ISLAMABAD, June 1 The National Highway Authority has been asked to realign the controversial expressway running through the protected site of Moenjodaro.

A meeting presided over by Sindh additional chief secretary Sheikh Ayub on Tuesday was of the opinion that the project was in violation of the law and decided not to support the NHA contention.

The Larkana-Moenjodaro Airport Expressway was brought to a halt after the department of archaeology and museums protested that the NHA was building a road through a world heritage site.

The meeting, attended by representatives of the provincial government, archaeology department and the NHA and DCO of Larkana, said the country could not afford to support any project that inevitably damaged a world heritage site.

Officials in the ministry of culture told Dawn that Tuesday's deliberations were a follow-up of a meeting chaired by the Sindh chief secretary on May 24. It had decided to set up a sub-committee headed by Sheikh Ayub to resolve the issue between the NHA and the department of archaeology and museums.

The sub-committee will submit its report to the chief secretary who is expected to suggest to the NHA to take its commercial development project outside Moenjodaro in order to save the protected site.