PESHAWAR, April 12: The NWFP government has initiated construction of four museums, in Peshawar, Charsadda, Hund and Chitral, to protect the cultural heritage of the region and promote tourism in these historical cities , Archaeology and Museums director Prof Ihasan Ali said.

According to a press release issued here on Monday, Prof Ihsan Ali was talking to the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Shivshankar Menon during his visit to the Peshawar Museum on Sunday.

The delegation comprising Mr and Mrs Menon, deputy high commissioner T.G.A. Raghavan and other staff members of the Indian high commission visited the museum which had a rich collection of Ghandhara art.

Prof Ihsan Ali highlighted the importance of the Ghandhara region and its successive capital ancient cities like Pushkalavati, now known as Charsadda, and Kanishkapura or Peshawar where the museum is situated. More than 6,000 pieces of Ghandahara collection were preserved in the museums at Peshawar, Mardan and Chakdara.

The NWFP government had initiated the construction work on new museums in Peshawar, Charsadda, Hund and Chitral. The delegation was told that the Ghandahara art flourished in this region and thousands of stupas and monasteries were built in Peshawar, Mardan, Dir, Swat and Bajaur.