Latest news with #Gandharan
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Govt Museum & Art Gallery: Glorious past, bright future
Chandigarh: Years after it was set up, the Govt Museum and Art Gallery of the city has turned into a major tourist attraction. It has witnessed a steady flow of visitors in the recent past. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Slowly but surely, it has caught the fancy of the residents of the city. Located in the northern part of Chandigarh in Sector 10, the Govt Museum and Art Gallery is one of the oldest buildings in the UT, carrying a rich heritage architectural value. As a public museum, it houses collections of Gandharan sculptures, sculptures from ancient and medieval India, Pahari and Rajasthani miniature paintings, and artefacts received from the Lahore Museum during the Partition of India. While the flow of visitors remained below 40,000 every year in 2020 and 2021, the museum saw more than one lakh visitors every year from 2022-2024. Since the museum remains open on Sundays too, sources said it sees a good footfall on the weekend. Chandigarh administration records show that in 2020 and 2021, the museum saw only 28,000 and 39,047 visitors respectively. The number increased significantly after that, and in the next three years — 2022, 2023, and 2024, it saw 103,000, 115,000, and 100,000 visitors respectively. The museum was established to house artefacts and collections from the Lahore Museum after the Partition. Its building was designed by Le Corbusier and his associates, and it was inaugurated in 1968.
Business Recorder
02-08-2025
- Business Recorder
Replicas of ‘Fasting Buddha' gifted to Thailand, Vietnam
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has gifted replicas of Fasting Buddha to Thailand and Vietnam to strengthen cultural ties and promote religious tourism, said Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan in two separate statements. In a gesture to celebrate shared heritage and deepen bilateral relations, Pakistan presented a meticulously crafted replica of the Fasting Buddha sculpture to Thailand on July 31, 2025, at the National Museum in Bangkok. The ceremony, titled 'A Spiritual Journey from Gandhara to ASEAN: Celebrating Shared Heritage and Religious Tourism,' highlighted the centuries-old connection between Pakistan's Gandhara civilization and the ASEAN region, where Buddhism thrived. Pakistan's Ambassador to Thailand, Rukhsana Afzaal, presented the replica to Director General of Thailand's Fine Arts Department, Phanomboot Chantrachoti. Attendees included Thai officials, diplomats, UN representatives, civil society, academics, and media, the spokesperson added. Director General Chantrachoti expressed gratitude, noting the gift as a symbol of enduring diplomatic and cultural ties, reflecting shared Gandharan and Buddhist heritage. He emphasized its potential to foster collaboration through exhibitions and cultural initiatives. Ambassador Afzaal highlighted the replica, crafted by Pakistani artist Jamil Kakar, as a testament to Pakistan's Gandhara legacy, cantered in ancient Taxila, and its role in Buddhist civilization. She underscored its significance in strengthening Pakistan-Thailand friendship and promoting cultural exchanges under Pakistan's long-standing ASEAN partnership. Executive Director at the Centre for Cultural Development, Islamabad, Dr Nadeem Omar Tarrar, emphasised the sculpture's spiritual and artistic significance, blending Greco-Roman and Gandharan styles, and its potential to enhance Pakistan-Southeast Asia ties. The ceremony featured a photographic exhibition of Gandhara artifacts and Buddhist sites in Pakistan by renowned photographer David Chi Lau. Pakistan, a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN for over three decades, continues to strengthen political, economic, and cultural ties, with this gesture reinforcing cultural connections and people-to-people exchanges. Furthermore, the FO spokesperson remarked, a meticulously crafted replica of the revered Fasting Buddha, an iconic Gandhara-era masterpiece dating back to the 2nd century, was formally handed over to Bai Dinh Pagoda, Vietnam's largest Buddhist temple, by Ambassador of Pakistan, Kohdayar Marri, in a landmark event symbolising cultural and spiritual solidarity between Pakistan and Vietnam. The original Fasting Siddhartha statue, discovered in Sikri, Pakistan, and housed in Lahore Museum, depicts Prince Siddhartha's profound austerity in pursuit of enlightenment. The replica, gifted by the Government of Pakistan, embodies values of discipline, resilience, and interfaith harmony. The event commenced with sacred prayers led by the Secretary General of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien, who blessed the statue at the Pakistani Embassy before its journey to Ninh Binh. At Bai Dinh Pagoda, the statue was received by Most Venerable Thich Minh Quang in a traditional Buddhist ritual, attended by senior Vietnamese officials, religious leaders, and dignitaries. Ambassador Kohdayar Marri emphasised Pakistan's commitment to preserving Buddhist heritage and fostering intercultural dialogue. 'This gift reflects Pakistan's rich heritage, respect for all faiths and our shared vision of peace. Tolerance and respect is the essence of Islam, and such exchanges reinforce diplomacy and harmony,' he stated. Thich Minh Quang hailed the gesture as a beacon of inter-religious goodwill, promoting mutual understanding between Pakistan and Vietnam. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Turning Vision into Reality
Italian Cooperation in Pakistan has a long history of commitment to sustainable development, poverty reduction, and improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable communities. The first development cooperation initiatives date back to the 1980s, focusing on rural development projects aimed at agricultural mechanization and improving crop quality, particularly in olive cultivation. The introduction of selected varieties of Italian olive cultivations has been instrumental in enhancing production efficiency and adapting it to Pakistan's climate. This initiative continues to be promoted in value chain development projects. However, Italy's support for Pakistan has even deeper roots. In 1955, at the initiative of the last Wali Moghul of the Independent State of Swat, Professor Giuseppe Tucci founded the Italian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan. The Italian Archaeological mission has played a pivotal role in the excavation, restoration, and study of Gandharan art, as well as in the analysis of settlements, funerary archaeology (from prehistory to the Islamic period), and rock art, producing over 1,500 publications. Since the establishment of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in 2016, Italy's development cooperation has been aligned with the objectives of the 2030 Agenda, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable development across key sectors, including education, healthcare, gender equality, natural resource management, and the preservation of cultural heritage. Within this framework and in line with the Government's policies and development plans, AICS in Pakistan has defined a targeted strategic approach, focused on food security, climate resilience, decent work, and cultural heritage valorisation. This approach aims to tackle vulnerabilities in the agricultural sector and address climate change thereby representing the orientation of our action. The environment and people are at the centre of the Italian Cooperation projects, which contribute to a green economy and just society, with special consideration for women and youth. By leveraging the country's capital and resources, encouraging results have been achieved in the agriculture sector; strengthening the Pakistani olive oil value chain by involving institutions, businesses, farmers, youth, women and consumers to improve the productivity and quality of Pakistani olive oil. Also, important activities have been carried out to improve climate adaptation through the environmental monitoring and natural resource management, especially in the mountainous areas. Key partnerships include CIHEAM for the scale-up of the olive sector, UNDP and EvK2-CNR NGO for enhancing climate resilience, and UNESCO to promote inclusive and climate sensitive education. Additionally, we confirm our commitment in Pakistan with new initiatives that are starting with FAO and CESVI NGO in Sindh, with University Ca' Foscari of Venice, ILO and ISCOS NGO in KP, respectively to improve anticipatory action, protect cultural heritage, and promote green jobs and economic inclusion. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
20-04-2025
- Express Tribune
Scottish delegation explores Taxila's cultural heritage
A Scottish delegation comprising musicians and art experts, accompanied by faculty members from Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU), visits Taxila to experience its rich cultural and archaeological heritage. The visit was part of an ongoing cultural exchange between the two countries. PHOTO: EXPRESS A delegation comprising musicians and art experts from Scotland, accompanied by faculty members from Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU), visited the historic city of Taxila to explore its unparalleled cultural and archaeological heritage. The delegation was warmly received by Riaz Ahmed and Iftikhar Ahmed from the Gandhara Resource Center Pakistan. A curated tour was organised, beginning with the Taxila Museum, where guests engaged with the remarkable relics of the Gandharan civilisation, widely regarded as one of the world's most influential Buddhist cultural legacies. The visit continued to the ancient site of Mohra Muradu, where the group explored the monastery ruins. As light rain graced the site, the serene and spiritual ambience deepened the group's appreciation for the sacredness of the location and its historical significance. The programme concluded with a traditional lunch hosted at the residence of Riaz Ahmed, providing a space for cultural dialogue, hospitality, and deeper engagement between local and international participants. This visit served as a meaningful step toward promoting cross-cultural understanding, academic collaboration, and heritage preservation.
