40 Million for the Repairs

By Our Correspondent, "Dome of Shahbaz Qalandar’s mausoleum develops seepage" - The News International - Karachi, Pakistan
Tuesday, November 25, 2008

The dome of the mausoleum of Sufi saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar has developed seepage due to the irregularities committed in its repairs and renovation, Minister for Auqaf, Abdul Haseeb informed the Sindh Assembly on Monday.

Treasury MPA Jam Tamachi had earlier raised a point of order that Qalandar’s mausoleum had not been repaired or renovated since the past 30 years. In contrast, the Punjab chief minister had ensured repairs of Data Darbar in a short period.

The minister responded by revealing that the federal government had provided funds for the repairs of Qalandar’s mausoleum and was also monitoring the process. He claimed “mala fide intentions” had been detected in the repairs of the mausoleum and said that the Senate’s standing committee was preparing a report in this regard.

The minister said that he had sent a summary to Sindh Chief Minister to grant Rs (PKR) 40 million [U$D 500,000.--] for the repairs and renovation of the mausoleums of Sufi saints in the province.

To a question by MPA Heer Soho, the Minister said the “Nazrana” at mausoleums was subject to audit.

[Map by Thomas A. Lessmann, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindh].