Dera Ghazi Khan — The recent monsoon floods that swept across Punjab have left behind more than destruction. In the Sakhi Sarwar area, under the shadow of Mount Sulaiman, the rainwater drain has carried with it a centuries old treasure, rare coins and antiquities that speak of the region’s deep historical roots.
According to Secretary for Tourism and Archaeology Dr. Ehsan Bhutta, a special team led by Deputy Director Salman Tanveer, along with Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Khalid and Political Assistant Amir Taimur, reached Sakhi Sarwar to examine the discoveries. According to Urdu News, Dr. Bhatta confirmed that locals had collected hundreds of coins from the floodwater drains, which were then handed over to the district administration.
Deputy Commissioner Khalid revealed that between 400 and 500 coins have been voluntarily surrendered by residents for preservation. “These coins represent multiple eras from the Mughal, Tughlaq, and Sikh periods to the reigns of Vima Deva Kanishka, the Durrani and Lodhi dynasties, the British era, Nadir Shah, Bahadur Shah Zafar, and even rulers from Central Asia and the Arab world,” he said.
The floods have severely impacted areas such as Shujaabad, Taunsa, and Alipur tehsil of Muzaffargarh, where homes, fields, and roads remain submerged. Yet, amid the hardship, the discovery has sparked excitement. Locals like Kashif Ali of Sakhi Sarwar say the practice of searching for coins in the rainwater drain is not new, but the recent floods have dramatically increased the number of finds. “People dig two to three feet into the wet soil and sift through the water all day. Some keep the coins, others hand them over to the authorities,” reported by Urdu News.
The Archaeology Department has now secured around 500 coins from the site, with chemical analysis and lab testing planned to determine their exact age and historical value. Dr. Bhutta noted that similar excavations are ongoing at other heritage sites in Punjab, including Cholistan Fort, Rohtas Fort, Harappa, and Taxila.
Deputy Director Salman Tanveer added that the Sakhi Sarwar site could be developed into a research hub and tourist destination, while Deputy Commissioner Khalid confirmed that certificates of appreciation and rewards are being prepared for the locals who safeguarded the artifacts.
“This discovery,” Khalid said, “is not just about the past, it is about building a future where our history becomes a source of pride, learning, and opportunity.”