Poor maintenance: Portion of Gor Khatri Archaeological Complex collapses

PESHAWAR: A portion of the southern section of the historical and tourist landmark in Peshawar, the Gor Khatri Archaeological Complex, collapsed at night due to a lack of proper maintenance.

The part that came down is located opposite Koocha Bibi Zakri and has long been neglected by the Department of Archaeology.Residents of the neighbourhood said the site was under the care of the Department of Archaeology and Museums and the District Government (Town I), but both, along with other relevant government institutions, had shown little interest in preserving the historic site.

They expressed grave concern over the continued neglect and feared that the remaining portions of this historical structure may soon be confined to the pages of history books if the relevant government departments continued to shirk their responsibility toward cultural heritage.

“A master plan for the establishment of the Peshawar Walled City Authority was prepared to ensure the preservation of Peshawar’s historical and tourist sites. However, due to bureaucratic apathy, the plan was shelved indefinitely,” said a cultural activist and journalist, Shabbir Hussain Imam, while highlighting the issue on his Facebook pages.

“From the Gorakhnath and Shiv temples located opposite the grand mosque to other living remnants of diverse religions, cultures, and civilizations, many historical footprints remain and deserve urgent attention,” he added.

Another citizen said the historical Gor Khatri monument held great significance for Peshawar, one of the oldest living cities in South Asia.“It was the excavation carried out in phases next to the eastern gate of Gor Khatri that determined the historical profile of Peshawar. The excavation proved that Peshawar is 2,600 years old,” said Muhammad Ziauddin, a documentation expert and general secretary of the Gandhara Hindko Board, while calling for urgent action to save this structure and several others in Peshawar.

Citizens urged all members of the national and provincial assemblies, the Senate, local government representatives, and other decision-makers to take practical steps for the protection and preservation of the Gor Khatri heritage site.