THATTA, Sept 29: Sindh Minister for Culture Sassui Palijo has said that the Pakistan People’s Party is working on a comprehensive strategy for having an effective legislation against forced conversion, forced marriage and social/ economic disparities.

She was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of Bhagat Kanwar Ram Cultural Centre and the Ibn-i-Hayat Panhwar Public Library in Jhimpir on Friday night.

Regarding the centre, she said it was named after the Hindu luminary who always preached inter-religion harmony, peace and tolerance.

An amount of Rs35 million had been allocated in the budget for this scheme, she said, adding that the covered area of the building was about 9,000 square feet.

She said that after the handing over of the Hindu Gymkhana building in Karachi to the National Academy of Performing Arts a few years back, the Hindu community was demanding exclusive community centres for their religious rituals and cultural activities.

She said her department would establish six more cultural centres for the community in the Hindu dominated /majority areas.

About the Ibn-i-Hayat Panhwar Public Library, Ms Palijo said that it was part of the government’s efforts to improve academic and literary environment and promote cultural activities for which a network of cultural complexes, cultural centres and public libraries was being set up across the province.

She informed the audience that 15 public libraries and seven cultural centres were being set up under the provincial ADP and the Ibn-i-Hayat Panhwar Library was one of them.

She said that Rs30 million had been allocated for the public library to be constructed on a 7,000-square-foot plot. The culture minister also performed the launch of two books — ‘Sindh Heeran Khaan’ by Rasool Bux Dars and ‘Sabhita Ja Soonhan’ by Muhammad Hassan Kashif — at the ceremony.

Ms Palijo said that her department had published 142 books over the past four years as against 135 published by the department over the past four decades.

Commenting on the political situation in the province, she said that the PPP would never compromise on the interests of Sindh or its people.

She regretted that the government could not complete the ongoing development work and welfare projects in the province due to heavy rains, flash floods as well as conspiracies hatched against it.

However, she added, the government did deliver despite all the odds.

She recounted achievements of the culture department in the field of preservation of heritage, and said that it planned to undertake projects aimed at keeping alive the memories of heroes of Sindh who scarified their lives for the cause of democracy and Sindh. She said similar measures would be taken to promote art and culture and remember those who had rendered valuable services in this field.

Ms Palijo said that a monument would be constructed for Master Chandar, a famous Sindhi vocalist, at his native town, Tharo Shah.

Monuments of martyrs of Larkana, Movement for Restoration of Democracy and Hur Movement would also be constructed to raise awareness of their great sacrifices among the young generation, she added.

About the issues concerning Jhimpir, the minister said that local people’s demand for reconstruction of Jhimpir-Thatta Road, provision of water to the town and other facilities would be met soon. She said she had also proposed construction of Thatta-Nooriabad link road and hopefully the scheme would be executed.

Culture Secretary Abdul Aziz Uqaili also spoke.