Steps underway to promote KP's rich cultural heritage: CM

International Conference on “Recent Discoveries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and their impact on the history of the region held in Islamabad on Saturday. Dr. Abdul Samad, Director of Archaeology & Museums and renowned scholars and archeologists from USA, UK, Italy, Korean, Germany and Afghanistan attended the conference. Scholars presented research papers on the importance and preservation of archeological heritage of the province. While appreciating holding of the conference the Chief Minister said that it was the first major activity in the province involving renowned scholars from across the country and abroad in research and preservation of archeological heritage. “The Conference, in fact reflected our resolve and thoughtfulness for our rich cultural heritage, its preservation and safe passage to our future generation” he remarked. The Chief Minister informed that KP was the wonderful province offering great attraction and variety to common man and researchers as well. “Our province has always attracted invaders, scholars, traders, religious zealots from time unknown” he mentioned. He earmarked that unfortunately the province had been deprived of the best of Gandhara art pieces during the colonial era and even after independence. “We are still facing the issue of preservation of the archaeological heritage”, he added. Referring to the steps of the provincial government being taken for the promotion and preservation of archeological heritage the Chief Minister informed that Archaeological survey and documentation of archaeological heritage in the province and the adjoining federally administered tribal areas had been started. He said that the government was making all out efforts to conduct archaeological excavations on potential sites and striving to stop the illegal diggings of the archaeological sites. He declared that government had promulgated a new Antiquities Act to stop illicit trade of antiquities and was establishing Antiquity Trade Control Branch in the Directorate of Archaeology and Museum to curb the menace of illegal digging. The Chief Minister explained that apart from establishing new museums the existing ones were also upgraded to display and preserve the rich cultural heritage efficiently. “We wish to show-case this rich heritage through national and international exhibitions to project and promote our rich heritage to attract national and international tourists to our province”, he maintained. The chief Minister announced that government was intended to establish an endowment fund with considerable seed money to encourage archaeological researches, preservation and restoration of archaeological sites and historic monuments. Similarly he announced establishment of a state of the art training institution for the capacity building and training of the young archaeologists, musicologists and conservationists. The Chief Minister disclosed the intention of the government to establish a data bank of all the archaeological sites and historic monuments of the province and the antiquities prevailing in the museums and private collections. The chief minister and the Islamabad-based ambassador of Korea Jong Hwan Song distributed Shields among the participants.]]>