Raj Kapoor, Dilip homes set for facelift

Governor orders restoration of ancestral homes of Bollywood's legendary stars

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has called for comprehensive measures to preserve and restore Peshawar's historical heritage and promote its cultural and tourism potential, while directing authorities to ensure representation of all languages spoken in the province in the proposed Khyber Star Talent Hunt Programme.

At a meeting chaired by him to review the development and restoration of Peshawar's historical heritage and tourist attractions, the governor was briefed on the city's historical and cultural significance, the preservation of heritage sites, and ongoing and proposed development projects. Adviser for Development and Planning Usman Saifullah, Secretary Tourism Saadat Hassan and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

The briefing also covered plans for night tourism and heritage tourism.

Kundi said Peshawar was a living embodiment of centuries-old history, civilisation and culture and stressed the need to highlight its historical identity to attract domestic and foreign tourists.

He directed the authorities to display the vintage ambulance and old fire engines preserved at Gor Khatri at a suitable location where visitors could see them. He also called for introducing special tourist buses to facilitate visits to the city's historical landmarks.

The governor further directed the installation of large information boards near the Peshawar Motorway Toll Plaza, highlighting the city's historical sites and cultural heritage to familiarise visitors with its rich past.

Emphasising the importance of cultural activities, he said efforts should be made to preserve Peshawar's traditions, arts and literary heritage. He also directed that restoration work on the ancestral homes of legendary actors Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor be initiated at the earliest.

He welcomed practical steps towards protecting the city's heritage, saying restoration of historical sites and provision of better tourist facilities would help promote Peshawar's cultural identity.

Separately, chairing a meeting on the proposed Khyber Star Talent Hunt and Cultural Promotion Programme, Kundi directed that all languages spoken in the province, including Urdu and Saraiki, be included to ensure equal representation and promote cultural diversity.

Officials briefed the participants on the programme's objectives, implementation mechanism and selection process. They said the initiative aimed to identify and promote young talent while showcasing the province's culture, traditions and linguistic diversity.

They informed the meeting that audition camps would be established in different districts, while a committee comprising representatives of relevant departments would oversee the selection process to ensure transparency and maintain standards.

Kundi stressed that no regional language should be excluded from the auditions. He specifically highlighted the importance of Saraiki, which is widely spoken in Dera Ismail Khan, Sindh and parts of Punjab.

He said the youth of K-P possessed immense talent and potential that deserved recognition at national and international levels.

Providing young people with constructive opportunities and an effective platform to showcase their abilities was essential, he added, expressing hope that the programme would encourage emerging talent and contribute to the promotion of the province's rich cultural heritage.