Swat Museum reopens after six years

After six year, Swat Museum in Saidu Sharif here on Wednesday opened for general public, an effort of Directorate of Archaeology and Museums Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to revive archaeological tourism in scenic valley of Swat. In February 2008, the Swat Museum, situated in Saidu Sharif, razed by militants, has been renovated with assistance of Government of Italy under its Archaeological mission "Archaeological Community Tourism (ACT-Field School Project) in the valley, an enormous support in the Archaeology and Tourism sector in Swat valley.
The newly renovated Swat Museum formally opened by Italian Ambassador, Andriano Chiodi Cianfarani in a ceremony organized by Directorate of Archaeology and Museums in collaboration with Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at local hotel in Swat.
Advisor to Chief Minister for Tourism, Archaeology, Sports, and Youth Affairs, Amjad Khan Afridi, along with Italian ambassador, formally inaugurated the Museum. The inaugural ceremony was also attended by Commandant C-6CFF Swat, Colonel Sikandar Hayat, Director Archaeology and Museum Dr Abdul Samad, Additional Secretary Home and Tribal Affairs, Arshad Khan, Director Italian Archaeological Mission, Swat Dr Luca Maria Olievieri, TCKP Managing Director, Mushtaq Ahmad, government functionaries, members of civil society, notable of Swat, and officials of TCKP and Directorate of Museums of Archaeology and Tourism KPK.
According to official of Directorate of Archaeology and Museum KPK, said that a total of 2041 archaeological objects, right from 2nd to 10th century BC, have been displayed in nine various galleries at newly renovated Swat Museum. Mostly objects of Ghaznavi, hindu shai, Buddhist comprising ethnological, model stupa, Buddhist stupa, jewellery, fire stuff, Kohistan dresses, waiving machine, wooden handicrafts and Musical instruments, have been displayed at Swat Museum in more than nine galleries at the Saidu Sharif Museum Swat.
The officials said Museum is consisting on history, Gandhara, Hindu shai, Muslim and ethnology objects, and other ancient sculptures, aging from 100-150 years. Similarly, they said more than 222 coins of ancient period, excavated from various archaeological sites, along with recovered 179 other coins, by Pakistan Army also showcased at the Museum. The Italian Ambassador in his keynote speech reaffirmed the commitment of the government of Italy for continuous support in promotion of archaeological tourism under its mission in Swat. He praised the efforts of all actors, who had been vital role in renovation and opening of Swat Museum, particularly government of Pakistan, Pakistan Army, and Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
"The opening of Swat Museum would provide great opportunity to visitors, research, academia and students of Archaeology, to take full benefit from these rich archaeological objects, display at the Swat Museum, says Cianfarani. He praised the Italian Mission and Pakistan Army for making possible for renovation of the Swat Museums. The Italian envoy furthermore said about 95 percent archaeological objects, displayed at Swat Museum, have been excavated by scientific and technical ways. He stressed the need for using the discovered ancient period archaeological objects for best interest of general public, archaeologists, researchers, and academician and student of Archaeology. The Italian Ambassador observed the rich legacy and culture of Swat is playing important role in promotion of archaeological tourism in the scenic valley of Swat. "The culture heritage of Swat, are our own and decades old Italian mission in Swat, would continue in future, he reiterated.
"Government of Italy is contributing enormous support in archaeology side, under its mission in Swat valley, says Cianfarani while earlier talking to media persons after inaugurating the newly renovated Museum in Saidu Sharif, Swat. When the reporters asked about status of ACT-Project, ended by this year, he informed that the project would be extended.