Conservation work has been undertaken on 61 monuments in the jurisdiction of the Punjab government over the last three years, Daily Times learnt from officials concerned.

The projects include the conservation of the tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, tomb of Khwaja Awais Khagga, Multan, Nila Gumbad, Chandni Masjid, Liaqatpur, the tombs of Bibian Pak Daman, Multan, the tomb of Mukhdoom Jehangir, Uch, Aimanabad Masjid, the tomb of Sadrud Din, the Mosque of Bibian Pak Daman, the tomb of Mir Zarif in Sialkot, the tomb of Nawab Saeed Qureshi in Multan, the Wazirabad Dak Chowki, the shrine of Rajan Qattal in Uch, the Lahore Fort, the Hazuri Bagh, the Alamgiri Gate, the Shalamar Garden, the gates of Naqqar Khana, Arz Begi, Rohtas Fort and Katas Fort.

A Rs 3.2 million grant for Hazuri Bagh for walkways, soil and plantation, cleaning of baradari, installation of new iron gates, conservation of Roshnai Gate.

Rs 19.1 million was allocated for planting trees at the Shalamar Garden. Rs 16.64 million had been allocated for Naqqar Khana, Rs 27.616 had been allocated for the restoration of the old well, improvement of drainage system, water tanks, documentation and illumination.

Conservation and development of the Katas Raj project had a total funding of Rs 110 million for the conservation of temples and haveli, holy pond and other Hindu sites of Chakwal. The ongoing projects included restoration of the Lahore Fort. Rs 300 million was allocated for this purpose. The work will be completed in eight years. Another ongoing project is the restoration of the Shalamar Garden against Rs 300 million. The work will be completed in eight years.

Preservation and development of the Katas Raj and sustainable development of the Walled City were in the pipeline.

The PAD DG said all sites were under the control of the provincial government. He said there was a need of hiring skilled people to develop the historical sites.