KARACHI - The Sindh government has earmarked Rs40 million in its budget for the next fiscal year for the establishment of Mohatta Palace museum complex in Clifton area of the metropolis. The project, which would cost an estimated Rs1.8 billion, would be competed by 2016 through equal funding from the provincial and federal governments According to the budget documents, the new uplift scheme has been included in the provincial government’s budget on the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari. The president, in 2010, laid the foundation stone of the museum complex. As per his directives, the federal and provincial governments would equally share the cost of the project.The provincial government has allocated a sum of Rs800 million for 48 development schemes (32 ongoing and 16 new) of the Culture Department in the annual budget for the next year. These projects are aimed at protecting, preserving and promoting the cultural heritage and history of Sindh. In new uplift schemes, a sum of Rs15 million will be utilised for the construction of monuments at different places in Sindh, and Rs5 million for the promotion of the cultural heritage through telecasts, documentaries, dramas, music schools and national & international exchange programmes. Besides, two schemes of the capacity-building of civil society organisations and the establishment of a cultural complex and a model library in New Karachi have been included in the development outlay for the next fiscal year.A sum of Rs25 million, transferred from the federal government, has been allocated for the preservation and promotion of archaeological sites in Sindh. Allocations for other schemes include Rs10 million for establishment of cultural parks and public libraries in Sindh; Rs15 million for protection and preservation of world heritage site of Makli Hill monuments, Thatta; Rs10 million for establishment of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Research Institute; Rs5 million for research, compilation, consolidation and printing of the history of Sindh; Rs10 million for establishment of culture centre and museums and Rs5 million for establishment of Sindhi Dictionary Board in Hyderabad.Besides, Rs15 million have been allocate for conservation of heritage buildings, including buildings of press clubs in the province.The building of Karachi Press Club has already been declared as historical.

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