Pashto literary jirga: Call for revival of cultural activities in Peshawar

Gor Khutree was dubbed ‘the place where the famous tower of the Buddha bowl once stood’.

PESHAWAR: Literati of the provincial metropolis at a literary gathering here on Thursday highlighted the lost glory of the historic Gor Khutree and other cultural sites and called for the revival of cultural activities in the historic city.

The Pashto Jiga (literary meeting) was organised by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Directorate of Archeology and Museums in collaboration with Sarhad Tourism Corporation (STC) under its Youth Awareness Programme to highlight the importance of Peshawar’s cultural heritage and its preservation among the youth.

Renowned Pashto poet and writer Prof Mohammad Azam Azam was the chief guest, while Archeology and Museums’ Director Saleh Mohammad Khan presided over the gathering.

About 29 poets and writers participated in the meeting and presented poetry and highlighted the significance of the heritage of the province.

They stressed the need for raising awareness about ancient and Mughal-ra sites among the youth to aid revival of cultural activities and preservation of historic sites.

The poets and literary figures described the beauty of Peshawar, especially historical sites through their verses and enthralled the audience.

Due to lack of awareness, they said, the rich heritage and historic sites were at the verge of exticntion, stressing upon the government to take steps for the revival of culture

activities in the historical places of the province.

Directorate of Archeology and Museums chief Dr Abdul Samad explained the aims and objectives of the Youth Awareness Programme. He said the ultimate goal is to revive the Peshawar’s oldest and historic place, Gor Khutree for multicultural activities.

He added they had arranged a literary gathering to revitalise cultural activities in Peshawar with assistance and cooperation of literary figures at the historic site.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2011.