RAWALPINDI, May 20: Pakistan, being rich in cultural heritage and having six cultural properties already inscribed on the World Heritage List, has submitted at least 18 more such sites for inclusion in the list maintained by Unesco.

Submitted by the Pakistan National Commission for Unesco and the ministry of education, these 18 properties have been included in the ‘Tentative List’ for consideration by the World Heritage Committee.

The sites are: Badshahi Mosque, Lahore; Wazir Khan Mosque, Lahore; Tombs of Jahangir, Asif Khan and Akbari Sarai, Lahore; Hiran Minar and Tank, Sheikhupura; Tomb of Hazrat Rukn-i-Alam, Multan; Rani Kot Fort, Dadu; Shahjahan Mosque, Thatta; Chaukhandi Tombs, Karachi; archaeological sites at Mehrgarh, Rehman Dheri, Harappa and Ranighat; Shahbazgarhi Rock Edicts; Mansehra Rock Edicts; Balti Fort; Tomb of Bibi Jawindi; Baha’al-Halim and the tomb and mosque of Jalaluddin Bukhari; Tomb of Shah Rukne-Alam and Port of Banbhore.

The archaeological site of Mehrgarh consists of a number of low archaeological mounds in the Kachi plain, close to the mouth of the Bolan Pass. Located next to the west bank of the Bolan River, they are some 30km from the town of Sibi.

The archaeological site of Rehman Dheri consists of a rectangular shaped mound covering some 22 hectares and standing 4.5 metres above the surrounding field. The final occupational phase of the site is clearly visible on the surface of the mound by eye and also through air photographs.

The archaeological site of Harappa consists of a series of low archaeological mounds and cemeteries to the south of a dry-bed of the Ravi river. Although covering a full extent of 150 hectares, the property and its buffer zone comprise eight mounds and two cemeteries -– the remainder being buried deep beneath the surrounding agricultural land or the modern village of Harappa.

The famous Buddhist archaeological site of Ranigat is located in Tehsil Totalai, Buner district, NWFP. The remains of Ranigat are scattered in the valley along the ridge in an area. The Buddhist monuments at Ranigat had attracted the attention of many researchers.

The Shahbazgarhi rock edicts are cut into the surface of two large boulders on the side of a small rocky outcrop in the Vale of Peshawar. The record 14 edicts of the Mauryan emperor, Asoka, represent the earliest irrefutable evidence of writing in South Asia.