The Standing Committee on National Heritage and Culture, appreciates the Ministry for its efforts in securing the repatriation of 1252 precious archaeological artefacts from abroad however directed to provide to it a comprehensive account of the existing preventive mechanisms and technical capacity for the authentication of antiquities in the next meeting;emphasizes that all conservation interventions undertaken with external or foreign assistance must be subjected to qualified technical inspection, systematic and documented monitoring, and transparent and accountable utilization of funds; and endorses the Ministry’s initiative to provide voluntary academic guidance to CSS aspirants at the National Library of Pakistan (NLP) through experienced officers and resource persons.

9th meeting of the Standing Committee on National Heritage and Culture was held today at the Parliament House under the Chairpersonship of Ms. Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, MNA.

The Committee was informed that, as a result of sustained efforts and continuous follow-up, the Ministry had succeeded in securing the repatriation of 1252 artefacts from the United States of America (USA), Australia, Italy and other countries during the last year. The Committee, while expressing concern over the illicit excavation, trafficking and unauthorized export of archaeological artefacts, directed the Ministry to furnish, at its next meeting, a comprehensive account of the preventive mechanisms in place, the technical capacity available for authentication of artefacts, and details of artefacts repatriated during the last five years. 

 

Regarding international cooperation and foreign assistance for the preservation and conservation of Pakistan’s cultural heritage, the Ministry apprised the Committee that Pakistan is a State Party to the 1954 Hague Convention and its Protocol, the 1970 UNESCO Convention concerning the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, and the 1972 World Heritage Convention. The Committee was informed that, under UNESCO assistance, US $ 75,000 each was received in 2022 for the Moenjodaro and Makli World Heritage Sites for post-disaster response to monsoon-related hazards, while US $ 49,139 was provided in 2025 for the conservation and restoration of Takht-i-Bahi and the neighbouring city of Sahr-i-Bahlol. The Committee emphasized that all conservation interventions undertaken with external or foreign assistance must be subjected to qualified technical inspection, systematic and documented monitoring, and transparent and accountable utilization of funds.

 

The Committee also endorsed the Ministry’s initiative to provide voluntary academic guidance to CSS aspirants at the National Library of Pakistan (NLP) through experienced officers and resource persons in compulsory subjects, including English, Pakistan Studies, General Knowledge, History of Pakistan and Everyday Science. The Committee particularly appreciated the proposed focus on English grammar and composition, précis and report writing, and official writing skills. It emphasized, however, that the initiative should remain strictly within the mandate and available resources of the National Library, without creating any undue financial or administrative liability. The Committee further stressed the need for an appropriate mechanism to maintain attendance and participation records and to periodically assess the effectiveness and outcomes of the initiative.

 

The meeting was attended by Members of the Committee, namely Ms. Samar Haroon Bilour, Ms. Saeeda Jamshid, Ms. Ghazala Anjum, Ms. Shahnaz Saleem Malik, Ms. Mahtab Akbar Rashdi, Ms. Natasha Daultana, Ms. Saba Talpur, Mr. Sanjay Perwani and Ms. Naeema Kishwer Khan, as well as the Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Mr. Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, MNA, ex-officio Member of the Committee, the Secretary, National Heritage and Culture Division, and senior officers of the Ministry and its subordinate departments.