UNESCO to preserve G-B’s ancient rocks

ISLAMABAD:

The National Heritage and Culture Division (NHCD) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on Wednesday decided to take joint steps to protect the ancient rocks of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).

This was stated by UNESCO Representative and Director Patricia McPhillips and National Officer for Culture Jawad Aziz in a meeting with the NHCD Secretary Noshin Amjad and Joint Secretary Rahimun Mureed.

McPhillips stressed that safeguarding of the ancient rock carvings of Gilgit-Baltistan was very important.

She added that UNESCO and the culture division have agreed to work together for safeguarding this priceless heritage of Pakistan.

The UNESCO director said that there was a need for Islamabad to ratify the UNESCO 2005 Convention on boosting the cultural and creative industries.

Dilating on UNESCO programmes, she said that it focuses on supporting the Punjab government on improving the management of selected sites of religious interest, promoting culture, engaging youngsters on safeguarding the centuries-old Karez system of water management in Balochistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2020.