Rs3.7m approved for Shah Allah Ditta Caves

Projects worth Rs29m approved for preservation of literature and heritage sites, book fairs, shrines, art exhibition

ISLAMABAD: Executive Committee of PM Endowment Fund on Friday approved Rs3.6 million for the preservation of Shah Allah Ditta Caves among eight projects worth over Rs29 million to promote and preserve literature and national heritage.

The body's first meeting decided to hold an international conference of writers under support of the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL), this year. The meeting was chaired by National History and Literary Heritage Division Secretary Amir Hassan.

The committee has approved the proposal of International writers conference worth Rs7 million presented by PAL. The project of conservation and presentation of Shah Allah Ditta caves Islamabad worth Rs3.6 million, conservation and presentation of a Buddhist shrine and a mosque at Bhan Faqiran, Islamabad worth Rs5 million, and upgrading of Islamabad Museum to provide new show case and make museum more interactive for visitors, worth Rs4 million were presented by Department of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM).



Book fair in any small city of the country worth Rs3 million was presented by National Book Foundation (NBF), International Iqbal Conference in November 2018 (Lahore) worth Rs2.5 million, proposed by Iqbal Academy Pakistan (IAP) Lahore.

Calligraphy Exhibition worth Rs2.5 million was presented by National Language Promotion Department, as well as the publication of a book which was a compilation of images of artefacts displayed during an international calligraphy Exhibition held in August 2017 in collaboration with International Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) worth Rs1.5 million presented by National History and Literary Heritage Division have been approved by the committee.

The committee also decided to give special attention on holding book-fairs in small cities to provide books at discounted rates and promote the culture of friendship with books in far-flung areas.

The meeting stressed the need to publicize personality and thinking of national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal through increased research in collaboration with international experts.

Among others, the meeting was attended by former secretary Ejaz Rahim, renowned writer Musharraf Ali Faruqi, Dr M Ashraf and senior officials of the division.

The meeting expressed grief and sorrow over the sad demise of renowned humor-writer Mushtaq Yousafi.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2018.