ISLAMABAD, March 27: The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) is providing only “moral and intangible technical assistance” to Pakistan for the preservation of world heritage sites, said the federal culture secretary, Yusuf Kamal, on Wednesday.

Mr Kamal highlighted a number of issues confronting the government in protecting world heritage sites in Pakistan on the occasion of the launching of the UN website on International Year for Cultural Heritage.

The website, with Pakistan specific information, can be accessed at www.un.org.pk/iych.

Replying to questions about assistance provided by Unesco for activities undertaken by the government as part of the UN declared International Year for Cultural Heritage at the UN Information Centre, Mr Kamal, said the government needed massive international assistance to protect the historical sites on the world heritage list.

The UN General Assembly at its 56th session proclaimed the Year 2002 as UN Year for Cultural Heritage to highlight the importance of protecting the tangible and intangible world cultural heritage as a common ground for the promotion of mutual understanding and enrichment among cultures and civilizations.

The UN proclamation calling for enhanced support and funding to promote and protect national and world cultural heritage was proposed by Egypt and co-sponsored by some 35 other countries. Unesco was designated as the lead agency.

Responding to the question about financial support to Pakistan for preservation of cultural heritage, Unesco representative in Pakistan, Ingeborg Breines and deputy director division of cultural heritage Unesco Paris, Levi Strauss said Unesco was not a funding agency.

Ms Breines said Unesco was providing technical assistance to Pakistan. It undertakes campaigns to generate finances and had seed money for the purpose.

Mr Kamal said the idea for adoption of a cultural heritage site has been proposed by the ministry to national and international private organizations.

He said adoption of one square foot in Lahore for conservation purposes would cost only Rs 2,200. Unesco representative gave her commitment to adopt the first 10 square feet of Lahore Fort for conservation on the spot.

She emphasised the need for national capacity building in preference to the international expertise for carrying out conservation activities.

She said the recommendation of Pakistan government to include two more sites on the world heritage list would pass through a process of approval by various Unesco committees.