Efforts to Restore and Rehabilitate Herat’s Historical Sites

The head of Herat’s Department of Information and Culture, speaking at a press conference, has assured that efforts are underway to restore and rehabilitate the province’s historical sites.

He said the Islamic Emirate is allocating funds for the preservation and restoration of historical sites damaged by earthquakes three years ago.

Atiqullah Azizi, head of Herat’s Department of Information and Culture, said: “Organizations should also contribute, and we have asked the leadership of the Islamic Emirate to pay special attention to this issue so that, in the event of incidents such as earthquakes, emergency funds are available to address potential damage.”

Ikhtiyaruddin Fortress, also known as the Herat Citadel, is one of the province’s major historical sites that was damaged by the earthquakes.

Herat’s Department of Information and Culture says that three years after the earthquakes, the historical site has been restored, while restoration work on several other historical sites, including the Great Mosque of Herat, is ongoing.

Ali Ahmad Teymouri, a cultural affairs expert, said: “Historical monuments are like the identity card of a country, and countries are recognized through their historical monuments. Tourism in Herat has grown significantly in recent times, and domestic and foreign tourists come here to visit these historical sites.”

Many of Herat’s historical sites are among the main destinations for domestic and foreign tourists.

Herat’s Department of Information and Culture says that over the past five months, 10,000 domestic tourists and 570 foreign tourists have visited the province’s historical sites.

Saifullah Amarkhil, a Kabul resident, said: “We came here to visit our country’s historical sites because they are part of the history and culture inherited from the past. Their restoration and preservation are important because they will help ensure that these sites remain for future generations.”

Asadullah Amiri, a Kabul resident, said: “Historical sites reflect a country’s history, and visiting them is like seeing the history of the country. It feels good to see that in the past we had talented people who built such beautiful places.”

According to figures from Herat’s Department of Information and Culture, more than 870 historical sites have been identified and registered in the province.

The department says many of these historical sites were seriously damaged by the earthquakes three years ago and require restoration and rehabilitation.