Italy repatriates seven historic artefacts to Pakistan

Artefacts, seized in Italy in 2007, were returned following cooperation between Pakistani and Italian authorities

Italian authorities have returned seven historic artefacts to Pakistan, marking another step in ongoing cooperation between Islamabad and Rome to combat the illegal trafficking of cultural property, according to the Embassy of Pakistan in Rome.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the embassy said the artefacts were recovered by Italy's Guardia di Finanza, a law enforcement agency operating under the country's Ministry of Economy and Finance, and were subsequently handed over to Pakistani authorities for repatriation.

According to the embassy spokesperson, the artefacts were initially transferred to the Consulate General of Pakistan in Milan in April 2025 as part of the repatriation process. They arrived in Islamabad on Thursday, completing their return to Pakistan.

The embassy said the artefacts had originally been seized in 2007 by the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, a specialised unit under Italy's Ministry of Culture responsible for combating the illicit trade in cultural property and recovering stolen antiquities.

The spokesperson described the recovery as another example of cooperation between Pakistan and Italy in protecting and preserving cultural heritage.

According to the embassy, both countries are working to expand bilateral cooperation in archaeological research, heritage protection and professional training related to archaeological artefacts. The spokesperson noted that Pakistan and Italy hold significant archaeological and cultural assets, including museums, historical sites and cultural reserves.

Archaeological cooperation

The embassy recalled the longstanding archaeological partnership between the two countries, noting that the Italian Archaeological Mission was established in Swat in 1955 under the leadership of renowned Italian scholar Professor Giuseppe Tucci.

According to the embassy, Tucci was awarded Pakistan's Hilal-i-Imtiaz in 1959 in recognition of his contributions to academic research and archaeology in the country.

The statement also highlighted the work of other Italian archaeologists, including Professor Luca Olivieri, who received the Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 2016, and Professor Valeria Piacentini, who was awarded the Tamgha-i-Pakistan in 2025.

Cultural heritage

The embassy said Pakistan is home to some of the world's oldest civilisations and possesses a rich archaeological legacy. It cited sites including the 7,000-year-old Mehrgarh civilisation in Balochistan, the approximately 5,000-year-old Indus Valley Civilisation spanning Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, and the Gandhara civilisation in present-day Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The statement added that the successful recovery demonstrated the effectiveness of international mechanisms aimed at countering the illegal trafficking of cultural property and reflected both countries' commitment to safeguarding cultural heritage.

The embassy also thanked the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, the Guardia di Finanza and the Office of Export Licensing of Italy's Ministry of Culture for their role in the recovery and repatriation process.

According to the embassy, the return of the artefacts is expected to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Italy in the fields of archaeology and heritage conservation.