KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has directed the Culture department to coordinate with district and divisional administration to remove encroachment around the heritage buildings and restore them in their actual glory for public.

According to a press release issued by PPP Media Cell on Thursday, Cm Sindh said: “How encroachment is allowed to appear at and around the heritage buildings. This is intolerable and must be taken accordingly.”

He issued these directives while presiding over a meeting of Culture Department here at the CM House.

The meeting was attended by Special Assistant to Chief Minister of Culture Sharmila Farooqui, Principal Secretary to CM Alamuddin Bullo, Additional Chief Secretary (Dev) Mohammad Waseem, Secretary Culture & Tourism Niaz Abbasi, Secretary Finance Sohail Rajput and others.

The chief Minister said that he has personally witnessed that encroachments and illegal occupations have appeared along and around the cultural monuments.

“There is lot of encroachment at Shahjehan Mosque Thatta, near Masoom Shah’s Minar Sukkur, Chowkundi graveyard, Lakhian Jo Daro, Makli, Pacca Qila Hyderabad and at various other areas,” he said and directed his Principal Secretary Alamuddin Bullo to talk to divisional and district administrations to cooperate with Culture department in removing encroachments from the heritages.

The chief minister appreciated the efforts of culture department and urged them to ensure quality work and work in time.