Islamabad: September 30, 2024 – The International Conference on ‘Celebrating Pakistan’s Ancient Archeological and Civilizational Heritage’, organized by ISSI, concluded with the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, Ms. Amna Baloch, reaffirming commitment to preserving and promoting Pakistan’s rich archeological and civilizational heritage.
The one-day conference drew a significant gathering of diplomats, cultural experts, and academics, underscoring the keen interest in exploring, preserving, and promoting Pakistan’s rich archaeological and civilizational heritage.
The Inaugural Session, addressed by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed and Federal Secretary for National Heritage and Culture, Hassan Nasir Jamy, was followed by three insightful working sessions.
Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch expressed her deep pride in the country’s rich and multi-layered legacy. She highlighted how the ancient civilizations of the Indus Valley and Gandhara, which flourished in present-day Pakistan, continue to inspire modern society. The Foreign Secretary emphasized the importance of preserving heritage, noting that the values of innovation, resilience, and coexistence seen in these ancient cultures remain relevant today.
She called for a balanced approach to conservation, tourism, and development, ensuring that Pakistan’s cultural assets are safeguarded for future generations. She lauded the ISSI’s initiative of focusing on this subject.
The Foreign Office, she re-assured, would remain a committed stakeholder and partner in these efforts, working closely with local communities and international experts to protect and promote Pakistan’s shared legacy.
Senator Mushahid Hussain emphasised history and heritage as sources of strength for a nation. He stated that national security should extend beyond geopolitics and geo-economics to include national culture, history, and heritage. Pakistan stands at the crossroads of tourism, enriched by its historical significance. The Silk Road exhibition at the British Museum in London, featuring Buddhist sculptures from Swat, exemplifies the cultural connections of our history.
Senator Mushahid Hussain highlighted that Pakistan is home to six UNESCO World Heritage sites, and there is immense potential to add more to this list. He highlighted the Kartarpur Corridor, which represents a milestone initiative in soft cultural diplomacy, besides promoting inter-faith harmony.
To capitalize on Pakistan’s rich historical and cultural heritage, he emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy.
Firstly, he recommended robust marketing and media initiatives are crucial to promote Pakistan as a premier tourism destination.
Secondly, the establishment of an international airport on significant sites to enhance accessibility and visibility in global markets.
Thirdly, implementing a visa-on-arrival policy can further simplify travel for international tourists.
Fourthly, he suggested focusing on Buddhism and Sikhism as they present low-hanging fruit for attracting religious and cultural tourism.
Fifthly, promoting adventure tourism can leverage Pakistan’s diverse landscapes and outdoor activities. Additionally, highlighting the richness of Pakistani cuisine will also play a vital role in enhancing the overall tourist experience.
To ensure this is as successful, it is imperative to link tourism, culture, and media effectively. Establishing a Task Force dedicated to promoting Pakistan’s soft image and as a popular tourism destination will be instrumental in achieving these goals. With these initiatives, the sky is the limit for Pakistan’s tourism potential, making it an attractive option for both domestic and international visitors.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood highlighted the significance of Pakistan’s millennia-old, multi-layered archaeological and civilizational heritage, including the Indus Valley and Buddhist Gandhara Civilizations. He quoted the book ‘5000 Years of Pakistan’ by Dr. Mortimer Wheeler, published in 1950, in which the author acknowledges that the book’s “title is a wilful paradox but contains a fundamental truth.” Indeed, the fundamental truth is that Pakistan is a young nation with millennia-old history and heritage.
The magnificence and diversity of Pakistan have few parallels. From pre-historic to historic to the medieval and modern age, this land and its people have been on a fascinating journey of continuous transformation and progress. This geographical and cultural space holds immense importance that needs to be showcased to the world. For this purpose, ISSI is holding this Conference.
Ambassador Sohail highlighted that the essential objective of the conference is to re-tell the story of Pakistan’s rich heritage to its own people and friends abroad. The conference aims to deliberate on how to ensure the best upkeep of the sites and artefacts and also widely disseminate this information and knowledge for enhanced global awareness. To suggest measures in this direction, the conference envisages three sessions in which speakers include eminent archeologists, historians, practitioners and experts from Pakistan and abroad.
Suggesting a way forward, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood recommended a 4-track approach.
First and foremost, he said, it is important to mount a comprehensive, coherent, and coordinated national effort to preserve and promote this archaeological and civilizational heritage. This should include a synergistic relationship among all stakeholders and commitment of increased human and financial resources.
Secondly, partnerships with international experts and institutions, such as UNESCO, are vital for preserving sites and artefacts using cutting-edge technology and knowledge.
Thirdly, a sustained media campaign through the engagement of youth, influencers, and social and digital media is needed to project this heritage as part of Pakistan’s ‘soft power’ and to position Pakistan’s profile as a premier cultural destination.
Lastly, developing heritage sites should focus on sustainable tourism practices that empower local communities and promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges. In this context, he urged imbibing from international best practices.
Pakistan in the World – July / Aug 2024
Dr. Talat Shabbir, Director China Pakistan Study Centre at ISSI, in his introductory remarks, emphasized the significance of Pakistan’s rich cultural and historical legacy, which is deeply rooted in ancient civilizations such as the Indus Valley and Gandhara. Dr. Shabbir highlighted iconic archaeological sites like Mohenjo-Daro and Taxila as symbols of Pakistan’s national identity and cultural diversity.
He stressed on the preservation and protection of these invaluable cultural assets, stressing their relevance in today’s polarized world. Dr. Shabbir discussed how the heritage of these ancient civilizations plays a critical role in fostering global peace, mutual understanding, and sustainable development. He called upon historians and archaeologists to recognize the collective responsibility of safeguarding Pakistan’s cultural legacy, viewing it as a means to build a more peaceful and inclusive future.
Hassan Nasir Jamy, Secretary National Heritage and Cultural Division, in his remarks, highlighted Pakistan’s rich ancient civilizations, emphasizing their enduring significance. He highlighted the Indus Valley Civilization, renowned for its advanced urban planning, sanitation systems, and trade networks, which flourished from 3300 to 1900 BC.
Mr. Jamy also mentioned other notable civilizations such as Mehrgarh and Gandhara, emphasizing their contributions to cultural diversity and intellectual achievements in the region. He called for leveraging Pakistan’s heritage to boost cultural diplomacy, tourism, and economic growth. Preservation, he argued, is essential not only for identity but for positioning Pakistan as a custodian of one of the world’s greatest civilizations.
He underscored the importance of government to invest in infrastructure, research, and international collaborations to promote these sites globally, turning them into centres of academic inquiry and tourism. By preserving these legacies, Pakistan can reclaim its historical importance on the global stage and foster economic opportunities for local communities.
The first working session titled ‘Journeying through Pakistan’s Ancient Treasures’ was moderated by Mr. Zafarullah Siddiqui, Former Joint Secretary Development.
Dr. Muhammad Hameed, Chairman of Archaeology Department at Punjab University, called for new expeditions and monument restoration, stressing the need for collaboration between heritage and tourism sectors. He also emphasized the importance of heritage as national pride.
Prof. Ruth Young, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Leicester, U.K, underscored the importance of religious sites, especially Buddhist sites, in shaping Pakistan’s identity.
She acknowledged the government’s efforts to use heritage to enhance Pakistan’s global image.
Mr. Anjum Javaid, Deputy Director, Directorate General of Archeology, emphasized Harappa’s advanced urban planning and urged for pride in the Indus civilization, which he noted surpasses Egyptian and Mesopotamian heritage.
Professor Hridaya Bajracharya, Former Vice Chancellor, Lumbini Buddhist University, Nepal, highlighted the shared heritage between Nepal and Pakistan’s Gandhara civilization, stressing the importance of celebrating Gandhara’s cultural influence and its potential to foster shared narratives.
The second working session was titled ‘Reflecting on Pakistan’s Rich Heritage’ and was moderated by Dr. Abdul Samad, Directorate Archeology KPK.
Ms. Heba Hashmi, Maritime Archaeologist and CEO of Heritage Archaeology Cultural Heritage Associates, outlined preservation strategies, including digital heritage trails, and climate change adaptation. She emphasized the need for flood risk management in archaeological efforts.
Professor Luca Maria Oliveri, Director of the Italian Archaeological Mission to Pakistan, highlighted the mission’s start in 1955 in Swat Valley, exploring late ancient Swat and Himalayan Buddhism. He emphasized that conservation sites can become training hub for developing new professionals.
Ms. Kiran Afzal, Senior Private Sector Specialist at the World Bank, highlighted the bank’s efforts in preserving historical sites in Punjab and KP, focusing on job creation and tourism promotion. She emphasized the need for more resources due to rising maintenance costs and noted the success of solarizing sites and collaboration between KP and Punjab.
Ms. Parveen Talpur, historian and archeologist based in the U.S., highlighted the region’s historical significance, the overlap of Buddhism and the Indus Civilization at Mohenjo-Daro, and called for digital preservation. She emphasized on protecting cultural artifacts from smuggling and theft.
Pakistan in the World – Aug / Sep 2024
The third working session titled ‘Building Bridges Through Cultural Tourism’ was moderated by Mr. Amir Jahangir, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mishaal, Pakistan which is the partner institute of the World Economic Forum.
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed, Ambassador of Pakistan to France, Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, emphasized that Pakistan’s historic civilizations, such as Mohenjo-Daro and Taxila, form a shared global legacy. He highlighted the need for preservation, cultural tourism, and policy measures to promote heritage sites at both national and local levels.
Professor Iftikhar H. Malik, Professor Emeritus at Bath Spa University, said that Pakistan’s history extends far beyond 1947, with a rich ancient past. He urged the preservation of historical sites and the inclusion of the Indus Valley Civilization in updated textbooks to better educate future generations.
Dr. Christina Menegazzi, Culture and Heritage Expert UNESCO Pakistan, highlighted Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage and its potential for tourism, noting the importance of stability for growth. She underlined UNESCO’s efforts in advancing sustainable tourism through education and cultural preservation.
Mr. Imran Shaukat, a heritage tourism expert, highlighted the potential of religious tourism, particularly Buddhist sites, to generate income with minimal investment. He called for streamlined visa processes and aggressive marketing to improve Pakistan’s global image.
The Key Takeaways of the Conference were presented by Dr. Talat Shabbir, Director China Study Centre (CPSC).
He highlighted the need for comprehensive preservation strategies, including field expeditions, digital preservation, and addressing climate-related risks. Dr. Shabbir also stressed the importance of cultural and religious tourism in fostering global connections, promoting Pakistan’s heritage, and creating economic opportunities. He concluded by underscoring the need to cherish these ancient treasures as symbols of shared history and potential.
In his closing remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman Board of Governors, the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, underscored the vital role of cultural and civilizational heritage in shaping Pakistan’s national identity and image.
He noted that Pakistan is blessed with immense cultural and civilizational treasures and stressed the importance of community involvement in preserving these assets. He highlighted the economic potential of cultural and religious tourism, which could create opportunities for local communities and contribute to Pakistan’s economic development.
Pakistan in the World – Sep / Oct 2024
