Deputy Minister for Culture and Arts Meets with Director General of Turquoise Mountain

Sheikh Abdul Rahman Tayebi, Deputy Minister for Culture and Arts at the Ministry of Information and Culture, met with Ms. Lian, Director General of Turquoise Mountain in Afghanistan, and her accompanying delegation.
The meeting was attended by Mohammad Shafiq Ahmadzai, Director of Foreign Relations and Cultural Affairs, and Engineer Habib Nasimi, Director of the Department for the Preservation and Restoration of Historical Monuments.
The two sides discussed the preservation and restoration of Afghanistan’s cultural heritage, the restoration project for the Shesh Pol Caravanserai in Bamyan Province, and ways to further strengthen cooperation between the Ministry of Information and Culture and Turquoise Mountain.
Ms. Lian briefed the Deputy Minister on Turquoise Mountain’s activities and vocational training programmes.
She said Turquoise Mountain was established in 2006 in Kabul’s historic Murad Khani district as a cultural and educational institution focused on reviving Afghanistan’s traditional arts, preserving classical Afghan architecture, and restoring historic areas. She added that the Turquoise Mountain Institute of Arts and Afghan Architecture was formally registered as a vocational training institution in 2011 and offers three-year professional training programmes in carpentry and wood carving, jewellery making, ceramics, calligraphy, and miniature painting.
Ms. Lian also briefed the meeting on the restoration of the Shesh Pol Caravanserai in Bamyan Province. She said the first phase of the restoration project had been completed and that the second phase was expected to begin once the required financial support from donors was secured.
Sheikh Abdul Rahman Tayebi commended Turquoise Mountain’s activities, emphasizing that Afghanistan has an ancient history and a rich cultural heritage whose preservation and protection are a shared responsibility.
He noted that five decades of war had severely affected the country’s cultural heritage, causing damage to numerous historical artefacts and archaeological sites.
The Deputy Minister described the restoration of the Shesh Pol Caravanserai as an important initiative to safeguard Afghanistan’s cultural heritage. He said restoring the historic structure would help prevent further deterioration and preserve the area’s historical significance.
He further noted that the restoration of the caravanserai could help attract both domestic and international tourists, create employment and income opportunities for local communities, and provide greater opportunities for the development of handicrafts and traditional arts.
Sheikh Abdul Rahman Tayebi stressed the importance of continued cooperation between Turquoise Mountain and the relevant departments of the Ministry of Information and Culture. He emphasized the need to further strengthen coordination and joint efforts to protect and preserve Afghanistan’s cultural heritage.
He assured the delegation that the Ministry of Information and Culture would, within its available resources, provide the necessary support to facilitate Turquoise Mountain’s activities and help address challenges related to its work.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continuing joint efforts to preserve Afghanistan’s cultural heritage, restore historical monuments, and further expand cultural and artistic cooperation.
22/3/1448 AH