Introduction

/Introduction

Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations is one of the prime and leading Institutes in Pakistan in the field of research on Asian Civilizations, mainly dealing with the following disciplines:

  1. Archaeology & Tourism
  2. Comparative Civilizations
  3. Comparative Religions
  4. Ancient languages and Scripts

In 1967 Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad, was authorized by Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan, to establish a Centre for the Study of the Civilizations of Central Asia in order to cooperate with UNESCO as a participating member representing Pakistan in its program on Central Asia. In UNESCO there was proposal to expand the scope of the centre and make a comparative study of the civilizations of whole of Asia. With the consent of the Government of Pakistan, QAU accepted the proposal and accordingly the name of the centre was changed to Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations (TIAC). The syndicate of the University approved the project, thus, accepted the TIAC as a constituent part of the University and permitted it to enroll students for M. Phil and Ph. D programs. Accordingly, TIAC got approved its courses for M. Sc, M. Phil and Ph. D in 2010 and enrolled students in all the three programmes in 2010 – 2011.

In 2007 the Institute was merged with the QAU after the decision of its Board of Governors (BoG). This was the last year of Professor Dani’ Directorship. During his 40 years he published many books, hundreds of articles, conducted archaeological fieldworks, participated in numerous conferences around the world, and recorded interviews for promoting archaeology and tourism. It was under him that PhD program in Asian Studies was launched in TIAC.

After a transition period of acting directors, Prof. Dr. M. Ashraf Khan joined the Institute as Director in 2009 and served it till May 2016. During his tenure we started MPhil Asian Studies and MSc Archaeology, conducted field excavations and surveys, organized seminars, and conferences, thus playing his role in the improvement and development of the Institute.

After him, I was given the responsibility of advancing the objectives of the Institute in 2016. During the last two years we have started BS Archaeology Program. The Government of Pakistan has approved funds for the new building of the Institute and Museum that will soon materialize. We are going to start MPhil and PhD Archaeology, BS Tourism and BS Art and Design in the Institute so that the plant of Dr. Dani can grow into a tree.

Our regular faculty, now, includes four Assistant Professors and one Associate Professor and several other renowned young and senior visiting Professors.

The whole objective of the TIAC is now changed from the history given above in regard to its predecessor, Center for the Study of the Civilizations of Central Asia. Earlier the Centre was primarily concerned with Central Asia while the focus of the TIAC is on the comparative studies of the civilizations of entire Asia. Earlier the focus was mainly on seminars, conferences and contacts with Central Asia which culminated in the production of the history of Central Asia. Now the focus is on field work. For the first time such an institute has been provided in the university so as to prepare the students to have a broader view of the history and culture of the entire Asia.

Message of Director

It is a matter of Bride and pleasure to introduce the Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations (TIAC), Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. TIAC is a leading institute for the study of Asian Studies, Archaeology and Heritage Management. BS Tourism Management is also going to be approved and started soon. The qualified team of TIAC is imparting knowledge to students from all over Pakistan. Students are not only provided best classroom teaching and environment but are also engaged in the Archaeological Field Work for practical training.

Among all the departments of Archaeology in the Country, TIAC’s Archaeology Program is performing the best as our students are praised whenever they work.

Our regular and visiting faculty is highly qualified and energetic which make a difference. As QAU was established as a Research University we try our best to train the students as researchers.

Our success is evident from diverse degree programs, qualified faculty, research achievements and successful Alumni serving in many organizations nationwide.

The programs we offered are:

  •             PhD Asian Studies.
  •             MPhil Asian Studies.
  •             BS Archaeology
  •             BS Tourism Management (in process of approval)

We welcome students who want to make careers in Archaeology, Culture/Heritage Management and tourism with severe committed, dedicate hard work.

I hope you will enjoy being part of our proud family.

Main Functions of the Center for the Study of Civilizations of Central Asia were:

  • Publishing a Bi-Annual Journal named as Journal of Central Asia. (Published since 1978-1998)
  • Field Research:
  • Archaeological Survey and documentation of Sites and Monuments
  • Archaeological Excavations
  • National and International Seminars/Conferences
  • Publishing Books on Central Asia.

Main Functions of the TIAC are:

  • Academics and Researches
  • Publications
  • Field training
  • Seminars, workshops, and Conferences

 MPhil and PhD programs were approved in 1997, MSc Archeology program was approved in 2010 and BS Archaeology in 2017.All the four programs are in progress successfully with more than 200 students. Besides students’ quality researches under the supervision of faculty, the faculty of TIAC is very active in producing good researches and has published about a 100 research papers and books for the promotion of Archeology and tourism.

Continuing the publication of the Research Journal (found in 1978) was renamed from Journal of Central Asia as Journal of Asian Civilizations in 1998. It was recognized by the HEC in category ‘Y’ in 2005 and was elevated to category ‘X’ in 2015. TIAC also publishes Books which has 22 books to its credit.

Field Research:

Archaeological Surveys and documentation of Sites and Monuments and Archaeological Excavations are a regular feature of the institute so that good quality research is produced, and students can be trained.

National and International Seminars, Workshops and Conferences are another important feature of the TIAC for the promotion and dissemination of researches and training. TIAC organizes Prof. Ahmad Hasan Dani Memorial Seminar Series in which national and international scholars deliver lectures on Art, architecture, Archaeology and Museums.

 Achievements:

  • Since 1997, about 50 PhD scholars have been awarded degrees. 40 more are enrolled in PhD Program.
  • About a 100 MPhil and more than 100 Master level theses have been produced till the moment.
  • 22 books and Survey Reports have been published
  • The Journal is published regularly; is included in the HEC recognized list; and is indexed and abstracted internationally.
  • TIAC building is part of the recently approved grant from the Govt of Pakistan, through HEC, for the mega project of the QAU. Thus, we will soon have a separate building and Museum on the campus.

Library:

The Institute has a rich collection of books, Journals, reports, Gazetteers, on Archaeology, History, Art and architecture, Anthropology, Civilizations, Religions, Ancient languages, and scripts.

  • TIAC has established a small temporary museum displaying different historic periods from Pre-history to Islamic Period.

The team (Faculty/ students) of TIAC has conducted tangible and intangible documentation of sites and monuments around in Pakistan that include Rock carvings and inscriptions and wooden architecture of the northern Pakistan. It includes Palaeolithic sites of Soan valley, Harappan culture in District Khushab and salt range. It also has conducted researches in District Kohat. Margalla hills. Chiniot hills, Shangla, Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, Swat and Buner.