The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the provincial culture secretary to submit the list of ancient properties declared under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act.
The direction came during the hearing of a case with regard to preservation of ancient and heritage sites of the province. A single bench of the high court comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar directed the culture secretary to categorise the ancient properties having heritage and antiquities value with respect of their ownership by the public-owned and private-owned persons.The SHC also directed the secretary to notify a committee to frame criteria of re-habilitation work and promotion of the ancient sites that had already been declared under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act 1904.
The high court observed that the committee shall submit a workout mechanism with regard to the provision of information about the properties to local as well as foreign visitors, and also devise a mechanism to ensure provision of all necessary facilities to the tourists at those sites, including digital tools.
The bench observed that the committee shall ensure that except properties declared under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act 1904, no new rehabilitation project was launched till the committee had decided the characteristics/historical value of the heritage sites notified in 2019.
The high court observed that the committee shall also examine the criteria of recruitment in culture department from grade 17 onwards and shall include bachelors and masters degrees in social sciences, history, archive, library sciences.
