Three-Day International Conference: Kausar speaks about Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's cultural heritage

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Barrister Masood Kausar has said that the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has a rich history and cultural heritage and even alien writers especially the British have authored numerous books on the origin, history, culture and bravery of Pakhtuns.
Ironically, he added, little attention has been given to the subject by Pakistanis especially the Pakhtun writers and researchers on this subject and it is the high time that our scholars, researchers and intellectuals rise to the occasion and help the nation in meeting the changes successfully.
Inaugurating the 3-Day International Conference on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Culture and History as the chief guest which was jointly arranged by the National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research of the Quid-e-Azam University, Islamabad and the Pakistan Study Centre of University of Peshawar at its campus here on Wednesday, he pointed out, "I am happy that Pakistan Study Centre and National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research have taken a timely decision to hold this conference", he said.
The ceremony was also addressed by the vice chancellors of the University of Peshawar, Professor Dr Qibla Ayaz and the Bacha Khan University, Charsada Campus, Professor Dr Fazal Rahim Marwat.
Barrister Masood Kausar who is also the Chancellor of the public sector universities in the province, highlighting the prevailing situation in the region said, people of this province and Fata have in fact been fighting for security of the motherland and its frontiers since long. Today, he added, the situation is much different as compared to the past and peace and normalcy has been restored to a great extent.
All these achievements, he added, have become possible at a cost of heavy sacrifices and all segments of the society especially the officers and jawans of security forces alongwith common people and their leaderships sacrificed their lives to ensure better future for the country and the nation.
The Governor also reminded the researchers, academicians and teachers, present in large number in the moot, including the Vice Chancellor of the Quaid-e-University, Professor Dr Maasoom Yasinzai, that this province and the adjacent tribal areas are indeed focus of international attention for quite some time. Due to geographical proximity of the area to Afghanistan, he further remarked, the happenings in that country have been affecting this province and it is because of this very fact, the respective people having no concern to the developments took place across the border since long are suffering miserably. Indeed, he added, the province remained heavily influenced by Afghanistan resistance, ever since 1979 to 1989, followed by Civil war which continued since 1989 to 1992 in that country. The circumstances, he said, further disturbed by the rise of Taliban and later on following the tragedy of September 11, 2001, both the Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa became a front-line region again.
Referring to the importance of the cultural heritage, the Governor said, it remained the gateway of various conquerors en route to India and since ancient times numerous groups have passed through here including the Persians, Greeks, Scytians, Kushans, Huns, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Mughals and the British. At the same time, he added, the region also performed an important role in all movements launched for independence and political consciousness of United India.
"The history of British India will be incomplete without enlisting heroic deeds of Pukhtun tribes and freedom fighters", he added. He also appreciated holding of the moot and expressed the hope that it will prove a useful attempt to cover the vacuum causing because of the old books going out of stock and their detachment from new generations.
Professor Dr Qibla Ayaz and the Professor Dr Fazal Rahim Marwat earlier highlighting the importance of the conference described it a landmark initiative to promote cultural profiles and their various layers of this region. Referring to the role of the institutions of higher learning in this connection, they were of the view that great societies always struggle for greatness of their educational institutions and thanked the governor for his keen interest in promotion and further strengthening of the University of Peshawar in particular.