save ancient sites of Chitral

This is with reference to a news item about “Aryan grave site in Chitral”. The news item reveals the department of archaeology is engaged in excavating important archaeological sites in various districts of NWFP including Chitral. I would like to draw the kind attention of the federal and the NWFP governments, the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organisation (Unesco) towards the proposal of the construction of officers' mess and guesthouse at the important archaeological site of “Lakhapo Dok” in Mastuj, district Chitral. The site is situated on 200 feet high mound with the remains of graves dating back to 600 BC. It is pertinent to mention that NWFP government constructed the building of a high school on another archaeological site at Brep, in Mastuj tehsil of Chitral, in 1978. "Noghoro Dok” in Brep houses the remains of a 2nd century AD fort and Budhist relics of great significance. I appeal to the culture department, archaeology department and Unesco to play their active role in protecting the 600 BC archaeological site of “Lakhapo Dok” from being raised to ground in order to erect an unnecessary officers mess and guesthouse at the site

Bashir Hussain Azad

Chitral
Chitraltoday.com