A spokesman for the varsity told The News that the plan was being mapped out by a team of experts headed by Prof Dr Ihsan Ali, Vice-Chancellor Hazara University with renowned archaeologists like Prof Dr Habib Ahmad, Dean Faculty of Sciences and other faculty members from Department of Cultural Heritage & Tourism Management.
Referring to a recent meeting of the experts, spokesman said the experts were of the opinion that cultural horizon of Pakistan was one of the most extensive and recognised the world over. They said the genesis of life in the area where Pakistan now exists could be traced back to two million years followed by a continuous cultural evolution which is still going on.
The experts, according to spokesman, said the land of Pakistan has witnessed at least two of the great civilisations — the Indus Valley and the Gandhara, which have given birth to many other cultures.
They said the land was packed with reminisce of the past in the form of archaeological sites, monuments, buildings, caves, graves, inscriptions and rock carvings. The archaeologists said the discovery of rock art in the country, particularly in Northern Areas had given a unique aspect to our cultural heritage and the most legendary culture of the world in the form of rock carving relating to the glorious civilisation of the world nourished and propagated by the iconic Buddha is facing the danger of submergence due to the construction of Diamer-Bhasha dam at Chilas, and the proposed altitude of Dasu dam.
The spokesman said the experts urged the authorities concerned to take it as a national and cultural duty to protect this rare treasure of conspicuous eminence that we had inherited from the bright era of the bygone ages.
They said these inscriptions and rock carvings should stay to say a word of caution to the conscience of the humanity. The messages of eternal beauty and human resurrection conveyed through these masterpieces need to be saved by establishment of open-air museums at Dasu and Diamer-Bhasha.
It was also informed that the area has already been explored and research work is carrying on by Prof Dr Dani, Prof Dr Harald Hauptmann of Germany, Sardar Badshah of AIOU and Dr Naseem Khan of Peshawar University over the past few decades.
A team of Hazara University has found the relics in the area, which are well within the knowledge of both the Northern Areas administration and federal government. These remnants need special attention of the government and NAs administration for preservation and conservation in proposed open-air museums.
These museums will attract the tourists, research scholars and archaeologists from across the world.The experts were informed that to save this ancient heritage, the Hazara University was going to submit a plan to the federal and NWFP governments as well as Wapda for timely action to preserve the years-old history of Silk Route. The plan may involve cutting of stones in a great number to take them out and shift the same to protected area for preservation.