Ghazni’s Historic Sites at Risk of Collapse

Several cultural activists and residents of Ghazni province say that many of the province’s historical and ancient sites have been damaged due to natural events, while others are at risk of collapse.

Bala Hissar, one of the most important historical and ancient sites of Ghazni, with a history of over a thousand years, is now in danger of falling into ruins.

“Every type of damage has its own significance, but the destruction of historical and ancient sites erases the historical values of a country and region. These are damages that may not be repairable and could have irreversible consequences,” said Shirin Ansari, a cultural activist in Ghazni.

“If the historical monuments in Ghazni province are not restored and preserved, it will have a very negative impact on the tourism industry, and tourists will no longer be interested in visiting Ghazni,” Shafiullah Ghalib, another cultural activist, added.

Some residents of Ghazni province have criticized the authorities for neglecting these historical sites, saying that if the situation continues, these monuments will be completely destroyed.

“Many historical places and sites in Ghazni are deteriorating. If the Islamic Emirate’s authorities do not pay attention to them, these structures will be completely lost in the coming years,” said Mohammad Abid, a resident of Ghazni.

“Historical buildings are collapsing, and many have been severely damaged. We urge the authorities of the Islamic Emirate to take action to preserve this cultural heritage,” said Abdul Raziq, another resident of Ghazni.

Local officials in Ghazni say they have launched programs to restore and rehabilitate the province’s historical monuments.

Hamidullah Nisar, the head of Ghazni’s Information and Culture Department, said: “The Information and Culture Department is making every effort to prevent the complete destruction of these monuments. Many of these sites require extensive restoration and significant funding. We, along with the Ministry of Information and Culture, will work to take the necessary steps for the restoration of these historical sites as soon as possible.”

According to the Ghazni Department of Information and Culture, in the past two years, the restoration work of 14 historical monuments has begun at a cost of over $200,000, some of which have been completed and will soon be put into use.