Zeeshan Mumtaz
ISLAMABAD: While working on the construction of the Diamer Basha dam, the management of the project identified a huge stone containing ancient cultural carvings of an ancient Buddhist civilization. The management of the Diamer Basha dam project immediately moved the precious stone toward the safe house.
Specifications of Buddhist cultural rock
This newly discovered rock with ancient carvings was discovered during the ongoing construction on the Right Bank Peripheral Road in the Khanberi area of Diamer Basha Dam.
This cultural heritage-rich rock is 1.74 meters long and 0.96 meters in width, having a weight of several tons. Buddhist rock has been temporarily shifted to the camp for Diamer Basha dam contractors, located in the area of Bushidas in Gilgit Baltistan, under strict security and safety measures.
Management said that this historic rock would be transferred to the site museum, which is under construction in Chilas, and upon completion of the museum, this rock will be shifted there along with other cultural and historical assets belonging to the Area of Gilgit Baltistan.
Cultural heritage of Diamer Bhasha dam site
Faryal Gohar, working as an Advisor of the Cultural Heritage Diamer Bhasha Dam Project, senior officials of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), and contractors from Chinese and Pakistani companies were present on this occasion of cultural and heritage preservation.
WAPDA is mandated to work on the Cultural Heritage Management Plan of the Diamer Bhasha Dam Project. In this regard, WAPDA is working to protect thousands of ancient carvings and belongings in the dam project area.
This Cultural Heritage plan includes the preservation and transfer of thousands of historical carvings from the project area to bring in the site museum under construction by WAPDA.
WAPDA is restoring the famous Chilas Fort to establish the Cultural and Heritage site museum in the renowned fort.
Rock engravings, inscriptions
Pakistan is a tourism-rich country, also privileged to have one of the most significant 5,000–8,000-year-old Indus Valley civilizations, which stretches along the length of the country and spreads the flourishing of history, culture, and heritage originating from the fertile Indus River plains.
The Diamer-Bhasha Dam Project’s geographical setting makes it easy to comprehend that human settlements were prosperous at the location of the headworks as well as in and around the reservoir area of the dam. Over 50,000 rock engravings and more than 5,000 inscriptions in 14 ancient languages have been found in the Diamer region and other side valleys.
The Diamer-Bhasha Dam is situated at Bhasha on the Indus River, about 40 kilometers downstream of Chilas, 82 kilometers upstream of Dasu, and 315 kilometers upstream of Tarbela Dam. The dam is to be built between latitude 35° and 36° north and longitude 73° to 75° east. Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are separated by the Indus River at this location.
