Sameer Nazir
KARACHI/THATTA: Pakistan Heritage Foundation CEO Yasmeen Lari has said that “We need special care about Makli monuments conservation like the tomb of Sultan Ibrahim and Amir Sultan Muhammad” and advised a proper conservation of various tombs of early centuries.
Lari said that 400-years back; blocks have been ruined at world heritage site of Makli necropolis and there is a dire need of retrieval of preservation of monuments in Pakistan particularly Makli Hill in Thatta, Bhanbhor and Moen Jo Daro due to complete vandalism and threats to World Heritage.
She said that it is the time to restore other 400-year old tombs, which is a cultural preservation, demonstrates respect of our rich heritage and diversity. Lari disclosed that the monument in Pakistan ruined but no proper awareness particularly the Makli graveyard, which is under threat of de listing in world heritage list and we need to regain Makli Hill and its accurate conservation.
Heritage Foundation CEO Yasmeen Lari and Star Links CEO Shanaz Ramzi were also present at “Ghaaran Jo Melo”, a family festival for the mendicant community living in Makli village on Saturday.
It was a celebration of self-reliance initiatives introduced by Heritage Foundation on the day. The event was a joint venture and among low-income community, 50 toilets at household and provision of skill trainings for making zero budgeted kitchen burners themselves for the local community.
The event was a joint venture by the Heritage Foundation Pakistan and Star Links PR and Events at graveyard of Makli village. The representatives of various print and electronic media welcomed at Makli villages of gypsys’ and organised a family festival for them with special treatment in the form of ‘Ghaaran Jo Melo’.
Shanaz Ramzi, Khalifa Shakeel Ahmed, the custodians of Hazrat Ashabi Shrine and others gave an introduction to the initiative and highlighted the transformation in the lives of the beggar community of Markli graveyard village.
She said that now they are involved in constructing of toilets and making of improved Kitchen burners as a means of livelihood to owing the needs accordingly. She stressed on the need for appreciating such self-reliance initiatives by local, impoverished communities.
On the occasion, local street children treated the attendees with an endearing performance. The highlight of the day was a special performance by a well known TV and film star Tipu Sharif who performed pro bono for the villagers of Makli and surrounding areas. Tipu enthralled the local community as well as the media with his melodious performance and everyone appreciated his gesture of coming all the way to Makli to perform.
Later, the Heritage Foundation CEO Yasmeen Lari gave the awards to community for role models to honour their work towards self-reliance while Heritage Foundation Humanitarian Manager Naeem Shah presented vote of thanks and tour of the Makli Necropolis with a detailed briefing.