for the Preservation of Moenjodaro, Mr Engelhard said UNESCO could not do any thing alone and respective countries should come forward and take initiative.

He said all the countries had been asked to submit a detailed report about the state of archaeological sites every six years to UNESCO.