Pakistan’s newest tourism project celebrates the great Iranian scientist, who during the Gold Age of Islam, measured the circumference of the Earth in the 1th century with a surprising accuracy that continues to endure a thousand years after the achievement.
The Al-Biruni project will preserve the site where the great scientists measured the radius using a stick that mapped the height of the mountain.
The venue is the Nandana Fort, a historic Hindu site, which Biruni described a great center of learning. The fort is situated in Jehlum on the Potowar plateau.
“Cultural heritage needs to be preserved for future generations,” Prime Minister Imran Khan said.
“We will make Jhelum’s Baghanwala a model village,” he said, pledging to convert the place into a tourism hub that would bring money and jobs to the area.
Khan also visited the Tilla Jogian National Park, where he planted an olive tree and was briefed on measures related to wildlife and environmental protection in the Salt Range National Park.
Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI inaugurated tourism project #AlBeruniRadius – Heritage Trail.
The project aims at preservation and conservation of the archeological sites within the radius and the socioeconomic uplift of the surrounding area. pic.twitter.com/AhNX8ChqL3— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) February 28, 2021
“Unfortunately, we did not develop and preserve our archaeological sites,” he pointed out, adding the recent discovery of a 40-feet long statue of sleeping Buddha from Haripur shows the rich cultural heritage of Pakistan.
“Our archaeologists did little, in fact, nothing, to preserve our heritage. Even Moenjo Dero and Harappa were discovered by foreigners. The entire world initiates excavation projects but there were none initiated on our soil,” the premier lamented.
A USSR stamp featuring Abū Rayhān al-Bīrūnī, issued in 1973 Image: Public Domain
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the inauguration of the two new national parks was part of “furthering the vision of combatting environmental degradation and protecting biodiversity”.
The historical Nandana Fort is located in Pind Dadan Khan Tehsil of district Jhelum. There are six more historic sites near the fort including Nandana temple, Katas Raj Temple, salt mines of Khewra, Malot Fort and Throne of Babur. These sites will also become part of the heritage trail and the tourists can visit these places in one go.
Al-Biruni has been hailed over centuries as one of the pre-eminent scientists and father of the branch of knowledge exploring the comparative study of religions. He also pioneered anthropology and wrote Kitab al Hind – a masterpiece based on his direct observation, study, and learning of the Indian ancient language Sanskrit, Indian history, and its culture.
