PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH
CULTURE, TOURISM & ANTIQUITIES DEPARTMENT
LIST OF STARRED ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR
THURSDAY THE 27TH NOVEMBER, 2025
573 *DR. FOUZIA HAMEED: Will the Minister for Culture, Tourism & Antiquities be pleased to State:-
What measures are in place to protect and preserve historical artifacts and antiques in Sindh alongwith any ongoing archaeological excavation or discoveries in the region?
ANSWER
SYED ZULFIQAR ALI SHAH: MINISTER FOR CULTURE, TOURISM & ANTIQUITIES:-
This department has two (02) laboratories one at Karachi and other at Mohen-jo-Daro to protect and preserve historical artifacts and antiques in Sindh.
The on-going archaeological excavation are being carried out on the following archaeological sites:
i) Chahun Jo Daro at Nawabshah
ii) Banbhore at Thatta
716 *Mr. Muhammad Shabbir Qureshi: Will the Minister for Culture, Tourism & Antiquities be pleased to State:-
(a) Is it a fact that valuable documents dating prior to partition have been lost by the Department;
(b) If answer to (a) above is affirmative, steps being taken to preserve remaining documents and artifacts?
ANSWER
SYED ZULFIQAR ALI SHAH: MINISTER FOR CULTURE, TOURISM & ANTIQUITIES:-
No any documents dating prior to partition have been lost in the Department.
811 *Mr. Faisal Rafiq: Will the Minister for Culture, Tourism & Antiquities be pleased to State:-
(a) Is it a fact that Federal Government had transferred the province share of funds in Museum Compensation Fund and Pakistan Culture and Arts Foundation Relief Fund;
(b) If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the details thereof?
ANSWER
SYED ZULFIQAR ALI SHAH: MINISTER FOR CULTURE, TOURISM & ANTIQUITIES:-
It is stated that neither the share of Museum Compensation Fund nor Pakistan Culture and Arts Foundation Relief Fund has been transferred to Province of Sindh.
866 *Mr. Muhammad Aamir Siddiqui: Will the Minister for Culture, Tourism & Antiquities be pleased to State:-
(a) Is it a fact that department got schemes approved under PSDP for 2022-23 and then revised them and approved was also obtained for the same;
(b) If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the details thereof?
ANSWER
SYED ZULFIQAR ALI SHAH: MINISTER FOR CULTURE, TOURISM & ANTIQUITIES:-
The Department did not get any scheme approved under Federal PSDP for the financial year 2022-23
1078 *Mr. Muhammad Daniyal: Will the Minister for Culture, Tourism & Antiquities be pleased to State:-
Number of study tours conducted at the heritage sites of Sindh from January 2023 to-date?
ANSWER
SYED ZULFIQAR ALI SHAH: MINISTER FOR CULTURE, TOURISM & ANTIQUITIES:-
There are 1230 study tours were conducted at the heritage sites of Sindh from January, 2023 to date.
1478 *Mr. Sajjad Ali Soomro: Will the Minister for Culture, Tourism & Antiquities be pleased to State:-
(a) Is it a fact that department is maintaining public libraries and supporting reading & research activities;
(b) If answer to (a) above is affirmative, number of public libraries in Sindh and distance new public libraries established during 2022-2024?
ANSWER
SYED ZULFIQAR ALI SHAH: MINISTER FOR CULTURE, TOURISM & ANTIQUITIES:-
a. Yes, Culture, Tourism, Antiquities & Archives Department has been maintaining public libraries in Sindh, along with reading and research facilities.
b. There are about nine (09) new libraries established during 2022-2024. The list is as under:-
i) Construction of Public Library with Auditorium in Kunri, District Umerkot.
ii) Provision of Missing Allied Facilities in Library at Sujawal.
iii) Establishment of Model Library in Gulzar Khalil, District Umerkot.
iv) Provision of Missing Allied Facilities in Library at K. N. Shah.
v) Extension of Shams-ul-UlemaDaudpota Library and Mumtaz Mirza Auditorium at Hyderabad.
vi) Provision of Allied Facilities at Public Lirbary at Kandhkot, District Kashmore.
vii) Establishment of Library at Bhanoth, Taluka Halla, District Matiari.
viii) Extension & Improvement of Khan Bahadar Ahmed Khan Bhutto Public Library, Naudero, District Larkana.
ix) Construction of Public Library at Dari (Adilpur), Taluka & District Ghotki.
1479 *Mr. Sajjad Ali Soomro: Will the Minister for Culture, Tourism & Antiquities be pleased to State:-
(a) Is it true that the department provides stipends and endowment funds to writers, artists, craftspeople, vocalists, and others?
(b) If the answer to (a) above is yes, what are the minimum and maximum amounts awarded to artists so far in 2020–2024, as well as the criteria for the same?
ANSWER
SYED ZULFIQAR ALI SHAH: MINISTER FOR CULTURE, TOURISM & ANTIQUITIES:-
Yes, the Culture, Tourism, Antiquities & Archives Department, is providing stipends and financial assistance to writers, artists, crafts people vocalists, musicians, instrumentalists, pots, theater artist, script writer, fine artists, craftswomen, sughar etc. since the year 2011-12.
The stipend is extended annually during the auspicious month of Ramzan Sharif. Each artist is paid Rs. 60,000/- through cross cheque and the same is delivered properly through the nearby field offices of this Department. The total number of regular stipend beneficiaries is 1064.
CRITERIA
Stipend:
Stipend is given to most deserving, poor and needy artist, singers, musicians, poets and writer etc.
Endowment Funds:
Endowment Funds is also extended to poor and needy artists. The application forms are received at Directorate General (Culture) and placed before the Management Board for Endowment Fund in its meeting. The amounts are decided as per artist’s contribution and experience, in his relevant field of art. The minimum amount is Rs. 15,000/- and the maximum amount is Rs. 10,00,000/-, which the Management Board consider and approve. Keeping in view the financial assistance required due to serious illness. Besides, an amount of Rs. 100,000/- is also extended to artists for their daughter’s marriage, upon receiving of application with supporting documents, after seeking the approval of Management Board for Endowment Fund.
KARACHI: G.M UMAR FAROOQ
DATED THE 26TH NOVEMBER, 2025 SECRETARY
PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH
