Italy to help Pakistan with curbing antique smuggling

MANSEHRA/ ABBOTTABAD: A workshop on “Archaeology and Heritage of the British Period in Pakistan” concluded at Hazara University in Mansehra on Friday. The two-day workshop was organized under the Pakistan-UK Education Gateway Program of Leicester University, UK, British Council and Higher Education Commission.Collaboration was made with the Department of Archaeology of Hazara University Mansehra and the Directorate of Archaeology and Museum of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Prof Dr Jonathan Mark, a professor of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin Madison, USA, Prof. Dr. Ruth Young, a professor of Archaeology University of Leicester, UK, and a number of archaeologists and historians participated in the workshop and delivered sessions.Zafar Mehmood, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Tourism, Archaeology & Museums, was the chief guest.

Addressing the participants, he said Hazara Division has a number of archaeological sites and remains of ancient civilizations which added to its importance.KP Archaeology Department Director Dr Abdul Samad said KP has remained the centre of various civilizations and religions of the world for centuries and the Directorate of Archeology is playing an active role to preserve priceless artefacts for coming generations.

The director said 22 historical remains of religious importance have been discovered in different places of the province, which were being secured.Dr Abdul Samad said there was progress on the establishment of field laboratories with international funding to make excavations for artefacts, while talks with the Italian government were underway to train Pakistan Police to stop the smuggling of antiquities.

Earlier, head of the Archeology Department, Dr Shakirullah, apprised the participants about various ongoing activities and future projects.He said the Archeology Department of the University with the support of the Directorate of Archeology KP has completed the identification of 1600 sites of historic importance in different districts of the province and work is in progress.

He said scholars from Sri Lanka, Maldives and Afghanistan have graduated from the university which was an honor for Hazara University.Shields were presented to the guests at the end of the workshop.