MINGORA: Activists on Friday expressed fear that the construction of the Swat motorway would destroy the 2,000-year old Kushan-era Shah Kot pass in the Malakand district, which is an important heritage site of the region.

Locally known as Hathi Dara (path of elephant), the 20-foot wide and six miles long track is located near the Zalm Kot village.

Zarawar Khan, professor of archaeology in the University of Swat, said that it was first known from the accounts of French and English writers that the track served for centuries as a major passage for caravans, traders and even Buddhist pilgrims coming from Peshawar or Mardan to Malakand and Swat valley.

“This is the only route connecting Swat and the adjacent areas with the rest of the country constructed by Buddhists, most probably in Kushan era, but it was deserted after the Malakand road was constructed in 1896 by the British military to advance to Dir and Chitral.

The route was a multi-purpose track used for trade activities and travel of caravans and pilgrims,” Zarawar Khan said.

The teacher said that the first reference about the track was found in a report of Gen MA Court, a French officer in the service of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1839.

Zarawar Khan said as the Buddha footprints were also reported on the site it had immense historical and archaeological importance, and if it was destroyed it would be an irreparable loss to unique culture and historical heritage.

He said the first political officer of Dir Swat and Chitral, Mr HA Dean, mentioned about the Buddha footprints in 1896 in these words, “On the top of the Shah Kot pass is a large stone having foot impressions shown as Buddha’s foot marks.”

Civil society activists said the ancient track must be excluded from the Swat motorway. “The government should find an alternative route for the construction of the tunnels through the mountain where the ancient track passes,” said Shakeel Khan, a civil society activist from Thanra village.

The activists said civilised nations even changed the course of roads and highways to secure an old tree, but in Pakistan the entire sites having historical and archaeological significance were destroyed.

When contacted, KP director archaeology Dr Abdul Samad said he had already contacted the Pakhtunkhwa Highway Authority, Frontier Works Organisation and project director of the Swat Motorway about the ancient site, and they had assured that the historic path won’t be affected by the construction of the motorway.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2017