Monsoon Floods Unearth Rare Ancient Coins in Sakhi Sarwar Discovery Spans Kushan to Mughal Eras, Highlighting Region’s Trade Legacy

Monsoon rains in the Koh Sulaiman Mountain range have triggered flash floods that not only caused destruction but also revealed a remarkable archaeological find in the Sakhi Sarwar region of Dera Ghazi Khan. As water rushed through ravines historically used by traders and royal caravans, it unearthed a collection of ancient coins spanning more than two millennia. Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Khalid confirmed that the discovery includes rare specimens from the reign of Kushan emperor Vima Kadphises, who ruled nearly 2,000 years ago and expanded Indo-Central Asian trade networks. Other coins belong to the Lodhi and Tughlaq dynasties, the Durrani Empire, Sikh rule, and the reign of Persian conqueror Nader Shah. Mughal-era pieces issued under emperors Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb Alamgir, and Bahadur Shah Zafar were also recovered.
Experts believe the wide variety of dynasties represented in the find provides valuable evidence of the region’s enduring political and economic significance.The discovery is not limited to South Asian empires. Coins from Britain, China, Khorasan, and various Arab states were also identified, underscoring the Sakhi Sarwar corridor’s role as a vital trade passage for centuries. Suleman Tanveer, Director of the Department of Archaeology, explained that the flood channel at Sakhi Sarwar formed part of a planned route linking South Asia with Central Asia through Khorasan. This route facilitated the flow of goods and ideas across regions, shaping cultural and commercial exchanges. Previous digs in the same area had already uncovered Central Asian coinage, but the latest find adds fresh depth to the narrative. While archaeologists hail the discovery as a breakthrough, the same monsoon rains have also inflicted heavy damage. The Indus River’s swelling waters swept away the makeshift Ghotki bridge, halting construction and isolating communities. Large sections of the katcha belt are submerged, displacing residents and reminding locals of nature’s power to both destroy and reveal history.