HYDERABAD: Govt urged to preserve Sindh’s heritage
This was said by the Sindh secretary for information, Ashfaq Ahmad Memon, while speaking at the “Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro National Seminar 2002” at the Mumtaz Mirza Auditorium, Sindh Museum, here on Sunday.
He said a team would be appointed to prepare a documentary film of historical places of the province.
He said those nations which forget their history and fail to preserve their heritage were themselves destined to become relics of history.
The secretary, who was the chief guest on the occasion, urged people of Sindh to make efforts to protect the culture and heritage of the province.
Noted writer and educationist Mohammad Ibrahim Joyo, who presided over the first session of the seminar, in his speech said the regime of Kalhoro rulers was a golden period in the history of Sindh.
He said the Kalhoros had ruled over the province for over 80 years and added art, poetry and literature had flourished during their regime.
The general-secretary of the APNS, Kazi Asad Abid, stressed the need for preserving historical places.
He regretted the Karachi Museum, Moenjodaro, the tomb of Ghulam Shah Kalhoro and forts of Sindh were in dilapidated condition.
He said he would publish research material about Ghulam Shah Kalhoro in shape of a book for distribution in other countries.
He proposed a committee should be appointed to keep an eye on the working of government departments responsible for protecting national heritage.
Research scholar Dr Kaleenullah Lashari said Sindh was known all over the world for its relics and historical buildings.
He pointed out a law was passed in 1975 for protection of national heritage but, he deplored, the archaeology department had done nothing during the last 27 years.
He said the government had failed to preserve the Makli graveyard and Umerkot and Hyderabad forts.
The organizer of the seminar, Dr Shafqat Abbasi, regretted heroes of Sindh were being forgotten and their anniversaries were even not being commemorated.
Mohammad Nawaz Abbasi, the general-secretary of the seminar, said Hyderabad was founded by Ghulam Shah Kalhoro who had constructed many forts, mosques and tombs which were paragon of beauty.
The seminar adopted many resolutions, demanding the appointment of cultural committees to preserve the national heritage.
It further demanded the appointment of a director-general of the archaeology to look after historical places and ensure their maintenance.
It proposed alternate accommodation should be provided to residents of Pacca Qila and the Qila should be restored in its original shape.
Earlier, the participants of the seminar, led by Mohammad Ibrahim Joyo and Kazi Asad Abid, visited the tomb of Ghulam Shah Kalhoro and laid a floral wreath on the tomb.
An exhibition of photographs of the Kalhoro period was also held at the tomb under the aegis of the archaeology department.
The seminar was organized by the Abbasi-Kalhoro Ittihad, Sindh.