LARKANA, Nov 27: The National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) and the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Sindh, would hold a joint meeting on Thursday in Islamabad to finalize the plan of decentralization of historical monuments and sites in the light of devolution of power plan.

Sources in the Department of Archaeology told Dawn that President Gen Pervez Musharraf had approved in principle the decentralization of historical sites and monuments.

The NRB in line with the directive of the president has asked the department to undertake the exercise and it had sent a proforma to the heads of northern and southern circles of Archaeology department seeking details regarding the staff, budget and the province-wise number and location of historical monuments and sites.

The department has also gathered information as to who, the province or the centre, holds the control of monuments and archaeological sites.

Both the northern and southern circles of the Department of Archeology have submitted their reports in accordance with the proforma to the head office.

Sources said that the exercise was also carried out on the possible transfer of sites and monuments from federal to the provincial governments and from provincial to district governments under the devolution of power plan. The Punjab government in this connection has already issued the notification, sources said.

The NRB officials, the Department of Archaeology and Museums and the chief secretaries of the four provinces would meet on Thursday in Islamabad to give final shape to the plan.

The director general of the Department of Archaeology, Sindh, has reportedly given positive response to the proposed plan, sources added.