LAHORE, March 4: The federal government has decided to hand over monuments under its control to the provinces by the next financial year for their proper upkeep.

Official sources told Dawn on Friday that the federal culture secretary had informed the provincial archaeology departments about the decision and asked them to submit their proposals at the earliest so that it could formulate a programme.

The federal archaeology department has 392 monuments under its control, including those on the World Heritage List (WHL). Of these, 149 monuments are in Punjab, 88 in the NWFP, 127 in Sindh and 28 in Balochistan. However, they said, the federal government would not transfer museums under its control to the provinces. They said the Centre wanted to concentrate more on policy making, excavation and exploration and survey work, areas that were largely ignored because of the Centre's involvement in the management of these monuments.

Besides, after handing over its two major revenue-generating world heritage sites - Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens - to Punjab last year the Centre saw no attraction in retaining the remaining monuments, they added.

The move to transfer federally administered monuments to provinces was initiated in 2003 when a committee, comprising representatives of provincial culture ministries and archaeology departments, had reportedly favoured their handing over to provinces except those on the WHL list.

Some officials of the federal archaeology department had then taken strong note of the move, terming it a conspiracy to divide culture along provincial lines. However, the matter was put on the back burner after Punjab managed to take over Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens. This was made possible through the intervention of President Musharraf who backed Punjab's demand.

The Punjab archaeology department, which already manages 244 monuments, is keen to take over the rest of the monuments but the NWFP and Balochistan have shown little inclination for doing so.

It is learnt that the Punjab archaeology department has submitted its proposal to the chief secretary for approval and other provinces have conveyed to the federal government their demands, seeking funds for capacity building before taking over monuments.

Punjab has sought to take charge of all museums, the main library and a research and training institute of the Lahore Fort. It has also sought the transfer of federal government employees administering the monuments. A senior officer of the Punjab archaeology department told this reporter that transfer of the monuments was a part of the devolution plan.

"A district government can take proper care of a monument in collaboration with the respective provincial government. The plan could succeed if the federal government kept providing funds for the preservation of monuments."