PESHAWAR: Politicians and economists might look at the Pak-China Economic Corridor (CPEC) project as a `game-changer` and a boost for the economy, but archaeologists say that this is also going to re-establish 5,000 years old cultural, religious and economic ties.

`Bilateral collaborations in archaeologicalresearch and excavations could bring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the limelight for its rich heritage and old ties with China,` says Dr Abdul Samad, director Archaeology and Museums of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

CPEC is not a new idea or route as 5,000 years ago it was a route frequented by Chinese travellers, pilgrims and traders, says Dr Samad who during a recent visit to China was able to draw attention of the Chinese counterpart that `one-route, one belt` has been there for thousands of years helping the Chinese travellers and pilgrims to travel far and wide into the heart of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. There were traders and pilgrims too who spread Buddhism from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to China and other countries.

`Rock carvings on the 5,000 years old Silk Route explaining the year and purpose of almost each Chinese traveller`s visit is a proof of these old economic and cultural ties,` said Dr Samad, a fact that could be used to plead due share of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the CPEC.A Chinese Monk from Shaanxi is one big connection between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Chinese province of Shaanxi since he visited Swabi and Charsadda districts in 7 AD century, says Dr Samad.

Due to these strong religious and historic ties, there are indications that Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Relic Bureau of China and Directorate of Archaeology and Museums of Khyber Pakhtunlchwa are interested in reestablishing old cultural, archaeological and religious ties between the two provinces of the two countries.

The bilateral collaborations could help establish the fact that KP could not be ignored in any developmental project that both countries undertake.

Civil societyinKhyberPakhtunkhwa has been criticising the federal government for ignoring the militancyaffected province in CPEC project, but reviving the 5,000 years old links could bring the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, having almost 50 per cent of all the archaeological remains of the Kushan dynasty and having almost double the number of the remains compared to China and Central Asia, could bring it to limelight again in the world.

There is willingness on both sides to initiate bilateral cultural heritage and promotional activities and to formally sign a Memorandum of Understanding, said an official.

Dr Samad said that both the countries could help encourage and promote the collaborative training of professionals,collaboration in conducting archaeological surveys, excavation; digital mapping, preservation, restoration, conservation, exhibition and management of monument, site, movable and immovable cultural relics, endangered sites, and help design programmes for management of collections in the museums.

There is also indication that both the countries would collaborate in conducting surveys, excavations, research and restoration, conservation and management of vulnerable and endangered monuments and sites on the route which would be constructed under the CPECinareasofKhyberPakhtunkhwa.

The same kind of bilateral collaboration is required for the sites and monuments under the `Karakoram-Pamir -Wakhan Corridor Conservation and Development Initiative` in areas falling in Kyber Pakhtunkhwa. Both the directorates also have shown willingness to exhibit the KP`s museum collection of Gandhara period cultural relics in the Shaanxiprovince.

`In future, Pakistan is going to be a big attraction for Chinese tourists and pilgrims, so there is need for setting up facilities for them much before the infrastructure is developed under the CPEC, said Dr Samad, adding that Chinese experts could help provide trainings in developing tourist sites and museums.

`In China, and Central Asia, researches could benefit from researches here as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is richer in archaeological wealth,` says Dr Samad.