CHITRAL, 21 May, 07: Two days seminar on mapping of cultural heritage concluded here in Chitral. Mr. Jorge Sequiera Director UNESCO was chief guest on the concluding ceremony while  Miss Carrie La Port manager special project, Aga Khan Foundation Canada , Mrs. Farhat Gul National Program Officer (culture) of UNESCO District Nazim Chitral and other notables were also present on the occasion.

 Director UNESCO while addressing the workshop said that culture preservation is an alternate route for uplift of life standard of indigenous people. He said that it is an economic growth on a gross root level. He said that UNESCO wanted to identify and focus on local culture by culture mapping through documentation of historical sites. As a result local community will be developed because cultural heritage also play vital role in promotion of tourism in respective areas. He said that Norway government was funding for this purpose and we work in 6 different districts of North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. He said that some components are confidential and secret but we respect the emotions and culture of each community. He said that Unesco wants to promote tourism by this way in these historical areas as a result the local people would be benefited.

He said that with the cooperation of Federal, Provincial, and local governments, this project can be successful and will impact positively in these areas. Dr. Inayatullah Faizi identified different historic features, sites and components with threats, issues and their possible solutions.  He said that Chitral was having 20 Historic Forts, 9 fort ruins, 21 historic shrines and 53 historic Mosques, rock carving and meadows in Arandu area, more than 20 sites of public interest and entertainment,12 Natural Lakes , 12 Hot springs, Chitral goal National park a natural habitat of  wild life and 12 famous glaciers.  He said that there are 400 traditional games which are played by men and women of Chitral in different seasons. The Kalash tribe an endangered ethnic community which show a decrease of population each year.

District Nazim Chitral Haji Maghfirat Shah said that we have rich potential of tourism and culture. He clarified the misconcept of any negative impact on culture of Chitral after completion of Lowari Rail Tunnel. He thanked UNESCO for mapping cultural heritage of Chitral. The workshop was participated a large number of people belonging to all walks of life. (GH Farooqi)