Preservation of pre-historic rock carvings in Diamer Basha Dam project area.

LAHORE -- Besides initiating construction work on the Main Dam of Diamer Basha Dam Project, Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) is also gearing up for implementation of a Cultural Heritage Management Plan in the project area with a view to fulfilling its national and international obligations for construction of water and hydropower projects.

The Plan aims at preservation of pre-historic rock carvings and inscriptions to be submerged in water reservoir of Diamer Basha Dam, setting up a museum and promotion of cultural tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan, particularly in Chilas and its suburban areas.

State-of-the-art Cultural Heritage Management Plan for Diamer Basha Dam Project has been devised by the international experts of the highest repute including Dr Harald Hauptman hailing from Institute for Rock Carvings and Inscriptions, University of Heidelberg, Germany, in conformity with the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and national and international procedures and standards.

According to the details of Cultural Heritage Management Plan for Diamer Basha Dam Project, about 5000 most important rock carvings and inscriptions ranging from 7th millennium BC to the 16th century AD would be 3-D scanned, documented, replicated and...