Comment by Riaz Haq on December 22, 2022 at 6:55pm

Pakistan Preserves Its Buddhist Heritage Amidst Grave Challenges

https://www.eurasiareview.com/22122022-pakistan-preserves-its-buddh...


Gandhara was the home of a distinctive art style that was a mixture of Indian Buddhist and Greco-Roman influences. Depictions of the Buddha and Bodhisatvas (Enlightened Beings) were the mainstay of Gandhara art. Sculptures that have survived the ravages of time and the depredations of iconoclasts, show various aspects of the Buddha’s life.

However, it is the representation of the Buddha in human form that went on to influence art in China, Japan, Korea, and other parts of East Asia. It is said that the Gandhara region has the world’s only statue of a “fasting Buddha” – a Buddha in skin and bones with ribs jutting out.

The ancient Buddhist sites and the art therein, which had been neglected for centuries, were discovered by British archeologists in the colonial period. Their work was continued by Pakistani archeologists after independence in 1947. Successive Pakistani governments, except the one led by Gen.Zia-ul-Haq (1978-88), had sustained the archeological and conservation projects.

However, in 2006-2007, the Taliban banned the preservation of these objects because even the existence of idols in the midst of Muslims was “haram” or forbidden. The Taliban damaged the face of a giant Buddha statue in Swat. However, the then President, Gen.Pervez Musharraf, stood like a rock behind the conservationists and negotiated the withdrawal of the Taliban from their destructive project. Archeologists and art lovers in Pakistan and abroad breathed a sigh of relief.

Pakistan also started exhibiting Gandhara art in various places in the world, including the US. At an exhibition in New York of Gandhara art brought from the Lahore and Karachi museums, the then Pakistani Ambassador in the UN, Abdullah Hussain Haroon, waxed eloquent about the Buddha. He said that the Buddha was a human being whose “ethereal qualities and enormous wisdom showed the path to several others like Gandhi down the centuries.”

In 2016, Pakistani archeologists discovered an ancient site at Bhamala in Swat in which there was a 14 meter (48 ft) long Kanjur stone “Sleeping Buddha” statue. This 3 rd.Century AD statue is the world’s oldest Sleeping Buddha statue.

When the finding was presented to the world, the President of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) party, Imran Khan, said: ” It is a world heritage site and because of that, people will come for religious tourism and see these places. The majority of the Pakistani population wants such sites restored.”

Apart from the government, individual Pakistanis have also rendered yeoman service in preserving and protecting Buddhist sites against depredations by idol thieves and smugglers. Osman Ulasyar had stopped local boys from playing cricket in a field full of Ist. Centry AD Buddhist stupas. And, at this own cost, he built a 300 ft wall to protect the stupas.

Reuters quoted Dr.Abdul Samad, Director of Archeology and Museums in Khyber Pakhtunwala province as saying: ” Gandhara was the center of religious harmony. It is here that one finds Greek, Roman, Persian, Hindu and Buddhist gods in a single panel in the Peshawar museum.”

But tragically, the common Pakistani’s awareness of his non-Islamic past is either non-existent or pathetically low because school history books have blacked out the pre-Islamic past. This grievous flaw will need to be corrected at the earliest in the interest of the preservation of Gandhara art and the enormous tourist potential which is in it.

The other danger that lurks constantly, is the destruction, stealing and smuggling of ancient artifacts by treasure thieves. The government has armed itself with the Antiquities Act to protect the sites and also to prevent domestic and international sale of these antiquities. Success in this area is by no means insignificant since the Gandhara sites are still there for all to see. Many of the artefacts are kept safely in museums.

Comment by Riaz Haq on April 30, 2026 at 9:34am

NHA, ADB sign agreement to develop 2 sections of M6 Motorway - Pakistan - DAWN.COM


https://www.dawn.com/news/1994099


ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday inked a landmark agreement for the construction of two sections of the M6 Motorway.

In February, Commu­nica­tions Minister Abdul Aleem Khan had announced that the construction of the M-6 Motorway project would officially begin in May this year and would be executed under a Public-Pri­vate Partnership model

In a social media post on X, Aleem said that the agreement between the ADB and the NHA for the construction of the motorway was a “promising” development, felicitating the whole nation.





ایم 6 موٹروے کی تعمیر کے لیے ایشیائی ترقیاتی بینک اور این ایچ اے کے درمیان معاہدہ خوش آئیند ہے جس پر پوری قوم کو مبارکباد۔ جو منصوبہ 30 سال میں شروع نہ ہو سکا اللہ کے کرم سے 2 سال کے عرصہ میں ہی شروع ہونے جا رہا ہے۔ یہ شاہراہ کراچی تا سکھر کوریڈور کا "مسنگ لنک" ہے جو پاکستان کی
bTLWGS14_200x200.jpg
Abdul Aleem Khan (@abdul_aleemkhan) 3K likes · 199 replies
x.com


“A project that could not be initiated in 30 years is, by the grace of Allah, now set to begin within just two years,” Aleem said.

He further said that the road was a “missing link” in the Karachi-Sukkur corridor and was “essential for Pakistan’s economic development”.

“Its construction will enable traffic from Karachi Port to travel seamlessly via the motorway all the way to Peshawar and Gilgit,” the minister said.

The M-6 motorway is the only missing segment in the north-south route linking Karachi to Peshawar. He said that the 306-kilometre-long, six-lane motorway would also include 15 interchanges and 10 service areas.

Meanwhile, a separate press release said the project structure included two key sections from Hyderabad to Nawabshah, which will be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model to ensure transparency and attract private sector investment.

“While the Islamic Development Bank and the OPEC Fund have already approved financing for three other sections, the Minister reaffirmed that the entire M6 project is slated for completion within the next two years,” the statement said.

Comment by Riaz Haq 6 hours ago

Profit
@Profitpk
Project includes Pakistan's longest 13.5km Babusar Tunnel and aims to cut Karakoram Highway travel distance by up to 120km

Read: https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/06/03/nha-approves-172km-m...

https://x.com/Profitpk/status/2062095302505750907?s=20

-------------------
The Pakistan Telegraph
@TelegraphPak
🇵🇰 Major Infrastructure Breakthrough

Pakistan has approved the 172km Mansehra–Kaghan–Naran–Jhal Khand–Chilas (MNJC) Motorway, a strategic alternative to the Karakoram Highway. The project will shorten travel by up to 120km, feature Pakistan’s longest tunnel (13.5km Babusar Tunnel), and strengthen connectivity between Karachi & Gwadar ports and western China.

Planned as a 4-lane motorway expandable to 6 lanes, the route is expected to boost tourism, trade, regional connectivity, and the long-term development of Gwadar, making it a key component of Pakistan’s future transport network. 🇵🇰🚧🌏

https://x.com/TelegraphPak/status/2062209750629253348?s=20

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NHA approves 172km Mansehra-Chilas motorway via Kaghan and Naran
Project includes Pakistan's longest 13.5km Babusar Tunnel and aims to cut Karakoram Highway travel distance by up to 120km

https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/06/03/nha-approves-172km-m...

The National Highway Authority (NHA) has approved the construction of a 172-kilometre motorway connecting Mansehra and Chilas through Kaghan, Naran and Jhal Khand, according to an official statement.

The approval was granted during a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan.

The proposed Mansehra-Naran-Jhal Khand-Chilas (MNJC) Motorway will serve as an alternative route to the Karakoram Highway (KKH) and is expected to reduce travel distance on the existing highway by up to 120 kilometres.

The project will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will cover the section from Mansehra to Kaghan, Naran and Babusar Top, while the second phase will extend the motorway from Babusar Top to Chilas.

A key component of the project is the construction of a 13.5-kilometre Babusar Tunnel, which is expected to become the longest tunnel in Pakistan. The four-lane motorway will also be designed to allow future expansion to six lanes.

According to the plan, modern rest areas will be established every 25 to 30 kilometres along the route, while dedicated trucking terminals for freight transport will be developed on both sides of the motorway.

Speaking at the meeting, Abdul Aleem Khan said the new corridor would provide a direct connection between Western China and the ports of Karachi and Gwadar, offering an alternative trade route to existing networks.

He said the motorway would reduce travel time and transportation costs for cargo moving between the Arabian Sea and Western China and support connectivity with Gwadar Port.

The minister directed the relevant authorities to complete all technical planning and related requirements within the prescribed timeframe.

The meeting was also attended by the Secretary Communications and the Chairman of the National Highway Authority.

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