PESHAWAR, June 22: An exhibition of photographs — highlighting the vitality, diversity and history of New York — was inaugurated here on Friday. The event is aimed at strengthening the cultural relationships between the US and Pakistan.

Principal officer of the US Consulate in Peshawar Lynne Tracy and NWFP chief secretary Sahibzada Riaz Noor opened the exhibition, entitled “The Landmarks of New York” and held at the Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayum Museum of Peshawar University.

The exhibition, jointly organised by the US Consulate and the University of Peshawar, will continue until June 28.

Comprising 81 photographs commissioned to celebrate the 40th anniversary of New York’s Landmarks Preservation Act, the exhibition will offer an opportunity to visitors to look into the history of New York’s people, their aspirations and values from the 1640s to the present day.

The exhibition, which is travelling to over 50 countries worldwide, highlights the vitality, diversity and history of New York.“We are delighted to bring this exhibition to Peshawar as part of our broad cultural relationship with Pakistan,” the US diplomat said on the occasion.

In the NWFP, she said, the US officials were working with partners on a broad range of cultural programmes — including the restoration of historically significant sites like Gor Guthree, academic exchanges, for instance the Fulbright scholarship programme, and English learning programmes for the disadvantaged youth.

Besides some diplomats of other countries, vice-chancellor of University of Peshawar Prof (Dr) Haroon Rashid, registrar Dr Shakeel Ahmad, dean of faculty of Islamic and oriental studies Prof (Dr) Qibla Ayaz, dean of faculty of arts and humanities Prof (Dr) Ghulam Taqi Bangash, dean of faculty of information and management sciences Prof (Dr) Abdul Qayum, chairman of department of journalism and mass communications Prof (Dr) Shah Jehan Kakakhel, administration director Iftikhar Hussain Khan, provost Dr Farooq Swati, vice-chancellor of Agriculture University Prof Said Khan Khalil and former vice-chancellor of Gomal University Ajmal Khan were present on the occasion.