BAHAWALPUR, Aug 24: The federal government is considering a proposal to restore outer wall of the historic Derawar Fort in Cholistan, about 80km from here. The proposal has been moved by the archaeology department. The fort is crumbling and the department wants to preserve at least its magnificent outer portion. In this connection, an archaeology department team, comprising a director and deputy-director, has recently inspected the site in Cholistan. Later, the team also met with DCO Muhammed Ashraf and discussed the issue with him.

The DCO told Dawn that it would not be possible for the department to reconstruct all the three storeys as it would require millions of rupees. According to him, after a thorough consideration, the archaeology director expressed the view that the fort’s outer boundary wall should be restored to its original shape, which could also be an attraction for visitors and tourists from home and abroad.

But before taking any final decision in this respect, Mr Ashraf said, permission would have to be sought from Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi, the custodian of the fort and legal heir of the late Bahawalpur Nawab Sadiq Muhammed Abbasi (Vth).

It is learnt that the DCO during a meeting with the director, has stressed the need for renovation of palaces of the late Nawab in Bahawalpur. During a visit to Darbar Mahal sometime back, Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi had also been impressed upon to undertake restoration work of the palaces.