ISLAMABAD: Japan’s Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi said that they would continue to support Pakistan in various fields, including culture and preservation of heritage.
Speaking to a couple of journalists after handing over exhibition and conservation equipment worth 48.8 million Japanese Yen to the Taxila Museum on Wednesday, the Ambassador stated that Japan was committed to promoting Gandhara culture and would continue its support in this regard.
The Government of Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has completed the provision of exhibition and conservation equipment to the Taxila Museum under the Grant Assistance project titled “Improvement of Equipment for Exhibition and Conservation of the Taxila Museum.” The assistance, amounting to 48.8 million Japanese Yen, reflects Japan’s continued commitment to the preservation of cultural heritage in Pakistan.
Ambassador Shuichi underscored the historical and spiritual importance of Taxila as the centre of Gandhara civilisation and highlighted its close cultural connection with Japan. He expressed hope that this initiative will open doors for further collaboration, including archaeological projects, and emphasised that Japan would like to continue efforts in line with the vision of Dr Satoshi Naiki, a professor at Aichi Prefectural University and an expert on Gandhara civilisation, to revive archaeological missions in Pakistan to discover, preserve, and promote Gandhara heritage. Miyata, Chief of JICA Pakistan Office, emphasised that museums play a vital role in preserving cultural heritage and promoting mutual understanding among nations. He expressed confidence that the project will contribute to improved conservation standards, cultural tourism, and sustainable heritage management.
The handover ceremony reaffirmed the strong and enduring partnership between Japan and Pakistan and their shared commitment to promoting cultural cooperation, heritage conservation, and people-to-people exchange.
On behalf of Director General of Archaeology, Government of Punjab, Maqsood Ahmed Malik, Chief Conservationist, Punjab Archaeology, conveyed sincere appreciation to the Government of Japan and JICA for their generous assistance. He said the newly provided equipment will enhance the museum’s capacity for modern exhibition, scientific conservation, and long-term preservation of valuable artefacts, while also supporting academic research and public education. Malik assured that this equipment would be preserved and utilised for researching heritage sites.
