CM committed to preserving heritage to promote tourism: DG Archaeology

MULTAN, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th May, 2026) Director General Punjab Archaeology Zaheer Abbas Malik has said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif was committed to preserving heritage, excavation, development of archaeological sites and establishing museums to promote tourism to historically important sites across the province including south Punjab.

It's unprecedented that funds worth billions of rupees were being spent on projects ranging from preserving monuments to developing archaeological sites and establishing museums, Malik said while talking to APP after opening Multan museum.

Punjab opened three museums on May 18, the international museums day, one each in Multan, Gujrat and Sialkot and it happened just a few months after opening of a museum in Harappa, Malik said adding now the department is developing another museum in Bheera.

Months after launching an over Rs 4 billion project to conserve and rehabilitate seven historical forts in Cholistan desert including Derawar Fort, Punjab government last month launched a mega project worth Rs 3.97 billion in Taxila as part of a broader vision to establish Taxila as a ‘heritage zone’.

Reports say, reripheral sites including Mankiala Stupa, Giri Fort, Sirkap, Dharmarajika Stupa, Bhir Mound, Mohra Muradu and Bhallar Tope will be integrated into a cohesive regional tourism network.

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DG Archaeology said that work on Cholistan forts was progressing at a reasonably good pace adding that restoration and conservation of centuries old monuments was a different ball game compared to other infrastructure projects. They take comparatively more time, he added.

He further stated that many conservation and archaeological projects were under execution in Punjab including the jewel of Chiniot, Umar Hayat Mehel or Gulzar Manzil.

He said, Punjab archaeology and museums department would also undertake excavation of Indus Valley Civilization sites in south Punjab to uncover the remains of the ancient civilization spread across the southern part of Punjab. It may be noted that experts believed that there exist over 400 Indus Valley Civilization sites in south Punjab.

DG Archaeology also met with subordinate officials and told them that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif attaches greater value to preserving heritage/monuments and archaeological sites and urged them to gear up efforts in this direction to promote tourism.