JICA chief visits Taxila Museum to review heritage preservation efforts

TAXILA: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) chief Shinozaki Yusuke visited the Taxila Museum on Tuesday and reviewed ongoing work aimed at preserving the archaeological legacy of the ancient Gandhara civilisation.

The visit marked an early engagement by the newly appointed head of JICA, who was briefed on the site’s historical importance as well as current conservation and museum management efforts.

Briefing on Taxila heritage

During the visit, Deputy Director of the Department of Archaeology and Museums Asim Dogar informed the Japanese official about Taxila’s significance and the steps being taken to protect its antiquities. The briefing covered conservation initiatives, museum administration and measures designed to safeguard rare artefacts housed at the museum and linked to the wider archaeological landscape.

Dogar said Taxila is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and continues to hold a prominent place among South Asia’s major centres of Buddhist civilisation and Gandharan culture. He added that the site attracts researchers, historians, archaeologists and tourists from across the world because of its historical and cultural importance.

Conservation programme highlighted

According to the briefing, the Punjab government is carrying out a large-scale heritage conservation programme that includes major archaeological locations in the Taxila Valley. Dogar highlighted this initiative while outlining the broader framework under which preservation work is being pursued in the area.

The visit focused on the protection of archaeological heritage associated with the Gandhara civilisation, with museum officials presenting the ongoing efforts intended to conserve the site and its collections.

Taxila remains one of Pakistan’s most important historical and archaeological centres, and the museum serves as a key institution for preserving and presenting material linked to the region’s Buddhist and Gandharan past. The official briefing to the JICA chief underscored both the international significance of the site and the continuing administrative and conservation measures being undertaken there.

Officials used the occasion to present an overview of the museum’s role in heritage preservation and to outline the work being done across the Taxila Valley to protect historically significant locations and rare objects. The discussion also covered the management of the museum and the practical steps in place for the care and protection of artefacts.

Yusuke’s visit centred on reviewing these preservation efforts and receiving a detailed account from the Department of Archaeology and Museums regarding the status of conservation work at one of the country’s most prominent heritage sites.