US extends $32887 aid for restoration of Taxila Monastery
By Saad Ahmed

TAXILA—US embassy in Pakistan has extended financial support to the department of Archeology and Museums for the conservation and restoration of a 5th Century Monastery “Jinan wali Dehri” located near Taxila.
US ambassador ,Ryan C Crocker presented a check of $32,887 to Fazal Dad Khan , Director General ,Department of Archeology and Museum in Islamabad on Saturday. Federal Minister for Culture , Sports and Youth Affairs ,Ajmal Khan was also present on the occasion.
The Archeology Department will start work on the preservation and restoration of “Jinan Wali Dehri”using this financial assistance. Besides restoration and preservation work, the project will protect the site from excavation, fortify structural remains and protect moveable antiquities from further destruction, manhandling and displacement from the site.
Addressing the ceremony Federal Minister for Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Muhammad Ajmal Khan emphasized that the public and private sector should join hands and cooperate and coordinate each other for proper presentation of our rich cultural heritage and excavation of new sites.
He further stated that we have rich cultural heritage and no one could compete our rich history, natural beauty and rich civilization, but these need proper attention to be preserved and developed.
The Minister said on the occasion that the present government and Ministry of Culture wants to project soft image of Pakistan abroad through our culture and is very keen in the preservation of cultural heritage.
We want to explore new sites and for this purpose, private sector is most welcome, he added. He further stated that the fund is the appreciation of USG for rich and valuable cultural heritage of Pakistan. The Minister said that the proposed projects will bolster genuine goodwill and underline US commitment to and confidence in Pakistan.