U.S. Charge d’Affaires, Ambassador Beth Jones announced a $250,000 US-government project on Tuesday to support the conservation and restoration of the Paigah tombs in Hyderabad.
Ambassador Jones paid a visit to the Paigah tombs complex and announced a project to support the conservation and restoration of six tombs built in the 18th and 19th centuries.
It is the fifth such conservation project funded by the US Consulate in Hyderabad, and it is supported by the US Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP). The project will be carried out by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
“This may be my first visit to Hyderabad, but it is not the first time the U.S. government has supported the conservation and restoration of significant historical sites here in the city,” she said.
“We are proud to be part of the Government of Telangana’s efforts to conserve these magnificent monuments and I’m grateful to the Aga Khan Trust for Culture for all of its efforts here and throughout India.”
Following the announcement of the new project, Ambassador Jones was given a tour of the Paigah Tombs by Ratish Nanda, Chief Executive Officer of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in India. They were joined by U.S. Consul General Jennifer Larson.
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“I had the good fortune to inaugurate one of our earlier AFCP projects at the Qutb Shahi Tombs during my first week here in Hyderabad,” added Consul General Larson. “By working together with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the State of Telangana, we are able to ensure the integrity of these unique cultural sites for generations to come.”
The AFCP was established in 2001 by the U.S. Department of State to demonstrate American values and respect for other cultures. Since its inception, the AFCP has provided financial assistance to over 1,100 projects in 133 countries around the world.
On November 29, the US Embassy commemorated 20 years of cultural collaboration with India through the AFCP with guests from the Ministry of Culture, the private sector, and civil society in New Delhi.
Over the last two decades, the US has invested more than $2 million in the documentation, conservation, and restoration of 23 key historic sites and intangible heritage.
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