May 22, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 16, 1429

PESHAWAR, May 21: The archaeologists of federal government resumed work on restoration of archaeological sites in violence-hit Swat district after a gap of almost eight months, officials said.

The Federal Archaeology Department has launched a project “Development and restoration of archaeological sites and monuments” to restore the many archaeological sites of Gandhara civilisation. Under the five-year project archaeological sites spread from Taxila to Swat were being restored with a budget of Rs300 million.

The project was started in 2003 with restoration work on five sites in Swat including Butkara-I, Butkara-III, Saidu Stupa, Shingar Dhar, Parn which are sacred Buddhists historic sites dating back to Gandhara civilisation.

“The work was going on well but due to security reasons it was hampered as the safety of staff was also important,” said an official of archaeology department.

Archaeology director Abdul Azeem said that work had been resumed on Butkara-I, a historic site about one kilometer off Saidu Sharif. He said thatb the site also has a museum. “We are providing facilities like water, roads, benches dustbins which are needed at a site to facilitate visitors,” the official added.

“The Buddhist sacred precinct of Butkara identified as the monastery of ‘Ta-Lo’, mentioned by Sung Yun and visited by the Chinese Buddhist pilgrims of 5th, 6th and 7th centuries AC, lies at the eastern end of the ancient capital of Udyana Meng-Chich-Li, presently known as Mingawara,” the official informed.The main Stupa stands in the middle, surrounded by crowded monuments Stupas, Viharas and columns. A great building stands on the northern side and further to the North and West are inhabited areas.

“The government is also planning to buy surrounding land to create a buffer zone around the historic site to safeguard it from encroachments and deterioration,” the official said.