Featured Pakistan: The Archaeological Marvel

[Kambojaric]

German expert says only 10pc of Moenjodaro uncovered yet

HYDERABAD: German geo-architect, anthropologist and archaeologist Prof Michael Jansen, delivering a lecture at the Sindh University, stressed the need for massive exploration activity at Moenjodaro revealing that only 10 per cent of the ancient ruins had been discovered so far.

Prof Jansen discussed ‘The case study of Moenjodaro: the largest bronze-age city of the world’ at the Shaikh Ayaz auditorium of the Sindh University, Jamshoro.

He said that the Indus Valley civilisation bore striking resemblance with the Egyptian, Harappan and Mesopotamian civilisations; it rather excelled the other three in terms of water supply and water/sewage systems as Moenjodaro was the only city of its times to have wells.

“Moenjodaro was the most modern, well-planned, hygienic and developed city of its age. Moreover, recent findings also suggest the Indus Valley-Oman civilisation contact,” he said.

Prof Jansen observed that the Indus Valley civilisation also possessed similarities with Mesopotamian civilisation; both projected the seals bearing female figurines symbolising fertility and prosperity.

“I am convinced that understanding, conserving and further investigating Indus Valley civilisation is not only a national but an international concern; and that the need for establishment and functionality of International Centre for Indus Valley Integrated Studies (CIVIS) is fully justified,” he said.

Presiding over the programme, SU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Fateh Muhammad Burfat said Prof Jansen had first come to Sindh in 1970s and had stayed for several years at Moenjodaro site to conduct his research.

He stressed the need for connecting missing dots in the past, present and future of the Indus Valley civilisation. He said that CIVIS was being established to bridge those gaps through facilitating academic and research partnerships independently and with other relevant world stakeholders.

A proposal to functionalise CIVIS was formally signed among SU, the Research Centre Indian Ocean (Oman) and German Research Centre Moenjodaro at the VC’s office on Tuesday.

Earlier, SU Thatta campus focal person Prof Dr Sarfaraz Hussain Solangi welcomed guests. He also moderated the programme, which was attended by a large number of SU students and faculty.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1398127

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Personal Opinion: Great to know there is a lot more to be discovered but also understand why no efforts are being made currently as we simply do not possess the resources and will to adequately preserve the ruins once they are uncovered. Right now they are protected by the sands and lets hope up at some point in the near future Pakistan is prosperous enough to uncover and properly maintain a site which would be the envy of any other country around the world.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

Prof Jansen discussed ‘The case study of Moenjodaro: the largest bronze-age city of the world’ at the Shaikh Ayaz auditorium of the Sindh University, Jamshoro.

Indus Valley civilisation bore striking resemblance with the Egyptian, Harappan and Mesopotamian civilisations; it rather excelled the other three in terms of water supply and water/sewage systems as Moenjodaro was the only city of its times to have wells.

Moenjodaro was the most modern, well-planned, hygienic and developed city of its age. Moreover, recent findings also suggest the Indus Valley-Oman civilisation contact,”

This is ... Ancient Pakistan ! Cradle of mankind !

 

[Levina]

This is ... Ancient Pakistan ! Cradle of mankind !

Ancient what?

I like your sense of humour.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

what?

Pakistan

• In boldprint in case of eyesight issues.
• Useage of Pakistan is coterminous.

 

[Kambojaric]

Ancient what?

I like your sense of humour.

Please dont derail this thread. Ancient Pakistan is a term just as valid as ancient Ireland, ancient Lebanon or ancient Ukraine (https://www.pri.org/stories/2015-12-30/dna-solves-mysteries-ancient-ireland, https://archeorient.hypotheses.org/2312, https://www.rom.on.ca/en/about-us/n...ukraine-the-remarkable-trypilian-culture-5400). Just because the political entities in these respective regions emerged in recent centuries does not negate their history, nor their inhabitants claim to said history.

 

[ghazi52]

 

[Kambojaric]

Renovation Attracts More Visitors To Hiran Minar

Renovation and upgradation of facilities at Hiran Minar in Sheikhupura have resulted in an increase of visitors more than 300% per annum.

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jun, 2018 ) :Renovation and upgradation of facilities at Hiran Minar in Sheikhupura have resulted in an increase of visitors more than 300% per annum.

A spokesman for Punjab Archeology Department Maqsood Malik said this while talking to APP, here on Monday.

"Local and foreign visitors to the site are increasing day by day and several foreigners have also visited it after its renovation," he said.

Actually this looks a totally different place after its renovation and visitors have all latest facilities to enjoy there, he added.

He said that Hiran Minar is a unique monument of the world which was built by great Mughal Emperor Jahangir to show his love for a black deer named Hans Raj.

He said that Hiran Minar also has one of the largest ponds of water covered by walls in the region. The pond was built to provide animals with the drinking water facility. He said that the authorities have spent generous amounts on renovation of the monument.

"Now Hirna Minar has become one of the finest recreational places outside Lahore. Being close to Lahore-Islamabad motorway, it has now become a stopover for families and other motorists," he added.

Maqsood Malik said that the officials of Punjab Archaeology Department had to work hard to accomplish the task of renovation of monument.

He said that the latest security arrangements had been made, besides parking and dinning arrangements. There is also an opportunity of boating and watching lights show.

A rose garden has also been added to the natural beauties of the Minar, he added.

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/renovation-attracts-more-visitors-to-hiran-mi-362444.html

 

[Kambojaric]

Archaeology dept proposes restoration of 8 monuments in south Punjab

MULTAN: Multan Archaeology Department has sent proposals to the high ups for the conservation and restoration of eight monuments in south Punjab under the annual development plan 2018-19.

According to an initial assessment, the tentative cost for the conservation of the monuments would be around Rs170 million, official sources said.

The monuments included around two centuries old Harand fort in district Rajanpur, tomb of Hazrat Sheikh Ladhu in Muzaffargarh, the palace of Nawab Muzaffar Khan Saddozai in Shujabad (Multan), tomb of Shah Hussain Saddozai in Multan, tomb of Hazrat Sheikh Saddan Shaheed in Muzaffargarh, tomb of Fateh Khan Joiya in Fatehpur, tehsil Mailsi, district Vehari, shrine of Hazrat Sultan Manjhan in Muzaffargarh, and the tomb of king Tahir Khan Nahar in Muzaffargarh.

Harand fort is located in district Rajanpur, about 60-km west of Jampur to Dajal town, on the border of Punjab and Balochistan. It is facing decay and the cost of the project has been assessed at around Rs 90 million.

The Fort was originally built opposite historic Chachar Pass in Suleman Range. The fading signs of the edifice are still there in the form of debris and bricks scattered around the old site. Sikh Governor Sawan Mal used the material of the old fort and rebuilt it on a new location in 1831. The fort had seen three different periods including Hindu period, the Macedonian and the Muslim period.

The tomb of Hazrat Sheikh Ladhu belongs to Salateen period and resembles with the tomb of Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya Multani. It is located about 20 km from Muzaffargarh toward north-west.

The project is proposed to be completed in two years and cost has been assessed at around Rs 15 million. The palace of Nawab Muzaffar Khan Saddozai is decaying inside the historical fortification wall of Shujabad. Shujabad fortification wall has already been conserved by 80 per cent and the rest left unattended due to encroachment.

The cost of the project has been assessed at around Rs 25 million and it would be completed in two-year period subject to final approval by provincial government.

The shrine of Shah Hussain Saddozai is located near Abdali Masjid, Multan. Shah Hussain Saddozai was the first among Saddozai rulers to reach Multan in 1652. He built a beautiful mosque and a palace called Shish Mahal which was surrounded by a garden in Multan city but it does not exist today. The project, once approved, would complete in three years at a cost of Rs 9 million.

The tomb of Sheikh Saddan Shaheed is located about 35 km from Muzaffargarh toward north, in a graveyard on the fringes of sand dunes in floody area. The saint buried here is said to be a descendent from Tamim Ansari, one of the companions of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). His ancestors came to Multan with Muhammad Bin Qasim. The tomb stone on the grave indicates that the monument belong to Sheikh Saddan Shaheed (674 A.H.).

Tomb of Fateh Khan Joyia is located in Fatehpur village, tehsil Mailsi, district Vehari. The village is named after Fateh Khan Joiya.

The cost of the project has been assessed at Rs 8 million and once approved it would be completed in two years. The tomb of Hazrat Sultan Manjhan is located in Muzaffargarh district and resembles over 700 years old mausoleum of Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya in Multan.

It is located about 30 km from Muzaffargarh toward north in a village that is named after him as Manjhan Sultan. In Seraiki language, people call buffalo as ‘Manjh” and they believed that the saint had saved them from cattle lifters.

The proposed restoration would complete in a year and would cost around Rs 7 million.

The tomb of Tahir Khan Nahar, once the king of Seetpur, is located 120 km from Muzaffargarh city towards north, and 20km from tehsil Ali Pur.

Entitled as `Sakhi’ or the liberal, Tahir Khan built the tomb and mosque at Seetpur in his life time at the close of fifteenth century AD. In 1455 AD, Bahlol Khan Lodhi granted a vast area to his relative Islam Khan Lodhi. This tract comprised what is now the southern part of Alipur tehsil, the southern part of Dera Ghazi Khan district and the northern part of Sind. Islam Khan took title of Nahar and established an independent kingdom. Tahir Khan Nahar was his grandson who had extended the boundaries of his territory considerably.

The project, if executed after final approval from Punjab government, would be completed in two years at a cost of around Rs 7 million.

https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/20...s-restoration-of-8-monuments-in-south-punjab/

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Hazrat Sheikh Ladhu Tomb

Sheikh Sadan Shaheed Tomb

 

[Kambojaric]

Dilly-dallying on establishment of railway heritage directorate

LAHORE: The Pakistan Railways is yet to establish the Directorate of Heritage for preservation, maintenance and development of heritage.

Former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique had announced the establishment of the directorate in 2017, reliable sources told Daily Times.

“The Pakistan Railways possesses numerous heritage railway stations and monuments, which are being neglected and getting derelict due to aging and weathering,” sources said, adding that PR is also the custodian of antiques, furniture and archives which should have been preserved for the generations ahead.

Sources expressed their distress over the lack of access to the sites and monuments under the PR as they were closed for public. They lamented that PR had not started the listing of all historical monuments, sites, stations and other areas that fall under its domain and expressed fear that many of them would disappear like the previous ones.

So far only the century-old Golra Railway Station, located on the outskirts of Islamabad, had been restored while a heritage museum had also been established therein.

But other historical railways stations, including that of Karachi and Lahore, present a gloomy picture.

Saleema Qasim, a student, said: “We have read and heard a lot about the Railways of Pakistan but while visiting any railway station are unable to see any depiction of the past.” She said that historical boards and plaques had been erected in the railway stations in London and other European countries and the same was needed to be done here to describe the history and importance of stations.

“We are in the process of restructuring staff against various grades. Our colleague Maqsood Nabi is working on the restructuring mechanism and the heritage directorate will also be established after the restructuring,” Pakistan Railway Advisory and Consultancy Services (PRACS) Managing Director Zubair Shafi Ghauri told Daily Times.

“Earlier, it was proposed that in-house staff would be used for the purpose for which the structuring from grade 1 to 16 had been done. We will be having almost 41 officers for all the divisions in Pakistan. We will also advertise posts after the ban on recruitments is lifted by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP),” he maintained.

Further drilling down, Ghauri said that former archaeology official Dr Iqbal Bhutta had been taken on board for the purpose. “We have also spoken to the Archaeology Department for their support”.

About the heritage properties under the domain of the PR, Ghauri said that most of them were in a dilapidated condition and were in a dire need of repair and maintenance.

He added that the PR was also upgrading and expanding the stations given the influx of passengers. “We have not yet made any list of the heritage sites with PR. Our foremost work is to provide better travelling facilities to the people and simultaneously we are working on the conservation and restoration,” he added.

“The conservation process would start from Karachi as it was the oldest station but we will be spreading teams all over Pakistan in a later stage,” he concluded.

https://dailytimes.com.pk/252415/dilly-dallying-on-establishment-of-railway-heritage-directorate/
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Golra Railway Station built in 1881 which has now been restored:

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Lahore Railway Station:

Built in the aftermath of the 1857 rebellion, the station although funded by the British was contracted to a native Lahori called Mian Mohammad Sultan Chughtai, who belonged to the famous Chugtai family of androon lahore. Abdur Rahman Chughtai comes from the same family (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdur_Rahman_Chughtai).

 

[Kambojaric]

Tomb of Ali Mardan Khan in shambles!

LAHORE: The tomb of Ali Mardan Khan, located near the Railway Tracks in Mughalpura where a small sign saying ‘MET-1’ is written, is presently in shambles with the embellishments falling apart and the main structure getting derelict, Daily Times learnt.

The main building of the monument is in a dilapidated condition due to neglect, aging and weathering whereas no measures for its maintenance have been taken so far by the Archaeology Department of Punjab despite declaring it a protected monument, sources informed. The monument, according to the sources, is located on the land which falls under the jurisdiction of the Pakistan Railways (PR) and thus they agreed with the Archaeology Department of Punjab to close it for the public, few years ago, while it was once surrounded by a garden.

It is now surrounded by industrial rail yards and is only accessible via a kilometre long narrow alley which only opens for public on designated days, primarily on Thursdays.

The sources further informed that the compound, where the platform of the tomb stands, has wild plantation and lacks any kind of horticulture maintenance and during the rainy seasons, it can be dangerous for anyone who visits the location due to reptiles and snakes whereas the water ingress is another threat for the foundations of the monument. Sources added that the staircase leading to the graves of Ali Mardan Khan and his mother is shaky and crumbling, being unsafe for the visitors, if any were allowed by the Archaeology Department whereas the original tile mosaics were flaking away and the fresco has also lost the original state and was fading rapidly. Sources also expressed their distress over the bricks and mortar falling out of the structure which needed immediate attention and conservation. According to sources it was once the most embellished and decorated monuments on the Grand Trunk Road but due to the negligence of authorities the monument is now at the verge of destruction. Further the sources were of the view that closing down monuments under the reasons of security is not a wise administration and the authorities should devise plans to manage monuments under all circumstances, as it is done all over the world, because such an important monument could have been a part of studies and research if it had not been closed. Sources said that closing monuments would also damage the history and heritage importance of Pakistan and Lahore.

According to a historian, Faizan Naqvi, Ali Mardan was an important official in the Mughal Empire under Emperor Shah Jahan.

“Ali Mardan was born in a Kurdish family and served as governor of Kandahar under Persia’s Safavid dynasty. After Shah’s death in 1629, he became fearful for his life because the successor Shah Safi was sacking the courtiers who were loyal to the earlier king and somewhere in 1637, Ali Mardan offered to surrender Kandahar to the Mughal Empire in exchange for his safety and Shah Jahan agreed to the offer. As a Mughal officer, Ali Mardan Khan provided guidance on canal instruction, especially in regard to the Shah Nahar canal of Shalimar Gardens. When he died in 1657, he was buried adjacent to his mother in the tomb prepared for her next to the canal at Mughalpura. Originally, the tomb sat amidst a large garden, but today only the large gateway survives,” he said. He added that some traces of inlay work, fresco and marble were still seen in the monument.

Artist and teacher Salima Hashmi was of the opinion that it was a beautiful piece of architecture and was in need of immediate conservation. She added that Archaeology Department should not be treating this monument the way they had restored Chauburji and expert conservationists should be hired for conserving this monument.

Punjab Archaeology Department Deputy Director Malik Maqsood Ahmed said that PR had closed the monument almost two years ago due to some security reasons.

“We have now requested them to open the monument for public. Most of the parts of the monument were damaged during the Sikh era and the remaining parts will soon be conserved as we are preparing a proposal for its conservation,” he said.

While talking exclusively to Daily Times, PR Director General Najam Wali Khan said that due to some reasons, this site was closed but now PR and Department of Archaeology were working together on this monument. He further said that converting the monument into a tourist site or not was yet to be decided by PR and Archaeology.

https://dailytimes.com.pk/255864/tomb-of-ali-mardan-khan-in-shambles/

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Gateway to the tomb

Beautiful mosaics and tilework

Actual tomb of Mardan Khan

Inside the tomb

 

[Kambojaric]

Kohat to have international standard museum

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker government has approved a summary to establish an international standard museum in the Kohat district.

The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had forwarded a summary to the then former chief minister Pervez Khattak for the establishment of a museum as part of its policy to set up such facilities in all the districts of the province.

Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (Retd) Dost Muhammad Khan has approved the summary paving the way for the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums to include the project in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the fiscal 2018-19.

Nawazuddin, a research officer at the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, said that they had forwarded the summary to the provincial government for the establishment of a museum in Kohat.

He said that the directorate had hired the services of a consultancy for Rs5 million.

The official said the directorate had forwarded the summary to the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government and it took time to reach the chief minister after approval from the reverent quarters.

He said the museum would be constructed in the urban area of Kohat to enable the locals and visitors to have an easy access to the facility.

The official said the construction of the building of the museum would be included in the next ADP to sanction funds for the purpose. He added that the artefacts of historical importance would be showcased at the facility. He said the directorate had established 12 museums across the province so far, adding three each had been set up in Peshawar and Chitral districts while remaining were set up in other six districts of the province.

The official said that the construction work on the building of a Museum in Abbottabad district had been completed and artefacts and other objects of artistic, cultural and historical importance would be put on display next year. Nawazuddin said the building of the Museum was constructed with a total cost of Rs60 million, adding they were also planning to establish a museum in Dera Ismail Khan as well.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/332733-kohat-to-have-international-standard-museum

 

[Kambojaric]

National museum to get new architectural design soon

ISLAMABAD: The architectural design work of the lingering project of the National Museum of Pakistan will be completed soon to realise the dream of having a state-of-the-art museum facility at the federal capital to preserve thousands of ruining antiquities.

The consultant hired through the Public Works Department (PWD) is working on the design of the museum after which the funds required for this project will be acquired from the Planning Division, said an official of the National History and Literary Heritage (NH&LH) Division.

An amount of Rs 2.29 million was approved during the last financial year for redesigning and planning of the museum while the total estimated cost of the project is Rs 3 billion, the official said. The official said that the project of the national museum was lingering since the era of former ruler General Muhammad Ayub Khan and could not be implemented during the previous governments due to lack of focus.

Thousands of antiquities including unique sculptures of Buddhist era, clay utensils, guns of British era, oil lamps, jewelry boxes, mother goddess sculptures, lantern, handwritten holy scripts etc are ruining in the godown of the Taxila Museum and shelf of the Department of Archeology and Museums due to lack of space in the Islamabad Museum.

However, NH&LH Division since its creation took strong initiatives to revive this project and is in contact with the Planning Division to acquire funds for constructing the museum facility in the next financial year, the official said. The museum will be established at 3.24 acres land which is already acquired at Shakarparian while the foundation stone of the museum will be laid soon, he added.

https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/06/30/national-museum-to-get-new-architectural-design-soon/

 

[Kambojaric]

Lahore’s Fort and Shalamar Gardens escape Unesco danger list

ISLAMABAD: The World Heritage Committee at its meeting which concluded in Manama on Wednesday decided to not place the Shalamar Gardens and Fort, Lahore, on the list of World Heritage in Danger.

This was confirmed by an official of Unesco from Paris to this correspondent. Three sites in Kenya, Pakistan and Nepal were slated to be put on the list by the 21-member committee headed by Ambassador Sheikha Haya Al-Khalifa of Bahrain.

A Pakistan delegation, headed by permanent delegate to Unesco in Paris Ambassador Moinul Haque, defended its case. The delegation included managing director of the Punjab Mass Transit Authority Sibtain Fazal Halim and officials from Punjab’s archaeology department as well as engineering department of the Lahore Development Authority.

The committee considered a report of the joint world heritage centre reactive monitoring mission to the Fort and Shalamar Gardens. The report felt that the ‘Orange Line Metro’ was already a reality and there was no alternative. It became clear to the mission that the provision of a metro for Lahore did not mean that it had to pass directly in front of the Shalamar Gardens. Two alternative schemes that could have provided a solution to a metro alignment were not taken forward by the provincial government, it observed.

The fact that these were not considered, the report added, and that the World Heritage Committee was not appropriately informed of details of this major infrastructure project highlighted fundamental weaknesses in the protection and planning of the property, which must be urgently addressed.

The mission stressed the need to adequately manage and effectively control the encroachment and urban development in and around the two places, and in that regard the Punjab government should immediately undertake setting studies and implement procedures when proposing an enlargement of the Shalamar Gardens’ buffer zone.

In a set of recommendations, the mission asked the Punjab government to rehabilitate the land immediately to the west of the Shalamar Gardens, which comprises historical buildings, and incorporate services for the site visitors. The area’s main front side on the pedestrian GT Road should be treated accordingly, it added.

It was recommended to introduce environmental instruments in the buffer zone; implement control for height and construction regulations and remove all inappropriate structures; and install underground infrastructure.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1418070

 

[Kambojaric]

AghamKot: A forgotten archaeological site of Sindh

The historical sites are said to have great leverage to attract tourist, and boost the economy. The progressed nations of developed countries, recognize past, preserve and learnt from it, and move to future. They value heritage and show to the world with proud. Centuries old, Egyptian pyramids are still serving soil. This archaeological site attracted 14.7 million tourists by last year.

Moreover, many other historical places are found across Pakistan.The se historical places include mountain terrains, palaces, Hawelies, forts, Mounds , bridges and monuments and other sites.

Unfortunately, due to lack of interest and awareness, many beautiful structures are ruined due to carelessness of authorities and rest are in crumbling state. I being a photographer, often go through such spots, historical but barren, storytelling but no tourists or visitors are found and the sites depict as waifs.

Very recently, I had experience to pass Agham Kot, an ancient fort and town that has turned in relics now. This Fort, dates back to Pre- Muslim epoch of Sindh and lies some 55Km, in East of Hyderabad Sindh. Like many other historical structures, nobody has shown interest to carry out research on this spot properly.

The name of Aghamkot has been mentioned differently in different books, some have referred it Angoomano and others, Aghmano. Now locally, it is known as Aghamkot.

It is said that, AghamKot is named after ruler Agham Lohana, who once ruled here and founded this town in 7th century. King Chach of Brahmanabad dynasty invaded this area after conquering Multan and sehwan. Agham Lohana died during this invasion. Though fight remained for months, but Serhand, son of Agham Lohana and his cronies surrender before King Chachs’ forces. This is how sometimes dreams are vanished before destinations and Lohanas’ couldn’t hold it for long.

"This forgotten fort, witnessed progress and development during Samma dynasty, here teachers used to come from Mesopotamia (Iraq) to teach. Aghamano or Agham kot was considered to be second largest centre of seminaries and academic institutions after Thattaat that time."

Later with passage of time, many other saints came here; they came, lived, preached, died and are buried here. Makdhdoom Muhammad Ismail came from Gujrat, historical tales depicts that, famous folk character of Sindh, Watayo Faqeer accepted Islam at his hands and also remained student of Makhdoom Muhammad Ismail. The shrine is in midst of Agham Kot and many devotees celebrate his Urs every year.

There are many other shrines of saints and collapsed walls of this fort, which need to be examined by students of archaeology and anthropology.

One can witness Historical Patan wari masjid (Mosque alongside jetty) at just entrance of site. A Mosque which is said to have witnessed prayers of many in this city of knowledge for centuries has collapsed now. Bushes have grown along fallen walls of the mosque.

Another mosque, which is said to have been Jamia Mosque of Agham kot at once, is taking some last breaths and bit by bit vanishing from mounds where it’s situated. One Uniqueness about this mosque is that the remains of some ladders going up to a platform can be seen here for which locals said was a place of Azaan (call for prayer).

I reached there by evening time, met with few locals and they shared information, what they had been acquiring from ancestors. A shrine there belongs to a Women “Bibi Mahm” for whom there are different references as to her year of death. Few refer to year of death as 170 A.H though it’s mostly regarded to as 1070A.H

This site is diverse in origin that one will find Shrines, mosques and graveyards altogether.

Famous Sindh scholar, MR: M.H Panhwar stated that, the journey of Aghamkot toward disfigurement started, when Afghan invader Madad Khan Pathan invaded and looted this area. Meanwhile, some historian suggest attribute it to, changing course of Indus river that once flows through this area.

Owing to all these facts, down fall of Agham kot is still a puzzle, that yet to be solved by historians and archaeologists. There is dire need to preserve it by establishing a small museum, data about ruins on location and placing sign board along the road leading to this site. This site can also attract many antiquarians and jack up local economy to some extent if given a sometime.

This effort will create an importance about our heritage and historical structures, that is the need of time. Urbanization and unbridled growth in population is demolishing all these assets without any notice, perhaps demolishing us without any warming.

I and Agham Kot left each other in uncomfortable state; I had much disappointment with acts we done with our historical belongings.

https://dailytimes.com.pk/276965/aghamkot-a-forgotten-archaeological-site-of-sindh/

 

[Kambojaric]

Panj Tirath temples to be conserved: minister

PESHAWAR: Caretaker Minister for Minorities, Religious Affairs, Social Welfare and Higher Education Sara Safdar has said that the two temples at the historical Panj Tirath site would be rehabilitated and preserved.

She said this during her visit to the site. Director Archaeology and Museums, Dr Abdul Samad, and Research Officer, Nawazuddin, accompanied her.

The historical site and temples are located inside the Chacha Younus Family Park and has been in dire need of rehabilitation.

Panj Tirath is an over 1,000 years old archaeological site and is situated at Hashtnagri. The archaeological site got the Panj Tirath name from the five pools of water there. It has two temples and a spacious lawn with Peepal and other trees.

The site is considered one of the most sacred places for the Hindus which has been turned into a family park.

Panj Tirath has been mentioned in Hindus religious book “Hindu Mythology.” A writer, Lord Hinger, mentioned that five Pando brothers started living in this place which later came to be known as Panj Tirath.

It said that the Pando brothers then left the place but their followers made five pools there in their memory and established a temple called “Shawal Thakardawara.”

They believed that the water cured all kind of diseases. Later it was renamed as Panj Tirath.

The caretaker minister during the visit to Panj Tirath said the religious places of minorities would be restored and fully rehabilitated.

She directed the officials to shift extra items stored on the religious place premises and asked the director of Archaeology and Museums to submit a report in this regard at the earliest.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/344126-panj-tirath-temples-to-be-conserved-minister