LAHORE, Oct 12: The Punjab government has decided to establish archaeological zones in the province for the proper ‘look after’ of historical monuments.

The Punjab has been divided into three zones - Lahore, Bahawalpur and Rawalpindi – which will be responsible to take care of the monuments falling in their jurisdiction. A BS-19 officer will be the head of each zone.

Punjab Information and Culture secretary Orya Maqbool Jan told Dawn on Sunday that a decision to the effect had been finalised and the heads of the zones would be notified shortly. He said the teams of the archaeological zones would comprise experienced archaeologists and conservationists.

“Since most of the historical monuments in Punjab are not being properly taken care of, the government feels that by doing so not only the monitoring methodology will improve but it will also help explore new avenues in the field,” he maintained.

Mr Jan further informed that the government was also re-launching a survey to document a number of ‘undocumented’ important monuments and sites across Punjab. In the past, he said such a plan was initiated but later scrapped and added that the new zones would also be a help in this regard.

At present, the archaeology department is responsible for the upkeep of 247 monuments in Punjab and the list of protected monuments has not been revised since 1986.

Under the Punjab Special Premises Ordinance 1986, all the buildings, which are more than 75 years old or have historical and architectural significance or associated with a renowned personality, should be declared protected.

According to an archaeologist, there are more than 500 historical mosques, mausoleums and buildings across the province, which are meeting the legal criterion to be declared protected.

The federal archaeology department had already identified a good number of new archaeological sites and monuments in Punjab between 1992 and 1997 but could not document them.

Nineteen pre-historic sites and monuments, a Hakra site, 56 sites and monuments of early Harappan civilisation, 31 of mature Harappan civilisation, five of late Harappan era, five painted grey-ware, 226 sites and monuments belonging to the fifth century BC and 7th century AD, some belong to early Muslim period (8th to 11th century AD), the Sultanate era (1200-1500 AD) and the Sikh or British era (1801-1947 AD) have been identified during that survey.

The sites and monuments are located in Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Attock, Jhelum, Pakpattan, Vehari, Sahiwal, Khanewal, Multan, Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Lodhran, Bahawalnagar, Toba Tek Singh, Faisalabad, Jhang, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Mandi Bahauddin, Bhakkar and Khushab.

Transfer of Federal Monuments: The information and culture secretary also informed that the Punjab had again requested the federal government to hand over some of the important monuments under its control in Punjab.

He said the federally-administered monuments in Punjab like Rohtas Fort was in a ‘bad shape’ and required immediate attention. Orya Jan said he had written to the federal government and hoped that the province would get the important monuments.

The issue of the transfer of some 392 federally-administered monuments across the country to the provinces has been under consideration for the last several years. Only Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens, which were under the federal control, were transferred to the Punjab government some four years ago. Both monuments are on the World Heritage List.

The federal archaeology department has 147 monuments in Punjab, 88 in the NWFP, 127 in Sindh and 28 in Balochistan. The Punjab archaeology department has 247 monuments, Sindh has only a few and the NWFP and Balochistan have none.