ISLAMABAD – Pro-culture and heritage organizations in a press release issued on Tuesday urged the Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa government to move into action to save an ancient Hindu temple which is being demolished to pave the way for construction of a commercial plaza.
The newly formed association of four organizations: Sarhad Conservation Network, Frontier Heritage Trust, Institute of Architects Pakistan and Karwan Jirga have set their goal to keep ancient artifacts, works of art and archaeological sites safe from destruction and also the ones facing menace of market forces.
“We are witnessing a tragedy of destruction of heritage, systematic and deliberate attacks on culture,” said an official to Dunya news reporter.
During a seminar titled ‘Save Our Heritage’, organized by the Institute of Architects of Pakistan Peshawar Chapter and Sarhad Conservation Network (SCN) in Peshawar in early February, talks were held to invoke KPK government’s focus on conserving many of the damaged, demolished and neglected ancient buildings that portray culture and heritage.
On the occasion, speakers asked Peshawar DC Riaz Mehsud to impose Section 144 to protect historical buildings and sites1.
According to sources, Muhammad Khalid, an architect, said, “We are losing our heritage sites one by one.” He claimed that heritage sites help promote tourism and generate revenue for the government, but the K-P government has failed to utilize its resources in this regard.
“We have never seen the provincial government take measures to protect the heritage for the last several decades,” Khalid said.
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- 1. The famous Kapoor haveli, located in Dhakki Munawwar Shah, near Q...issa Khwani, birth place of cinema legend Raj Kapoor had the top two storey’s of the building demolished overnight after it turned into a threat for neighboring houses. However, the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums stepped and halted the destruction of this iconic structure based on antiquity laws of the Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Antiquities Bill 2015. Under this act, anyone damaging or destroying a protected or important antiquity will be punishable with the rigorous imprisonment extending up to five years and fine of Rs2 million.
