ISLAMABAD, Aug 21: Pakistan and Japan signed an agreement on Wednesday to hold an exhibition, “The treasures of Pakistan: Gandhara,” in Tokyo and three other cities of Japan, from Oct 29.

The agreement was signed between the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) and Pakistan at the ministry of minorities, culture, sports, tourism and youth affairs.

Under the agreement, the government, in cooperation with the Punjab and the NWFP governments, has agreed to provide masterpiece Gandhara artefacts from Lahore and Peshawar museums and the National Museum, Karachi, for the exhibition.

The agreement was signed by NHK Executive Managing Director Akiyoshi Sekine and Archaeology Director-General Saeedur Rehman. Sadaaki Numata, ambassador of Japan, and Mohammad Tariq Janjua, secretary for minorities, culture, sports, tourism and youth affairs, attended the ceremony.

The ambassador said this year marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He said the exhibition was a centrepiece of the commemorative events in Japan.

Tariq Janjua said that after Sept 11 the number of tourists in Pakistan had declined and the exhibition would provide an opportunity to display Gandhara art in Japan to project the cultural heritage and attract tourists.

Akiyoshi Sekine referred to the Gandhara art exhibition held in Japan in 1984 and Indus Valley Civilization exhibitions in 1986 and 1998.—APP