Control of historical sites withdrawn from PHA

LAHORE - The Punjab Govt has withdrawn the control to beautify and renovate the historical buildings from Parks and Horticulture Authority with immediate effect, The Nation learnt here on Friday.  
With this change, the Archaeology department, Auqaf department, Evacuee Trust Boards and other respective departments have been empowered to prettify the historical sites, well-placed sources disclosed. Chief Secretary Javed Mehmood has issued orders in this regard which have been circulated in the departments forthwith. Sources informed that PHA would be able to save Rs 40 million annually which had to be consumed on revamping the historical sites.
It may be recalled that during the tenure of former DG PHA Kamran Lashari who was sitting CDA Chairman in 1998, the task to adorn the monumental sites of city were handed over to PHA. There are 200 historical buildings in the city including Badshahi Mosque, Shahi Qila, Punjab University, Hazoori Bagh, Old Anarkali Tourist Street, Gwalmandi Food Street, Walking Street, NCA building and others.
Sources revealed that PHA Director General Arfan Elahi had moved a proposal to Punjab Government for handing back the control of monumental sites to respective departments after taking it from PHA. He had stated in the proposal that PHA's job was to take care the parks, gardens and green belts besides other multifarious assignments instead of renovation of historical buildings. Sources said that DG PHA span out the proposal after Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif directed him in a meeting at latter's defence house that PHA should streamline all its work and no laxity would be tolerated in future.
Sources said that DG PHA having found department overburdened with a number of tasks including the beautification of historical buildings, forwarded his recommendation to authority's concerned in order to save himself from any embarrassment. Chief Secretary Javed Mehmood constituted a committee in this regard and finally ordered to delegate the powers to respective departments for beautifying the historical buildings.