MANSEHRA: The government has planned to establish a museum at an archaeological site here to promote cultural tourism.

“We have received a letter from the directorate of archaeology and museums for the acquisition of land to put up a museum,” spokesperson for the district administration Farah Naz told reporters here on Wednesday.

She said director of the archaeology and museums department Dr Abdul Samad Khan would visit Zar Dheri village next week to select a piece of land for the purpose.

The spokesman said Zar Dheri was discovered as a seat of learning from the Gandhara Civilisation.

Official says other such places will also be preserved

She said the directorate of archaeology and museums had planned to preserve other archaeological sites as well, including the courtroom of last Turk King Sultan Mahmood in Gulibagh area.

In a letter this week, the directorate urged the district administration to immediately ban the sale and purchase of land in that area.

“The directorate intends to purchase this land for protection, development and promotion of cultural tourism and an early action in this regard will highly be appreciated,” the letter read.

Lawyer Sahibzada Jawad said a Gandhara Civilisation stupa had been discovered in Zar Dheri village, which dated back to over 25,000 years.

He said the archaeological site used to have a university, where the people from Central Asia used to come for learning.

EQUIPMENT: The Saibaan Development Organisation in collaboration with Care International has given away surgical equipment and machinesto the district health office and seven health facilities for anti-coronavirus activities.

“Though the coronavirus-related situation is now under control, we are getting ourselves ready for the feared fourth wave of the virus,” additional deputy commissioner Nazima Shaheen told the ceremony held to give away surgical consignments to heads of health facilities here on Thursday.

Earlier, Saibaan chief Jawad Alfaizi and Care International programme manager Dr Asif Ashraf handed over equipment and machines to the heads of the district health office, King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, Garhi Habibullah, Baffa and Lassan Nawab civil hospitals, Oghi tehsil headquarters hospital, and Shinkiari rural health centre.

HELD: The police have arrested two men in Pulrah area here for grabbing the people’s land.

District police officer Sajjad Khan told reporters that the arrest of Raheel Tanoli and Zulfiqar Goga was made on the people’s complaints.

He said the crackdown on land grabbers would continue in the district.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2021