The Punjab Archaeology Department (in Pakistan) has decided to import statues of Hindu deities from various monuments in India for the restoration of the historic Katas Raj temples.

The Archaeology Department's Director General Oriya Maqbool Jan said this here last evening.

The Katas site houses the Satgarha - a group of seven ancient temples - remains of a Buddhist stupa, a few medieval temples, havelis (palaces) and some recently constructed temples, scattered around a pond considered holy by Hindus.

The provincial Punjab government has decided to place statues of Hindu deities in the seven temples and to restore them to their original state to attract visitors, reported the Daily Times.

According to the paper, a three-member archaeological team was set to leave for India yesterday on an official visit, Jan said, and added that the team would visit various archaeological sites in India and collect the statues.

Jan will head the team that includes two archaeology experts. The team will visit various historical sites in India such as the Taj Mahal, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Ajmer Sharif, Pushkar, Aurangabad, Daulatabad, Ajanta, and Varanasi until January 30.

Jan said that the main purpose of the tour was to gather information about the deities, the rituals and decoration of the temples, which would be completed in February.

He said pictures and statues of the deities would be brought from India and artisans would be hired to prepare replicas.