05-10-2005, 02:03 AM
<b>New discoveries halt Harappa swings</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->ISLAMABAD: Top heads of the Ministry of Culture and Archaeology Department are set to roll after a report that <b>fresh digging at the site proposed for electronic swings at Harappa on Thursday resulted in new discoveries of 5,000-year-old priceless objects of the Indus civilisation, like mother goddess, statues of countless gods, bulls, toys for children, wheels, pottery and bangles.</b>
<b>These discoveries might give new insight and meaning to the modern archaeologists about the nature, environment, thinking, living style and approach of those who lived in the ancient civilisation.</b>
A source has confirmed that the historical stuff has been found in good condition, and has been preserved at the Harappa Museum. Work on the proposed site to install electronic swings has been stopped forthwith till a final decision about this project is taken.
The report about new discoveries at one of the first ancient cities of the world in the wake of resurvey of the site before allowing setting up of electronic swings is being presented to Minister for Culture Ajmal Khan today (Monday). A source said the minister is expected to order a full-fledged inquiry against his own ministry officials and Archaeology Department for issuing NOC to an MNA to install electronic swings there.
A source in the Ministry of Culture confirmed that disciplinary action against the relevant officials is imminent, as they violated the governmentâs policy to conduct a survey of the site before issuing NOC for any project. None of them bothered to conduct the survey before approving the project to appease the ruling party MNA, Rai Azizullah Khan, who is also chairman of the Standing Committee on Culture and Tourism.
The source confirmed that following new discoveries, the digging has been stopped at the site forthwith. He said the fresh discovery of mother goddess and statues give a clear idea about the ancient men, their religious affiliation and how they used to live.
Meanwhile, talking to âThe News,â renowned archaeologist Dr Ahmed Hassan Dani appealed to the government to immediately stop work at the site. He said only experts should be allowed to restart digging at Harappa to discover the ancient remains.
Dr Dani also called an emergency meeting of his Association of Asian Civilisation to pass a resolution against the setting up of electronic swings at Harappa. He said the government should send a team of experts to monitor digging and discover new things at the site. He said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz should rather himself inaugurate the excavation and announce some monetary assistance for the purpose.
Dr Dani lamented that the Archaeology Department violated its own law of conducting a survey of the historical site before issuing NOC for any project. He said the government should preserve this national heritage by ordering digging at the site in presence of experts.
Earlier following publication of reports, the minister had ordered resurvey of the site to determine whether the project was being executed on some ancient ruins? Consequently, Director General Archaeology Department Dr Fazal Dad Kakar was deputed to visit the site. He went there and supervised digging for two days. He will submit his findings to the minister today. A source said that Kakar has formally confirmed recovery of ancient objects from the site.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had approved Rs 10 million for the establishment of a park in the constituency of MNA Rai Azizullah Khan at this historical site. Following the consent of Secretary Culture Jalil Abbas, the department bosses including Director Archaeology Lahore Salimul Haq had issued an NOC to the MNA to set up a park at the Harappa site.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>These discoveries might give new insight and meaning to the modern archaeologists about the nature, environment, thinking, living style and approach of those who lived in the ancient civilisation.</b>
A source has confirmed that the historical stuff has been found in good condition, and has been preserved at the Harappa Museum. Work on the proposed site to install electronic swings has been stopped forthwith till a final decision about this project is taken.
The report about new discoveries at one of the first ancient cities of the world in the wake of resurvey of the site before allowing setting up of electronic swings is being presented to Minister for Culture Ajmal Khan today (Monday). A source said the minister is expected to order a full-fledged inquiry against his own ministry officials and Archaeology Department for issuing NOC to an MNA to install electronic swings there.
A source in the Ministry of Culture confirmed that disciplinary action against the relevant officials is imminent, as they violated the governmentâs policy to conduct a survey of the site before issuing NOC for any project. None of them bothered to conduct the survey before approving the project to appease the ruling party MNA, Rai Azizullah Khan, who is also chairman of the Standing Committee on Culture and Tourism.
The source confirmed that following new discoveries, the digging has been stopped at the site forthwith. He said the fresh discovery of mother goddess and statues give a clear idea about the ancient men, their religious affiliation and how they used to live.
Meanwhile, talking to âThe News,â renowned archaeologist Dr Ahmed Hassan Dani appealed to the government to immediately stop work at the site. He said only experts should be allowed to restart digging at Harappa to discover the ancient remains.
Dr Dani also called an emergency meeting of his Association of Asian Civilisation to pass a resolution against the setting up of electronic swings at Harappa. He said the government should send a team of experts to monitor digging and discover new things at the site. He said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz should rather himself inaugurate the excavation and announce some monetary assistance for the purpose.
Dr Dani lamented that the Archaeology Department violated its own law of conducting a survey of the historical site before issuing NOC for any project. He said the government should preserve this national heritage by ordering digging at the site in presence of experts.
Earlier following publication of reports, the minister had ordered resurvey of the site to determine whether the project was being executed on some ancient ruins? Consequently, Director General Archaeology Department Dr Fazal Dad Kakar was deputed to visit the site. He went there and supervised digging for two days. He will submit his findings to the minister today. A source said that Kakar has formally confirmed recovery of ancient objects from the site.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had approved Rs 10 million for the establishment of a park in the constituency of MNA Rai Azizullah Khan at this historical site. Following the consent of Secretary Culture Jalil Abbas, the department bosses including Director Archaeology Lahore Salimul Haq had issued an NOC to the MNA to set up a park at the Harappa site.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->