Zubair Qureshi
Ambassador of Japan, Matsuda Kuninori on Monday visited the historical sites in the suburbs of the federal capital, Shah Allah Ditta Caves and admired their beauty and grandeur and highlighted their historical and tourism significance.
The caves of Shah Allah Ditta in the Margalla Hills are internationally known Buddhist caves, preserving around 2,400-year old Bhuddist era murals.
Former Deputy Mayor of Islamabad and a representative of the Shah Allah Ditta community, Syed Zeshan Naqvi received the ambassador upon his arrival and briefed him about the caves.
The ancient caves depict one of the nestling places of Buddhism in the region, said Naqvi adding, they had various engravings of Buddha on its walls that are indeed a treasure of information and have historical significance.
While appreciating the site as a potential tourist point, he said if the site was properly preserved and showcased to the outer world it could attract a large number of tourists from across the world.
Zeshan Naqvi while briefing the Japanese envoy also highlighted the issues the local government of Islamabad (that completed its term earlier in February this year) faced in preserving the place.
The historic relic of the past is threatened by construction work in the adjacent areas and lack of infrastructure and support by the international community, he said.
The ambassador’s attention was also drawn towards the poor state of the road leading to the Shah Allah Ditta caves.
The ambassador said he would see what the embassy could do in this regard in collaboration with the government of Pakistan.
To a question, Ambassador Matsuda Kuninori said Pakistan was a safe country and the way Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government had combatted coronavirus by imposing smart lockdown was commendable.
Japan he said had already eased travel restrictions on Pakistan.
The ambassador said the Japanese businessmen and religious tourists would be facilitated if they wanted to travel to Pakistan, adding, Japanese businessmen and investors would be interested in several investment opportunities in Pakistan.
Recently, a group of Japanese experts has also visited the Taxila Museum to see how the ancient relics of the past could be preserved and how the museum could be upgraded.
After receiving a request by the Punjab Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) the government of Japan is offering a cultural grant to the Taxila Museum, the embassy has announced earlier this month.
The assistance will be provided to improve the museum’s conservation and exhibition equipment, which preserves the cultural heritage of the ancient Gandhara Civilization.
