Call for leveraging Pakistan's rich cultural heritage

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a one-day International Conference, titled "Celebrating Pakistan's Ancient Archaeological and Civilizational Heritage" on 30 September 2024.

The inaugural session included remarks by National Heritage & Culture Division Secretary Hassan Nasir Jamy as the guest of honour. Additionally, Senator Mushahid Hussain joined as the chief guest at the conference. In his remarks, he emphasised history and heritage as sources of strength for a nation. He stated that national security should extend beyond geopolitics and geo-economics to include national culture, history and heritage.

"Pakistan stands at the crossroads of tourism, enriched by its historical significance. The Silk Road exhibition at the British Museum in London, featuring Buddhist sculptures from Swat, exemplifies the cultural connections of our history,' said the Senator, highlighting that Pakistan is home to six UNESCO World Heritage sites, and there is immense potential to add more to this list. He brought up the Kartarpur Corridor, which he said represents a milestone initiative in soft cultural diplomacy and promoting inter-faith harmony.

In his address, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood highlighted the significance of Pakistan's millennia-old, multi-layered archaeological and civilizational heritage, including the Indus Valley and Buddhist Gandhara Civilisations. He quoted the book '5000 Years of Pakistan' by Dr Mortimer Wheeler, published in 1950, in which the author acknowledges that the book's "title is a wilful paradox but contains a fundamental truth."

He further explained that the objective of the conference was to re-tell the story of Pakistan's rich heritage to its own people and friends abroad. "The conference aims to deliberate on how to ensure the best upkeep of the sites and artefacts and also widely disseminate this information and knowledge for enhanced global awareness," he said.

China Pakistan Study Centre at ISSI Director Dr Talat Shabbir was also present at the session. On his part, he emphasised the significance of Pakistan's rich cultural and historical legacy, which is deeply rooted in ancient civilizations such as the Indus Valley and Gandhara.

He highlighted iconic archaeological sites like Mohenjo-Daro and Taxila as symbols of Pakistan's national identity and cultural diversity. He stressed on the preservation and protection of these invaluable cultural assets, stressing their relevance in today's polarised world.

National Heritage and Cultural Division Secretary Hassan Nasir Jamy, in his remarks, highlighted Pakistan's rich ancient civilizations, emphasising their enduring significance.

He too spoke about the Indus Valley Civilisation, renowned for its advanced urban planning, sanitation systems and trade networks, which flourished from 3300 to 1900 BC. He mentioned other notable civilisations such as Mehrgarh and Gandhara, emphasising their contributions to cultural diversity and intellectual achievements in the region. He called for leveraging Pakistan's heritage to boost cultural diplomacy, tourism and economic growth.

The session was concluded with the distribution of commemorative shields to the speakers.