CHAKWAL, Oct 25: On Thursday, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) chief Ch. Shujaat Hussain, who is also the chairman of Katas Raj Temples Committee, visited the spot and inspected the ongoing renovation work.

Accompanying him were Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Akram Masih Gill, Federal Secretary Mohammad Ejaz Chaudhry and Advisor to Prime Minister on Interfaith Harmony.

District Coordination Officer (DCO) Ahmad Aziz Tarar, Deputy Director of Punjab Archaeology Department Afzal Khan, Assistant Commissioner Choa Saidan Shah Abid Hussain Bhatti and other concerned officers were present on the occasion.

DCO Ahmad Aziz Tarar, while briefing Ch. Shujaat Hussain about the ongoing renovation work informed that Punjab Government allocated Rs640 million for the development of Katas Raj and its related areas.

He said that 600 million rupees would be spent on Kallar Kahar-Choa Saidan Shah Road on which Katas Temples Complex is located. 10 million rupees for the construction of a boundary wall around the historic site, while Rs30 million would be spent on water supply.

Ch. Shujaat Hussain, Dr. Paul Bhatti and Minister Akram Masih Gill expressed their satisfaction over the steps taken by the Punjab Government for reviving the pond and for conserving the ancient spot.

Ch. Shujaat said that renovation work started in 2005 should have been completed by now. “Being the sacred place for Hindus, Katas Raj could help in promoting peaceful and strong relations between India and Pakistan”, he maintained.

“The pond was excavated nine to fifteen feet and now is full of water”, AC Choa Saidan Shah, Abid Hussain Bhatti told Dawn.

He revealed that there are eleven springs leading to the pond, which have been recharged.

“In summer the pond had totally dried up but now 2.5 cusec water flows from it which is irrigating the gardens and other agriculture lands in Choa Saidan Shah town”, he added.

During the excavation, two big stones of red colour were also discovered which were dumped in the pond. Both stones belong to the 4th century.