The US has funded 17 cultural preservation projects in Pakistan over the past 10 years, but they are just beginning.
With plans to include Sindh and Balochistan to the cultural preservation portfolio in future, the US embassy marked its 10 years of helping preserve Pakistani culture with a photography exhibition.
Capturing sites in Punjab and northern Pakistan, Imran Babur’s photographs at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) attracted attention from diplomats and visitors alike.
A US diplomat working in the cultural section said the security situation precludes many diplomats from visiting these areas. “I [can] only seeing these beautiful sites through these pictures; really wish I could actually go there,” said the diplomat.
US ambassador Cameron Munter, who also inaugurated the exhibition, said that cultural heritage is a crucial link to the past and teaches us who we are today. “It transcends all boundaries and [studying it] helps us to better understand each other as people.”
Syed Azfer Iqbal, who works on cultural exchange programmes at the embassy, said that a total of US$ 1.6 million have been spent on projects in Pakistan and they are now shifting focus to Sindh and Balochistan. “We are going to go to sites in these provinces and work on them,” said Iqbal.
The US has worked with federal and provincial governments on several cultural preservation projects, ranging from excavation of Gandhara archaeological treasures and preservation of Mughal architectural heritage to documentation of historic manuscripts and restoration of Sufi shrines of spiritual and religious significance.
The photo exhibit is open to the public at PNCA till February 20.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2012.
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This is awesome! I wish the people of Pakistan are informed by their leaders about all the people of America are doing voluntarily to show they really care about Pakistan and not just have a selfish motive as the violent extremists want us to know and believe. I mean even our government despite the will and resources could not restore & promote such sites, for one reason or the another. We knew it did need a neutral foreign hand who has no favorite party or ethnicity but just an interest in the restoration of the cultural heritage of Pakistan. I thank you the people of United States for all this.
This "help" should be turned down. No thanks U.S. we know your real intentions for our country.