ATTOCK, Sept 12 Conservation work on the Mughal era monument, Bahram ki Baradari, situated on G.T. Road near Attock Fort and Indus River, is yet to begin despite the fact that its completion time has been set for 2010.

Bahram ki Baradari, built by Bahram Khan during his chieftaincy in 1681 or a little after, is situated at the ridge of mountains on the southern side of G.T. Road near Attock Khurd.

The director-general (DG), Archaeology Department, Fazal Dad Khakar during his visit to Bahram Ki Baradari on December 19, 2006 had reportedly said the department had identified about 195 sites of Buddhist, Mughal, Sikh and Hindu periods, out of which three sites, Attock Tomb, Bahram Ki Baradari, Begum Ki Sarai, were located in Attock district.

Out of Rs200 million allocated for the conservation of historical monuments and archaeological sites from Swat to Taxila, about Rs5.2 million will be utilised for the conservation of three monuments of Attock district including Bahram ki Baradri, the sources said.

Since pace of work is very slow, the conservation process might not be completed by the end of next year.

When contacted, DG Archaeology Fazal Dad Khakar, was not available for comments due to his official engagements.

However, Project director Swat-Taxila Archaeology Conservation Project Saeedur Rehman said that the project's PC-1, approved in 2003, had some shortcomings. Revised PC-1 has been submitted to the ministry of culture, which was in the process of being approved.

He said unnecessary constructions

and renovation had been deleted from the revised PC-1 so that financial pressures could be avoided and completion of conversation of monuments ensured.

He said that conservation of fences, brick masonry and some other work of Bardari had so far been completed.

Mr Rehman claimed that after the approval of revised PC-1, the conservation work would be started with full pace and most probably it would complete by the end of year 2010.