Daily Times

PESHAWAR: A large number of ancient manuscripts in different languages are deteriorating in the library of Pushto Academy, University of Peshawar. The library has as many as 1453 manuscripts in different languages including Pushto, Persian and Arabic. But most of them are in a very poor condition and have already started to deteriorate as the writing is slowly becoming unreadable. Most of the manuscripts have already been decomposed whereas the remaining are soon going to deteriorate as “the academy is combating the situation with the old, traditional techniques of preservation,” said the Librarian of Pushto Academy Shahid Ali. Preservation of these important manuscripts may grant the library an important place in world libraries, said Nasurllah Jan Wazir Director of the Pushto Academy while demanding more funds for the cause. He further revealed that these manuscripts also included the poetry of Rahman Baba, Hameed Baba, Khushal Khan Khattak and also detailed historical descriptions of Pakhtun lands and poetry. “We have prepared and sent PC-1 to the office of the treasurer and registrar of the university, for the allocation of funds for the perseveration of these important and ancient manuscripts, and the Vice Chancellor (VC) has promised funds for the manuscripts in the upcoming budget”, Mr Wazir added. Abbasin Yousafzai, Head of the Pushto Department, at Islamia College Peshawar said that it was not a new problem but the authorities of the Peshawar University did not give a heed to solve the problem faced in preservation of the Pushto scripts. He further said that the USAID had signed an agreement with Pashto Academy and project had begun to preserve the manuscript but it was left incomplete due to some administrative matters and hurdles. One of the manuscripts Shahnama Firdosi is written in gold water partially. Once an Italian researcher wanted to purchase it on the payment of 0.4 million dollars. But it could not be sold as it was the property of the Pushto Academy, said the Director of the Academy. When contacted Akhtar Amin, Assistant Registrar of the University of Peshawar and media protocol officer said the PC-1 had already been forwarded to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and after seeking the approval and release of funds work on the preservation of the valuable manuscripts would be carried out.