Daily Times

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is yet to ensure preservation of different archaeological sites in the province which can be used to promote tourism and generate revenue.

Those archeological sites of the province which are in a very poor condition include Rehman Dheri in Dera Ismail Khan, Ashoka Rock Edict in Shebaz Garhi Mardan, Southern Kafir Kot in Bilot village on the right bank or River Indus, and Northern Kafir Kot and Lal Maraha in DI Khan.

The official sources informed Daily Times that the authorities concerned had failed to develop a tourism facilitation infrastructure including tourism information centres in the districts where these sites are located.

They said that the authorities concerned had also failed to develop an annual event calendar to promote indigenous culture and provincial tourism.

Throwing weight behind the claims, sources said that gradual development process in the vicinity of Rehman Dheri, an important Harrapan period site in the region, had endangered the pictograph beauty of the site. The site was excavated by the Archaeology Department of the University of Peshawar in 1976-77.

Similarly, Southern Kafirkot site in Bilot village is severely damaged due to natural disasters. All the four temples of this historical site wear a deserted look.

A local named, Shabir Hussain, deputed as a guard on the site, said that restoration of ruined temples and fort wall had become indispensable.

“I haven’t seen any foreigner come here to visit the site,” he added

Meanwhile, a local student of archaeology told Daily Times that Ashoka Rock Edict, an ancient site, had been turned into a safe haven for drug addicts due to government’s negligence.

Moreover, Northern Kafir Kot, an ancient ruin in DI Khan, is another historical site in KP KP which presents a very poor condition. Like the Southern Kafir Kot, here too the fort and temples are completely ruined.

The fragments of the majestic fort are visible but a large portion of the wall is damaged.

An official of the department concerned, requesting anonymity, said that parts of this historical site were damaged due to recent natural disasters; especially earthquakes have ruined the site badly.

“We have initiated a plan to restore the historical sites and due preference will be given in the current budget for their preservation,” he said.

Similarly, Lal Mahara, a magnificent example of Islamic architecture, does not present a different picture.

Located in DI Khan, the site consists of eleven monumental tombs and more than 120 graves. But only four tombs and some graves have survived.

“Conservation work on the site had been started but we failed to preserve the domes which were unfortunately missing from the sight,” the official said.

Comment over the issue, Prof Dr Zakirullah of University of Peshawar said that archeological sites in India and Egypt were considered backbone of economy. He said that KP was bestowed by numbers of such sites which could be used for tourism promotion and revenue generation.

Pertinent to mention that the KP government allocated Rs 603 million in the annual development fund 2015-16 for the rehabilitation of the archaeological site in the province, but it seemed that not a single penny was ever spent to preserve the sites.

Several attempts were made to contact Archaeology and Museum Secretary Azam Khan, but he was not available for comments.