June 08, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 03, 1429

MANSEHRA, June 7: Peshawar is considered to be the ancient living city in South Asia and it has witnessed the rise and fall of various civilisations of the world.

This was stated by Prof Dr Ihsan Ali, vice-chancellor of Hazara University, while delivering a lecture on “Peshawar -- the earliest living city of South Asia” here at the varsity on Saturday.

Dr Ihsan elaborated that Peshawar city had passed through various eras of construction and development since 1600 BC.

“Peshawar has preserved the remnants of Greek, Iranian, Persian, Aryan, Buddhist, Sikhism, Muslim and British civilisations,” he maintained.

Mr Ali said that Goar Kathri, Qila Balahisar, Governor’s House and Mahabat Khan Mosque were some of the famous historical sites of the city, which depict the great civilisations of the past.

He said that the city had remained one of the major centres of knowledge and research in the ancient time, where scholars, researchers and students from different parts of the world used to come to seek the knowledge and exploration.

Dr Ali went on to say that keeping in view the Peshawar city’s cultural, intellectual and historical background, the city had been called by various names in different periods as the city of flowers, city of gardens, and the city of gates/doors.

Faculty, students and staff of the Hazara University attended the lecture. During the answer/question session the faculty and students asked very pertinent questions which were answered by Dr Ihsan Ali in the light of the historical and archaeological evidence.