PESHAWAR: The proposed law passed by the provincial cabinet recently would be more effective than the previous laws in curbing antique smuggling, illegal excavation and demolishing of archeological sites and buildings, officials say.

Archaeological sites and historic buildings would now be more easily protected against those involved in illegal excavation and smuggling of antiques/objects under the proposed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Antiquity Act 2015, said a press release issued by the department of archaeology and museums.

Director Archaeology and Museums, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr Abdul Samad said that the proposed law would effectively prevent demolition of archaeological structures and relics in the province.

He said that violations like erasing of historic buildings and illegal construction on heritage sites would be easily preventable with proper implementation of the proposed Act in the province as stricter penalties were suggested for such illegal acts.

The proposedlaw would be soon tabledin the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly for approval. Under the new law, a penalty of Rs2 million was proposed for demolishing a historic building, illegal construction on archaeological site and smuggling of ancient objects.

Following the 18th amendment, Mr Samad said, the department of archaeology was devolved to the provinces along with transfer of a number of archeological sites. Previously, the Federal Antiquity Act of 1975 and NWFP Act 1997 were implemented to protect the heritage, but due to low fines the violators didn`t get discouraged.

The statement said that the KP government in collaboration with the department of archaeology and other authorities concerned had outlined the new legislation.