Contribution of Italian Archaeologists in the Promotion of Cultural Heritage of Pakistan

Strengthening the economic and trade links between Europe and Pakistan is the key for prosperous future relation. This was stated by Italian ambassador to Pakistan Vincenzo Prati while delivering a lecturer on “Issue of growth in the relation between Europe and Pakistan”. He said European Union (EU) should come forward and help Pakistan for its steady growth “While thinking about the future we cannot ignore the past as we have a rich history of ties between Mediterranean and this Part of the world” he added.

>The event was organized by Taxila Institute of Asian Civilization, (TIAC) Quaid-i-Azam University and Embassy of Italy with an aim to acknowledge the efforts and contribution of Italian archaeologists in the Promotion of Cultural Heritage of Pakistan.

The Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Pakistan, and the Italian Archaeological Mission of IsIAO has a successful story of fifty years of cooperation in the field of archaeology. This consists of visits of the experts of archaeology and museum, exchange of publications and reports and scholarship programmes. t was Professor Giuseppe Tucci who was attracted by the valley of Swat back in 1950s as he frequently confronted the mention of Swat in the holy literature of Tibet.

QAU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Masoom Yasinzai said that since 1955 a number of archaeologists, anthropologists and geo-physicists of the Italian Archaeological Mission handsomely contributed to the reconstruction of the history and culture of the area. The Mission is to be credited as the first foreign mission authorized to carry out archaeological activities in Pakistan and the long-standing one in the country. Approximately 400 historical and archaeological sites have till now been documented by the Italians in Pakistan.

Dr. Masoom Yasinzai said that TIAC, QAU, has also signed a MoU with the IsIAO Italian Archaeological Mission aiming at the promotion of academic cooperation between the two institutes. In a similar way, its MoU with the Department of the Antiquity Sciences, La Sapienza of Rome, is also welcome step in relation to the promotion of scientific cooperation between Pakistan and Italy.

Dr. Luca Maria Olivieri a renowned archeologist and International scholar also shared the results of Italian Archeological activities in Swat. Prof. Dr. M. Ashraf Khan, Director, Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations,QAU presented the Special Italian Issue of the Journal of Asian Civilizations to the Ambassador. A large number of scholars, social scientists and students attended the seminar.