THATTA, Sept 24: Sindh Minister for Culture Sassui Palijo has said her department has initiated a survey of hitherto un-notified archaeological sites of national importance to preserve and document their history.

Speaking at a ceremony held to lay the foundation stone of Bhambore Public Library at Gharo town here on Monday, the minister said that over 130 sites of national heritage and archaeological importance of Sindh had officially been recorded by the culture and archaeological departments.

When the archaeology department was under the federal government, some 1,000 sites had been explored in the north of the province but not notified. After the department’s devolution to the Sindh government, the minister said, the work had been initiated mostly in southern Sindh to explore and enlist the remaining sites following a comprehensive survey.

She said six schemes had been prepared to promote archaeological sites of Moen Jo Daro, Makli Necropolis, Bhambore and the remaining important sites of Sindh. Four master plans are also under way to make the important archaeological sites of Sindh visit worthy.

Ms Palijo said that for the first time in the history of her department, the government had provided huge funds to establish cultural centres and libraries, and publish books.

She said the culture department had established 15 libraries in the province and six of them were in Thatta, which would help promote the academic standard of Thatta youth.

Ms Palijo said that after a survey and enlistment of the remaining archaeological sites of Sindh, the department would move for legislation for their proper protection and preservation.

She said Sindh had suffered huge losses during the floods in 2010 and subsequent torrential rains.

Earlier, provincial secretary of the culture department Abdul Aziz Uqaili told the audience that the department had published 130 books in the past 40 years in comparison to the last four years in which 150 books on various subjects had been published.

He said the master plan of Moen Jo Daro had been prepared in 1947 and during the tenure of this government four master plans were under preparation to promote historical sites.