HYDERABAD, April 10: The Hyderabad District Council on Monday called upon the authorities concerned to take immediate measures for preservation and restoration of archaeological sites in the district to promote tourism.

Members of the council expressed concern over the dilapidated condition of historical remains and urged the federal government to take measures to preserve them.

They were speaking at the monthly session of the council presided over by Naib Nazim and Convener Zafar Ali Rajput.

Q. Mohammad Hakim had raised the issue by tabling a resolution that Hyderabad had a lot of ancient places and archaeological sites, including Katcha Qila and Pakka Qila, Market Tower, tombs of Mirs and Kalhoros that he said were in dilapidated condition.

He said the sites were of international repute but due to wrong policies and indifferent attitude of the archaeological department, they were not maintained.

The federal government, Mr Hakim demanded, should appoint a task force under the supervision of the district council to preserve and restore these sites, so they could help attract tourism.

He said the government was not taking advantage of these archaeological remains while European countries preserved their historical sites and took financial advantage from them.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Arif Razmi said it was due to an indifferent attitude of the citizens and policy makers that the condition of historical places was fast deteriorating.

He demanded that the government should maintain those sites and ban encroachments on them, as they were historical identity of Sindh and its rich culture.

Arshad Naeem Taimuri, Nasir Baloch, Parveen Lodhi, Javed Qureshi, Farzana Ansari, Mohammed Ashraf and Mehboob Abro supported the resolution and stressed immediate measures to preserve the historical sites.