Ehsan Bhutta vows to preserve glorious heritage

Preserving Punjab’s past, shaping its cultural future

By Shan e Zahra 

Secretary Tourism, Archaeology and Museum Department Punjab, Dr. Ehsan Bhutta, has emphasized that the preservation of Punjab’s Glorious Heritage is a top government priority. He highlighted that multiple initiatives are underway to safeguard the region’s cultural and historical assets, which not only promote cultural awareness but also support tourism and showcase Punjab’s architectural brilliance to attract visitors.

Dr. Bhutta expressed these views during his visit to key historical sites, including Rohtas Fort in Jhelum, the Mausoleum of Khair-un-Nisa, Losar Baoli in Kharian, Ram Pyari Museum in Gujrat, Dak Chowki in Wazirabad, Gujranwala Museum, Ghakkar Tomri Temple, Jain Mandir in Gujranwala, and Lodhi’s Mosque in Eminabad. He was accompanied by Director General Archaeology Zaheer Abbas Malik, Deputy Commissioner Gujranwala Naveed Ahmad, Director Conservation Anjum Qureshi, and other officials from the local administration.

At Rohtas Fort and the Mausoleum of Khair-un-Nisa, DG Archaeology Zaheer Abbas briefed Dr. Bhutta on the Preservation, Conservation, and Upgradation Plan being carried out under the vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif. Dr. Bhutta directed the upgradation of the Rohtas Fort Museum to international standards and recommended relocating it to a more suitable space. He also stressed the importance of restoration and illumination to boost the fort’s cultural and tourism value.

During his tour of Gujranwala Division, Dr. Bhutta remarked that Gujranwala is rightly called the “City of Heritage.” He said the Tourism Department, in collaboration with the Archaeology Directorate and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), has launched projects of immense value for history and heritage lovers. Restoration work on Dak Chowki and Eminabad Mosque has already been completed, while focus has now shifted to Dhonkal Baoli in Wazirabad, Tomri Temple, Baddoki Sahiean Ghakkar, Jain Mandir Gujranwala, and Ranjeet Singh Museum.

Dr. Bhutta directed that construction of the Gujranwala Museum building be completed by January 31, with displays, galleries, and artifacts finalized by March 31 so that the museum could be inaugurated in April as a cultural gift to heritage enthusiasts. He also inspected Tomri Temple and Jain Mandir, where restoration work is set to begin within a week after securing clearance from the ETPB.

At Wazirabad Dak Chowki, he instructed officials to replace poor-quality paint with lime kankar coating, remove graffiti, carry out plantation, improve signage, and ensure front-side illumination. He asked the Archaeology Department to coordinate with the Deputy Commissioner for electricity connections and resolve outstanding site issues.