In Dera Ghazi Khan, residents have discovered roughly 400 ancient coins, believed to be over 2,000 years old, along the bed of the Kuki Hill Torrent near the shrine of Hazrat Sakhi Sarwar. Dawn reported the finding on September 15, 2025.
The coins were found by locals close to the shrine of Hazrat Sakhi Sarwar, a revered site named after the saint Syed Ahmed Sultan, who arrived in the region in 1077. The site lies along an ancient trade route.
Authorities, including the Deputy Commissioner Usman Khalid, have confirmed that the coins belong to various dynasties and eras. They were recovered and handed over to the archaeology department.
Historians believe that the present‑day town of Sakhi Sarwar, formerly called Nigaha or Moqam, was once a junction on an ancient route extending toward Afghanistan. Along this road were rest houses, known locally as Dhodah Ranas, for travelers and devotees moving toward Sakhi Sarwar. One such rest house was in Wadore village.
Also mentioned is a ruined ancient check post found along the torrent bed, indicating long‑standing human activity and the strategic importance of the route.
A team from the archaeology department, led by Deputy Director Sulaiman Tanveer, has visited the site. They have secured the area and begun preparations for excavations in the torrent bed.
These excavations are aimed at better understanding the origin, dating, and significance of the coins, and might reveal more about the region’s pre‑Islamic and early Islamic heritage.
Significance for Local Heritage and Archaeology
This discovery adds concrete evidence to the rich historical tapestry of southern Punjab. The coins, along with other archaeological remains (rest houses, temples, check posts), show that Dera Ghazi Khan was more than a remote tribal area — it was linked to major trade routes and religious networks.
For many in the region, such findings help reinforce the importance of preserving cultural heritage amid development pressures. They also raise hopes that more systematic archaeological work could uncover further relics and bring tourism and scholarly attention.
