ISLAMABAD: With Mohenjodaro and other heritage sites in Sindh facing growing vulnerability to disasters, the Unesco has mobilised funds to preserve the province’s cultural heritage sites.

Recognising the urgent need to act, Unesco mobilised $150,000 from the World Heritage Fund to assist the Sindh government in assessing the damage and taking immediate remedial measures to protect the two Unesco World Heritage Sites against the impact of future rainfall.

Another $50,000 follow-up restoration project was initiated at Makli to rehabilitate two severely damaged tombs due to the floods. These efforts have reinforced the importance of integrating disaster risk preparedness into the preservation of cultural heritage, Unesco says in a press release.

The monsoon floods of 2022 damaged cultural heritage all over the country and, in particular, devastated several historical sites across Sindh, including the Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro and the Historic Monuments at Makli, both Unesco World Heritage Sites, and these sites suffered with severe structural damages caused by excessive rainfall.

According to the culture sector analysis led by Unesco in the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment 2022, these disasters caused widespread damage of about $6m, endangering Pakistan’s irreplaceable cultural treasures.

Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage stands as a testament to its vibrant history and diverse people, but it has been increasingly under threat from many natural and man-made disasters, Unesco says.

In response to these challenges and long-term capacity building needs, Unesco, in collaboration with the Directorate of Antiquities and Archaeology of the Sindh government, organised a five-day workshop on “Disaster Risk Reduction for the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage” which concluded last week at the historic Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro.

Led by Dr Cristina Menegazzi, the international expert on culture and heritage at Unesco office in Pakistan, the workshop engaged 25 participants from provincial authorities, the Aga Khan Cultural Services Pakistan, universities, foreign archaeological missions and private cultural heritage companies, to exchange knowledge and best practices.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2024

Opinion

In fight mode

In fight mode

The bouts between political parties and establishment take a toll on country far more than they do on political parties.

Editorial

Meltdown
08 Apr, 2025

Meltdown

A full-blown trade war is upon us as the era of the rules-based, multilateral trading order is nearly over.
Settling differences
08 Apr, 2025

Settling differences

SOMETHING is stirring within the PTI. Some of its older hands are back in the limelight, ostensibly to make another...
Glacial ingenuity
08 Apr, 2025

Glacial ingenuity

NECESSITY is indeed the mother of invention, as witnessed in Gilgit-Baltistan. In these areas, where climate change...
Going dry
Updated 07 Apr, 2025

Going dry

Authorities should refrain from undertaking any water scheme that infringes on rights of any federating unit to avoid more controversies.
Afghan return
07 Apr, 2025

Afghan return

AS expected, the government of Pakistan is moving ahead with its plan to forcibly repatriate Afghan Citizenship Card...
Hurting women
07 Apr, 2025

Hurting women

MONTH after month, the figures of crimes against women in the country indicate that our society is close to...