180-Year-Old Historic Church in Kotri Restored; Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker, Culture Minister Inaugurate Heritage Site
By Qurban Ali Khushik
KARACHI: The restoration and renovation of a historic 180-year-old church in Kotri, Jamshoro district, have been completed, with Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Naveed Anthony and Provincial Minister for Culture and Tourism Syed Zulfiqar Shah jointly inaugurating the restored building at a ceremony attended by political leaders, senior government officials and other distinguished guests.
The church, which dates back to December 22, 1846, is an important part of the region's historical and cultural heritage. The restoration project was undertaken to preserve the centuries-old structure, which had deteriorated over time due to its age.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by MPA Hina Dastagir, MPA Dr. Sikandar Shoro, Hyderabad Commissioner Fayyaz Abbasi, Jamshoro Deputy Commissioner Ghazanfar Ali Qadri and several other officials and guests.
Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Speaker Naveed Anthony said the historic church had been constructed on December 22, 1846, and required renovation because of its deteriorating condition. He said the completion of the restoration work would help protect the historic building for future generations.
Anthony said the Pakistan Peoples Party-led Sindh government was taking positive measures to promote religious harmony and protect the rights of people belonging to different religious communities across the province.
He emphasized that people of different faiths lived together peacefully in Pakistan and said mutual respect, tolerance and coexistence were essential for maintaining harmony in society.
The deputy speaker further said the Sindh government had approved and undertaken the project to preserve the historic church following his request. He expressed satisfaction that the restoration work had been completed and the building was now being preserved as part of the province's cultural heritage.
Provincial Minister for Culture and Tourism Syed Zulfiqar Shah, speaking on the occasion, highlighted the importance of religious freedom and interfaith harmony in Pakistan.
He said people belonging to various religious communities, including Hindus and Christians, enjoyed the freedom to practise their faith in the country. He stressed that Pakistan provided an environment where people from different religious backgrounds could live with love, respect and mutual understanding.
The minister's remarks underscored the importance of safeguarding religious heritage sites and recognizing the contributions of different communities to the country's history and culture.
The restoration of the historic church in Kotri represents an effort to preserve an important landmark in Jamshoro district. The project is also expected to strengthen awareness of the region's diverse cultural heritage and highlight the importance of peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths.
The inauguration ceremony concluded with renewed emphasis on preserving historical buildings and promoting religious tolerance and harmony throughout Sindh.
