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.