KP to set up Gandhara Knowledge Corridor

PESHAWAR: Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Science, Technology, and IT Shafqat Ayaz on Monday said that the provincial government would establish the Gandhara Knowledge Corridor as a platform for knowledge sharing, technological development and global connection and cooperation.

“The KP government is committed to leveraging modern technology to promote religious tourism and ensure world-class facilities for foreign tourists visiting the region,” he said while addressing an international workshop on the Gandhara civilisation at the Peshawar Museum.

Shafqat Ayaz said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had a distinguished significance as the province was the custodian of 90 percent of the heritage of the Gandhara civilization.“The Gandhara Knowledge Corridor would facilitate global research and cooperation, showcasing the positive image of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the world,” he said.

The workshop was jointly organised by the Science, Technology, and IT Department and the Archaeology Department, which attracted over 40 researchers and scholars from 20 international universities across 14 countries.

The international delegation, currently on a special visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, recently visited the historic Takhtbhai archaeological site and also plana to visit Swat in the coming days.Prominent attendees included the secretary for Science and Information Technology, Director General of Science and IT, the Director of Archaeology in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other senior officials.

Shafqat Ayaz underscored the role of science, IT, and archaeology in preserving and presenting the various elements of the Gandhara civilization through modern research.He said the potential of using artificial intelligence for geological studies and creating digital archives, ensuring the effective preservation and transmission of this invaluable heritage to future generations.

The aide to the chief minister also said that the province offered vast opportunities for religious tourism, and the government was taking concrete steps to enhance these avenues through advanced technological tools.Later, shields and gifts were distributed among the international participants and researchers in recognition of their contributions to the study of the Gandhara Civilization.