Conserving national heritage
Dawn Editorial
Saturday, 07 Nov, 2009
Invaluable prehistoric sites like Moenjodaro, Harappa as well
as the vast tracts of the Gandhara civilisation present a picture
of utter neglect. –Source: Sindhihome
It is with both elation and concern that we welcome the federal
culture ministry's recommendations on the `compilation of inventory
of cultural assets' in the country, as reported on Friday. Our
sense of elation stems from the fact that at long last the ministry
has taken up the important task of documenting the cultural heritage
of Pakistani people — including ethnic minorities —
and the country's archaeological sites, which are in dire need
of conservation.
However, of particular concern is the fact, as voiced by the relevant
subcommittee, that budgetary allocations for the task remain woefully
low. The ministry has a paltry Rs3.3m per annum to conserve some
400 listed monuments, which it says boils down to Rs8,000 per
heritage site. That is a pathetic state of affairs.
In so diverse a country, the culture ministry needs far greater
funding to do justice to all religious and ethnic groups and their
individual or shared secular heritage. As it is, the existing
condition of even the Mughal monuments, which are wholeheartedly
owned by the state and the people alike, presents a picture of
utter neglect.
Invaluable prehistoric sites like Moenjodaro, Harappa as well
as the vast tracts of the Gandhara civilisation are even worse
off. Given the existing funds available with the ministry, the
monumental task it wants to undertake seems impossible. The subcommittee
on culture fell short of identifying alternative sources of funding,
such as foreign donors, Unesco or local philanthropist organisations
that may be tapped for the purpose. A lot of what Pakistan has
in cultural heritage is after all global in its historical appeal.
Efforts should be made to reach out to the world and solicit funds
for conserving our cultural treasures across the country.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/14-conserving-national-heritage-zj-03
