[MSN] 324 antiques stolen across country

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324 antiques stolen across country

ISLAMABAD: The NA standing committee on culture Wednesday revealed that 324 antiques were stolen from different museums of the country during the past 21 years and the police have only recovered 11 of them.

Several historical antiques were smuggled abroad. Of them, United States returned 38 while the authorities in the culture ministry are in talks with the French authorities for the return of 17 historic antiques.

The standing committee meeting was held at the parliament house with its chairperson Atia Inayatullah in the chair.

Secretary culture revealed during the meeting that 40 antiques were stolen from national museum Karachi in 1986. Twelve mummies of Buddha were burgled from the same museum in 1995. Thirty-five mummies were stolen from archeology museum Taxila in 1995, out of them only 11 were recovered. One hundred and thirty eight antiques were stolen from Fort museum Lahore in 1996. Sixty-one antiques of silver and copper were burgled from Taxila museum in 1999.

The standing committee took strong notice of the burglary of antiques and directed the government to take measures to check burglary incidents in future. The committee directed the ministry of culture to install security cameras in all museums. The committee directed the ministry to make arrangements for the look after of the Mughal-era tombs of Noor Jehan, Jehangir and other Mughal emperors.

Chairperson standing committee Atia Inayatullah directed the ministry of culture to take measures for the preservation of cultural heritage.

The committee expressed its reservation over illegal excavation, encroachments, burglary and smuggling of antiques. The committee proposed amendment in the Antiques Act 1975 amended 1992 for the protection of cultural heritage.

The standing committee constituted a sub committee for the preservation of copies of Quran.

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