Ancient Pak ruins fast disappearing

Lahore: Many Pakistani archaeological sites from its thousands of years of rich history are crumbling away as officials tussle over who should look after them.

A cradle of ancient civilisations and crossroads of Greek, Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim cultures, Pakistan has a treasure-trove of ruins but many are being built over, pilfered by art thieves and villagers or succumbing to the elements.

The federal government's archaeology department has control over most of the country's main sites but provincial officials argue they should be in charge of looking after their ruins.

Head of the Punjab provincial government's archaeology department, Orya Maqbool Jan says the province has a history of conservation and preservation dating back to British colonial times at the beginning of the last century.

"But for the last 50 years things were shifted back to the federal government and Punjab was not given the responsibility of looking after its own heritage," Jan said in an interview in his office in the city of Lahore, the provincial capital.

Jan said federal authorities' neglect had led to the destruction of 32 sites in Punjab.

"People have razed them to the ground and built houses over them. It's a big loss."

Restoration efforts by federal authorities had also caused irrevocable damage, he said.

"The principles of conservation laid down by UNESCO have not been adhered to," he said.

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"Done nothing"

Three years ago, the federal government handed Jan's department responsibility for three sites -- the Mughal-era Shalimar Gardens in Lahore, the Lahore Fort and the Katas Raj Hindu temple.

Jan says he has improved the sites though he says up to half of his spending has gone on correcting the wrongdoing of the federal authorities. He says he wants to take over responsibility for all of the province's monuments.

Across town in his office in the huge Lahore Fort, federal government archaeological engineer Muhammad Tanweer scoffs at Jan's assertions.

"They've done no conservation work, no restoration work. They've not spent a single penny," Tanweer said.

"They've just done the gardens," he says, pointing to lawns inside the magnificent 500-year-old fort where school children in red and blue uniforms were playing.

Federal Minister of Culture Sayed Ghazi Gulab Jamal bristles when asked about Jan's criticism.

"The provincial government has not done a great job with what belongs to them," he said. But he said responsibility for more monuments could be handed over if provinces showed they could improve sites and had the capacity to handle more.

"The main aim of everyone is to conserve and improve the sites so if somebody else can show it, why not?" Jamal added.