UNESCO has included the Kalash valley in Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in its World Heritage Tentative List.
According to UNESCO, the Kalasha Cultural Landscape represents a remarkably well-preserved and continuously inhabited high-mountain environment, located in the remote valleys of Bumburet Valley, Rumbur Valley and Birir Valley within the Hindu Kush.
The geographic isolation of these valleys, surrounded by rugged mountainous terrain, has played a key role in preserving the distinct cultural identity of the Kalasha people over centuries.
UNESCO stated that the landscape has evolved through a deep and interdependent relationship between the Kalasha community, their traditional belief system, settlement patterns and the natural environment. It emphasised that the area is not a static relic but a living cultural system where daily life, rituals, agriculture and governance continue to follow long-established traditions, with tangible and intangible heritage closely intertwined.
Faisal Karim Kundi termed the inclusion a “proud moment” for Pakistan, stating that it highlights the country’s rich cultural heritage on the global stage.
Meanwhile, Abdul Samad, Director General of Archaeology and Museums Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, also hailed the development as a major achievement, noting that it reflects the region’s cultural legacy and natural beauty.
He added that the milestone was made possible through coordinated efforts by the provincial government, the Directorate General of Archaeology and Museums, UNESCO, the federal archaeology department and other stakeholders, bringing Pakistan’s diverse heritage into international focus.
Heritage sites at risk of being placed on UNESCO danger list
On the other hand, after restoration efforts by the Punjab archaeology department at two World Heritage sites in Taxila, which have reportedly affected their authenticity and integrity, there is a risk that these sites may be included on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger.
As per UNESCO, this list aims to alert the global community about conditions that threaten the very attributes for which a site was designated as a World Heritage property, and to promote remedial measures.
This warning follows the recent sharing of information and photographs by a third party with Pakistan’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO in Paris concerning two heritage sites in Taxila.
The issue highlights how interventions can impact the authenticity and integrity of the Gandhara sites located at Mohra Moradu and Sirkap.
In particular, the concern revolves around the demolition or restoration of original walls.
Expressing its apprehension and requesting an urgent response regarding the status of the World Heritage sites, the Department of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM) communicated with the Punjab Archaeology Department, stating: “If appropriate action is not taken in this matter, it could result in the two sites being placed on Unesco’s ‘Danger List.’
