LAHORE, June 7: The Punjab Finance Department has allocated funds to the archaeology department to accommodate 176 employees currently working in the federally administered Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens.

The staff includes three officers - curator, assistant curator and archaeological conservator - gardeners and other staffers. In February this year, the prime minister had announced transfer of these monuments to the Punjab. The decision has yet to be notified.

"After allocation of funds, the department claims that it is in a position to take the staff of these monuments on its payroll," director Shahbaz Khan told Dawn on Monday.He said the Punjab would recruit new staff of 176 if they refused to be transferred.

He said the Punjab was ready to take control of the historical monuments and would ask the federal to finalize modalities in this regard at the earliest. Besides, the Punjab has also sought approval from the finance department for recruitment of 55 staffers to run the affairs of monuments.

The department has also proposed creation of a new post of director, who will be responsible for the upkeep of these monuments which are on the World Heritage List. Other proposed posts include two deputy directors, an assistant director, two SDOs, security officers, tourist guides and garden superintendents.