Diamer Basha Dam: Contract signed to digitise pre-historic rock carvings

GILGIT: The Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has signed a contract with a private firm for consultancy services for digitisation of significant rock carvings in the direct area of impact of Diamer Basha Dam with modelling and preparation of data for 3D printing.

According to a statement issued by the Diamer-Bhasha Dam on Wednesday, the contract worth Rs46.5 million was signed with Quality Solutions Technologies (Pvt) Ltd on Tuesday. Wapda ‘s General Manager for Diamer Basha Dam Project, Nazakat Hussain, and Quality Solutions Technologies Business Development Director, Saad Ahmed Khan, signed the agreement on behalf of their organizations.

The statement said the significant scope of services included site documentation through terrestrial scanners and consolidation and archiving and modelling scanned data for various applications.

The Diamer Basha Dam Project, which serves as a repository of rich cultural heritage comprising an immense number of rock carvings, is being constructed in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan. ” Wapda is implementing the Cultural Heritage Management Plan in the Diamer Basha Dam Project area with a view to fulfilling its national and international obligations in this regard,” the statement reads.

The eight-month project plan aims at the preservation of pre-historic rock carvings and inscriptions to be submerged in the water reservoir of Diamer Basha Dam, setting up a museum and promotion of cultural tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan, particularly in Chilas and its suburban areas.

The Cultural Heritage Management Plan of the Diamer Basha Dam Project recommends the digital preservation of 175-200 of the most significant rock carvings representing various historical periods and aesthetic styles. The rock carvings, which are being preserved, were short-listed by the international consultant and former Director of the Pak-German Archaeological Mission, Professor Dr. Harald Hauptmann.

Member (Water) Wapda Jawaid Akhtar Latif, Diamer Basha Dam Company CEO Amir Bashir Chaudhry, Wapda Cultural Heritage Management Advisor Feryal Ali Gauhar and Diamer Basha Dam Project Chief Engineer (Contracts) Abdur Rashid were also present on the occasion.