PESHAWAR Oct 5: NWFP Secretary Sports, Culture, Tourism and Museums Abdul Jalil Khan has thanked US Ambassador Ryan Crocker for his country’s support in restoration of the Gor Khuttree Complex.

He was speaking at a ceremony held at the Peshawar Museum. Through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, the US is providing $35,000 to help conserve the site considered to be a magnificent part of Pakistan’s cultural heritage.

The project will help restore and preserve historic glory of ancient northern cells of the complex.

The site has been considered sacred for more than 2000 years. It was home of ancient Buddhist and Hindu shrines about 2000 years ago. A daughter of Mughal king Shah Jehan built a mosque on the site and surrounded it with a caravanserai, the famous Serai Jehanabad. The gateway to Gor Khuttre is among the finest examples of Mughal architecture.

Created by the US Congress in 2001 as a sign of American respect for other cultures and traditions, the US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation supports projects around the world which are aimed at preserving museum collections, ancient and historic sites and traditional forms of expression. Over the past six years, the fund has awarded 379 preservation grants to 108 countries.—PPI