Protecting Historical Sites of Sindh from Natural Disaster

 
 
 
protecting historical sites of Sindh from natural disasters

Pakistan is a country full of rich culture and history but is also highly vulnerable to climate change. In recent years, the number of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, storms and droughts has increased in the country, affecting people’s lives and infrastructure, including archaeological and historical sites. In the summer of 2022, the two-month-long monsoon rains had a devastating impact on several archaeological sites in Sindh. Mohenjo Daro, a World Heritage site, has been badly affected by the floods and needs urgent attention. The heavy rainfall damaged the site and partially collapsed some walls, including the wall that enclosed the stupa dome.

The Indus Valley Civilization is the oldest civilization known to the world. Mohenjo Daro is one of the best preserved ancient sites that contains the ruins of the largest city of the Indus Valley Civilization. It was predicted that Mohenjo Daro will be removed from the World Heritage list if the heavy rains continue to damage it. Despite the best efforts to conserve and protect the site, it needs urgent attention as Pakistan tourism also depends on it. It has put immense pressure on the government and organizations to protect the heritage site. The conservation work has been impeded as some sites are still affected by floods and need to wait for the water to recede.

Even though Pakistan is a developing country struggling through internal and external conflicts along with natural disasters, the culture and history are still very rich and important. The importance of historical sites must be realised before it’s too late. Archaeological sites play an imperative role in boosting tourism. The areas must be regularly examined and maintained. Moreover, the development of roads and hotels must be prioritised so people can learn about the rich history. When the area gets flooded, it takes time to dry up the water, which further damages the historical sites. Government must have engineers and conservators on the spot whenever a calamity hits.

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IMARAT Institute of Policy Studies

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