Pak-UK joint project launched in Chitral

PESHAWAR:

The Hazara University in Mansehra has launched a heritage management project in upper Chitral. The International Strategic Partnership in Research and Education (INSPIRE) programme is a joint venture of Hazara University, Abdul Wali Khan University (AWKU), British Council and Leicester University in the United Kingdom.

According to the project coordinator Dr Abdul Samad, the programme aims to enhance students’ capacities and explore the ancient passes of the region. He said several passes were explored with the use of scientific excavation tools during the one-year project, and two international conferences would take place at the university under the programme.

He said that the project had been carried out under different phases. During the first two phases, the ancient passes in Singoor, Kalash Valley and Lower Chitral were explored, while the exploration of Broghil, Jinali, Shandur and other ancient passes in upper Chitral would take place in the final phase. The university’s team had already initiated the excavation work under his supervision for this purpose, he remarked.

He further said the project had been initiated by AWKU Vice-Chancellor Dr Ahsan Ali and Dr Ruthyoung from Leicester University two years ago under a memorandum of understanding to strengthen research institutions. He said the programme was running successfully and hoped it would further strengthen in the future.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2011.