ISLAMABAD: The Boston Architectural College (BAC) and the University of Baltistan, Skardu, have agreed to jointly launch a US-funded academic partnership project for ‘cultural heritage management’ in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Under the agreement, BAC will help the varsity establish its ‘cultural heritage centre’ in Skardu.

The understanding about the partnership was reached during a 60-minute teleconference among the officials of the varsity, BAC, US Department of State and US Embassy the other day, according to a press release issued here on Tuesday.

Both the institutions have agreed to collaborate in faculty and student exchanges for capacity building, curriculum development, field school development, preservation and documentation of cultural heritage of GB.

The meeting was attended besides others by Prof Mohammad Naeem Khan, Vice-Chancellor, University of Baltistan, Mr Don Hunsicker, Dean Faculty, School of Design Studies, BAC, Ms Eleni Glekas, Director of Historic Preservation, BAC, Dr Laura Tedesco, and Manager Cultural Heritage Programmes, Department of State, Washington.

Previously, the meeting, scheduled for March 19 in Islamabad, was postponed due to Covid-19 pandemic.

The BAS will help the varsity launch its BS undergraduate degree programme in social and cultural studies. The Boston-Baltistan partnership programme will focus on the study of GB cultural heritage, including preservation of rock inscriptions and manuscripts, material conservation and historic preservation, digitisation and documentation and cultural exchange and travel between Pakistan and the United States.

The project will be funded by the US State Department and the US Embassy under Pakistan grant awards, and will help in tourism development and economic growth in GB.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2020