Cultural centre being built in Bamyan

BAMYAN CITY (Pajhwok): A centre for preserving cultural heritage and historical monuments would be built in Bamyan province, officials said on Monday.

Hussain Ahmadpur, an official at the information and culture department, told Pajhwok Afghan News the centre would be constructed on 2.5 acres of land in front of the destroyed Buddha statues.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) would finance the project, whose construction work would cost $4.5 million, he added.

Construction of a museum was a part of the project and would be used to display small Buddha statues, clay pots and coins discovered in the last 10 years by archeologists in the province.

Future discoveries would be housed in the museum. Ahmadpur added another part of the centre would consist of a major hall for cultural events and gatherings.

The Ministry of Information and UNESCO have launched a competition for the initial design of the centre and would embark on construction after a winner is declared.

Bamyan has been named as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) cultural centre for 2015 and the province will witness major events to celebrate the nomination.

hg/mud

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