ISLAMABAD: The stalled project of restoring the Shah Allah Ditta caves will be resumed and city managers have also decided on developing a tourist site near the caves, which make up one of the most important heritage sites in the region.

CDA officials took the decision of preserving the caves located in the Margalla Hills in D-13 in a meeting on Friday with Member Administration Amir Ali Ahmed in the chair.

“These caves are our heritage and we have decided to preserve them,” Mr Ahmed said.

He added that in 2010, CDA had prepared a PC-1 for the preservation and protection of the site in addition to the development of a ‘Sadhu ka Bagh” next to the caves. Due to various reasons, he said, the project could not be completed.

“Only a small wall was constructed but now we have decided to completely develop the site and make it a tourist spot,” he said.

A token fund for the conservation of the archaeological site has been released and the tendering process is being completed, after which construction work on the site will begin, he added.

Also attending the meeting was Deputy Mayor Zeeshan Naqvi who belongs to Shah Allah Ditta. Speaking to Dawn after the meeting, the deputy mayor said that the site is important as it has a rich history.

“Murals of Budha from 2,400 years ago were also found on the walls of the caves,” he said and urged that all similar sites be preserved and better facilities be given to visitors to the sites.

“There is a disagreement about how old the caves are but one can safely say they are about 4,000 years old. I hope that after they are developed, the caves will attract a large number of local and foreign tourists,” said Member Environment Sanaullah Aman.

Dr Ashraf Khan, the head of the Taxila Institute of Asian Civilisation in the Quaid-e-Azam University said that the caves are from the stone age.

The caves were located along the routes used in those times, he said and that they are “very important for archaeological and historical studies”.

Dr Ashraf said that studies had shown that the caves were used by Hindus till 1947.

“The surviving fresco on the walls represents the image of Lord Shiva and a stream in front of the caves also indicates that they were occupied by Hindus,” he said, adding that that more studies needed to be conducted on the caves. “That CDA has decided to protect the caves is a good thing. I would also suggest that the site be included in protected lists,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2016