The deputy prime minister for administrative affairs, Abdul Salam Hanafi, emphasized the need to prevent the smuggling of the country's ancient artifacts, at the opening ceremony of the Quran manuscript exhibition today (Monday).

Abdul Salam Hanafi said that the protection of the country's ancient artifacts and the prevention of smuggling is the responsibility of all citizens, and the Islamic Emirate is also committed to protecting these ancient artifacts.

The exhibition of Quran manuscripts was inaugurated by the Ministry of Information and Culture in the National Archives on the occasion of the Quran Revelation Month.

"It is our duty and yours to protect our historical artifacts. We must prevent their smuggling and destruction in every sense," Hanafi said.

Atiqullah Azizi, the deputy of the Ministry of Information and Culture, stated at the ceremony that the ministry has allocated a budget for better protection of historical and ancient artifacts, as well as for the National Archives.

"We ask the Administrative Deputy of the Prime Minister's Office to pay serious attention to the agencies of the Ministry of Information and Culture, especially to the National Archives and the National Museum, as the Ministry of Information and Culture directly belongs to the nation. The National Museum and the National Archives need reconstruction. Budgeting is needed for the preservation and security of historical artifacts, which must be attended to," he said.

Meanwhile, participants of the exhibition said such exhibitions are beneficial for the protection of ancient artifacts.

"Such exhibitions are very useful for the protection and enrichment of historical artifacts, and future attention should be given to organizing exhibitions of historical artifacts," said Khudadad, a participant.

"Today's exhibition displayed editions of the Holy Quran on the occasion of the Quran Revelation Month, with a total of 70 editions of the Holy Quran being exhibited," said Abdul Rashid Osman, a manuscript expert.

According to information from the National Archives of Afghanistan, currently, 9,000 historical books, magazines, ancient treasures, and other historical artifacts are kept in the National Archives, and 70 volumes of the Holy Quran are being displayed in a five-day Quran manuscript exhibition.