LARKANA, Feb 16: The federal government has approved a master plan to undertake massive conservation work at Moenjodaro in collaboration with the Moenjodaro and Conservation and Research Cell (MCRC) at the site.

The National Site Director of Moenjodaro and the Director Southern Wing of the Department of Archaeology Qasim Ali Qasim said at Moenjodaro on Thursday that the plan being the first phase of larger master plan would cost an amount Rs 35.5 million.

A meeting held on February 7, in Islamabad was given a go ahead with the plan with the instructions to prepare a larger master plan by the end of June this year, he said. Under the new plan not only a huge conservation work involving indigenous methodologies at the site would be carried out but also a new museum along with all necessary facilities for visitors would be constructed.

He said that lion’s share of the total cost of the plan would be spent on conservation work.

Referring to recent extensive meetings between federal secretary and provincial secretary culture Sindh, Mr Qasim said that Ms Mehtab Akbar Rashdi had been made the chairperson of a steering committee with the federal joint secretary culture, director general archaeology and director archaeology southern wing as its members.

More members would be included in the committee, he said. Responding to a question about the process of decentralization of the department of archaeology, he said that Sindh had agreed to take over 128 protected monuments scattered throughout the province.

The prime minister would chair a meeting on 18 February in Islamabad in this connection, he said adding that it was expected that a decision regarding decentralization would come up on the day. At the outset when proposals were floated for the devolution of the department of archaeology, the National Reconstruction Bureau put forth certain objections but later on withdrew agreeing over the decentralization, he said.

The national site director of Moenjodaro on Thursday held meetings with the staff at the site and told this correspondent that execution work on the first phase of master plan would start soon.

He advocated utilisation of the services of the local experts to conserve and preserve the giant structures of the Indus Valley civilization.

CARICATURES: The managing committee of the district bar association, Larkana which met here on Thursday under Mr Ayaz Soomro condemned the publication of blasphemous caricatures of Muhammad (PBUH) and urged the government to sever ties with Denmark and other European countries.