National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): The thousands years-old ancient
heritage sites in federal capital are ruining and fading away due to
the uncontrolled commercial activities and lack of interest by the
concerned authorities.
Talking to APP, Chairman Archeological and Historical
Association of Pakistan (AHAP), Dr. Ghazanfar Mehdi said 3,000 years
old Shah Allah Ditta caves are ruining and shambling due to the
negligence on the part of concerned authorities.
He said the government asked Capital Development Authority
(CDA) to make feasibility report to protect these caves from
damaging from the last many years but no attention was paid to this
issue.
He said a centuries old ancient mosque at the foothills of
Margalla is also in dilapidated condition and also require
renovation and preservation.
The historical mosque located in Giri village near Taxila and
built by Emperor Shahabuddin Ghauri in 13 AD, he said.
Dr. Ghazanfar Mehdi said the road at the crossing point of
Alexander via Margalla and the battlefield where Raja Ambhi of
Taxila hosted a reception in his honour was protected and
constructed with the efforts of AHAP.
He also underlined the need to provide security to the Shah
Allah Ditta Shrine located at 650 years old Shah Allah Ditta village
in Sector D-12 to facilitate the visitors.
Dr. Ghazanfar Mehdi said the commercial activities and
construction also damaged `Panj Pir shrine’ located near Zeropoint.
While the shrine of Syed Mehmood Shah, the father of Hazrat
Bari Imam is also locked by the authorities irking the visitors.
“That place is now being used as taxi stands which is a matter of
shame for us”, he said.
Dr. Ghazanfar Mehdi said Bari Imam Mela is not being organized
from the last four years the ancient remains of `Loey Dandi’ are
also fading away.
Dr. Ghazanfar Mehdi urged the government to take strong
initiatives to protect and preserve the ancient remains and heritage
sites and further make these attractive for the visitors.
He said these heritage sites after protection can be a great
source of income, if visitors are charged through tickets for
visiting these sites.