The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will launch six key cultural projects in the central Bamyan province of Afghanistan.
The provincial government media office said the projects will be launched in the next Afghan calendar year which includes construction of a cultural center, reconstruction of the historic Gholghola city, strengthening the porches for Buddhas located in the west, awareness regarding Hajigak iron ore exploration and its effects on historic monuments, research on local tradition and public awareness regarding the historic monuments.
According to the local officials, UNESCO’s cultural chief in Afghanistan Mr. Masanori Nagaoka informed regarding the launch of the projects during a meeting with the provincial governor Mr. Tahir Zahir.
Nagaoka welcomed Mr. Zahir’s recommendation to include the destruction date of Bamyan Buddha as a cultural catastrophe day in the world calendar and promised to share his recommendations with UNESCO chief.
This comes as an event was organized to mark the 14th anniversary of Buddhas destruction by the Taliban militants which was attended by senior officials, including UNESCO’s cultural chief for Afghanistan Mr. Nagaoka.
The Bamiyan Buddhas were destroyed after the Taliban militants group blew up the world’s two largest standing Buddhas – one of them 165ft high, earlier in 2001.
