LARKANA: Experts said on the concluding day of five-day Unesco-sponsored workshop at Mohenjo Daro on Friday that disasters could not be stopped but preventive measures could be adopted to reduce risk of destruction to heritage sites, monuments and museums, and minimise harm.

They reaffirmed their commitment to striving together to safeguard Pakistan’s precious cultural treasures and stressed the need for proactive measures for assessing vulnerability of the sites.

They said the workshop titled “Disaster Risk Reduction at heritage sites in Pakistan”, which covered different aspects of disasters pernicious to the heritage, reminded everyone of the importance of preserving “our heritage for future generations and translating knowledge into action making our words tangible realities”.

They said that they were there to share knowledge, expertise and experiences aimed at safeguarding “our cultural heritage against natural and human-induced disasters”.

Unesco expert Cristina Menegazzi urged participants to adopt all new techniques learned at the workshop in their respective institutions. “The disasters cannot be stopped but we can reduce risks of destruction to heritage sites, monuments and museums by taking preventive measures,” she said.

Ali Haider Gadhi, conservation engineer, thanked Ms Menegazzi and concluded his talk with a quote of Unesco Director-General Audrey Azoulay: “Heritage is not just a legacy of the past, but a resource for the future.”

A number of participants linked with the department of culture said that it was essential to focus on climate change and its impact on the heritage sites. “As the climate change [impact] intensifies, Pakistan’s rich and diverse cultural assets, from ancient archaeological sites like Mohenjo Daro to historical monuments and traditional communities, are increasingly becoming vulnerable to natural and man-made disasters,” they said.

They said the collaboration between the Directorate General of Antiquities and Archaeology, Unesco and various local institutions was a commendable effort toward building local capacity for heritage preservation in the face of challenge of climate change.

The five-day workshop had provided a comprehensive understanding of how disaster response, climate resilience, and heritage conservation intersected, and how training of local communities, who were often the first responders in such situations, was so crucial, they said.

They said the workshop represented a forward-thinking approach to the preservation of cultural heritage in the context of global climate challenges. It highlighted the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration and urgent integration of disaster risk reduction strategies with cultural heritage conservation to protect the identity and history of Pakistan for future generations, said Ali Haider Gadhi, a senior conservationist.

Objections to conservation measures

Ms Menegazzi remarked during a visit of Mohenjo Daro ruins along with participants of the workshop that capping of ruins had not been not done adequately, said sources.

She added that a heavy load had been put on ancient structures without keeping in mind their fragility and present vulnerable condition, said the sources.

Earlier, she had told the audience during the closing session of the workshop: “I am still saying that the recommendations made by any expert sent by Unesco does not mean that the same has been ratified by Unesco.”

Published in Dawn, November 23th, 2024