By Bahzad Alam Khan
KARACHI, May 10: In a questionable move, the federal government
has decided to wind up the Department of Archaeology and Museums
in Karachi and relocate it along with all its possessions to Lahore.
The decision, which the archaeology department is seeking to implement
in haste, will deprive Sindh, particularly Karachi, of valuable
archaeological and historical wealth.
A government order (No 20A/1/93 - Arch Admn) was issued on May 3,
which stated that in the first phase the publication branch and
the planning and development branch were being shifted to the Lahore
Fort by May 15.
The order says: "In compliance with the instructions of the secretary,
Ministry of Minorities, Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth Affairs,
the publication branch and P&D branch are being shifted from
Karachi to Lahore in the first phase by May 15. The officers and
officials of the Publication and P&D branches are directed to
comply (with) the instructions of the secretary and proceed to Lahore
Fort by May 15."
The decision will also dislocate the officials of the department
who have reportedly been directed to either move to Lahore or seek
retirement.
Some officials of the archaeology department, requesting anonymity,
said that it would be very difficult for them to move to Lahore
- and that too on such a short notice - because their children are
in the middle of school session.
About 40 employees have filed a petition with the government to
stop the shifting of the department.
Some officials wondered whether the federal culture secretary had
the powers to take such a decision. "Such a move cannot be taken
unless the federal cabinet takes a decision on it. The federal culture
secretary cannot take such an important decision arbitrarily."
The Director-General of the Department of Archaeology and Museums,
Saeed-ur-Rehman, could not be contacted because he was in Islamabad.
Insiders, however, said that the department had approached a packer
firm to move antiquities - 150,000 or thereabouts - to Lahore Fort.
Mian Mohammad Tahir Boheer of the Tahir Brothers Packers, the firm
approached for logistics, conceded that the department had asked
him for an estimate which he would submit on Saturday.
"I have reason to believe that the archaeology department had first
approached the National Logistics Cell. Packing and transportation
of artifacts are very sophisticated jobs which require a great deal
of precision."
He refused to say exactly how much money the government would have
to spend on moving the antiquities from Karachi to Lahore.
Mr Boheer said: "The packer who takes 150,000 small artifacts and
at least 3,000 big artifacts to Lahore would obviously charge a
substantial sum; such a huge shipment cannot be inexpensive."
Experts, however, maintained that antiquities and books could not
be shifted to Lahore on such a short notice if all precautionary
measures were taken.
"The process of shifting 150,000 plus antiquities to Lahore would
take more than 10 years if all precautionary steps were taken. Besides,
such books are available in Lahore and there is no need to deprive
Sindh or Karachi of this treasure." They also wondered why no scholar,
historian and archaeologist was taken into confidence before taking
such an important decision.
The sources said if the government moved ahead with the shifting
programme it would have to move human figurines from Mehrgarh, Moshero,
pottery showing scenes of the Indus Valley Civilisation, Mansoora
site objects, artifacts from Jaleelpur (Punjab) and Turbat (both
Shahi Tump and Mirikalat), Ghazi Shah in Dadu district (excavated
by American archaeologist Louis Flan) and Lasbella (excavated by
a German team).
The site of Mehrgarh in Balochistan was excavated and documented
by the French archaeological team under the stewardship of Jean
Francois Jarrige.
http://www.dawn.com/2002/05/11/top12.htm
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