Pakistan is on the verge of destroying an extraordinary heritage

Pakistan's energy crisis is an urgent need

Basha Dam would help bridge the gap between the demand and supply of power

Gilgit Baltistan Diamer Bhasha Dam

The proposed site of the Diamer-Basha Dam in Pakistan is on the verge of destroying an extraordinary heritage of some 50,000 rock carvings and 5,000 inscriptions from different civilizations ranging from the eighth millennium BC to the coming of Islam in the region.

The mountainous region of Gilgit Baltistan lies between the western Himalayas,The Korakoram in the east and the Hindukush in the west, and it was a cradle and crossroads 

of different civilizations due to the junction of the ancient routes made the upper Indus.

Invaders, merchants, pilgrims, travelers, researchers and artisans from different origins, religions, times, eras, and cultures left their cultural and religious signs on the rocks, boulders, and cliffs. Gradually, a rock art archive accumulated in the area and became one of the most important rendezvous of petroglyphs in the world. The region holds thousands of very important rock carvings, representing hundreds of inscriptions in Brahmi, Sogdian, middle Persian, Chinese, Tibetan, and even ancient Hebrew langu-ages.

Although addressing Pakistan's energy crisis is an urgent need, and the Basha Dam would help bridge the gap between the demand and supply of power, the conservation and mitigation of these carvings is also very important. The Basha Dam will drown 32 villages and displace more than 25,000 people. It will also submerge some 3,000 very important stupas and a similar number of drawings after construction. This loss is tragic for archaeologists who consider this area as one of the most rich and diverse rock art provinces of the world.

Despite the need to build the dam, it is essential to establish a cultural center in Gilgit to preserve the original and replicas of the carvings along with scientific documents about the geography, history, languages, music, wildlife, and other aspects of the northern areas.

This center could be a rendezvous for scholars, writers, visitors, and for future generations to discover the exciting history of the region. 

Those planning a Pakistan travel and interested in Gilgit tour destinations should consider the importance of preserving the region's rock carvings and inscriptions, which provide insight into the religious and political situation and show the name of the rulers and a rough date of the time.