ISLAMABAD: Pakistan was elected vice-chair of the General Assembly of State Parties to UNESCO's 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, according to a statement issued by the Pakistan Embassy in France.

In a post on Facebook, the embassy said Pakistan pledged to collaborate with member nations on efforts to protect and transmit living cultural expressions to coming generations.

Pakistan has six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, according to the Pakistan National Commission for UNESCO.

They include the Archaeological Ruins at Mohenjodaro, Taxila, the Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol, the Fort and Shalimar Gardens in Lahore, the Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta, and Rohtas Fort.

The country also maintains 26 properties on UNESCO's Tentative List for future World Heritage consideration, according to the organization.

Preservation of World Heritage Sites is overseen by provincial governments under Pakistan's post-18th Amendment framework, while the federal National Heritage and Culture Division remains responsible for coordination with UNESCO and the issuance of excavation permits, according to official government documents.

Day-to-day conservation and site protection are carried out by provincial archaeology authorities under the Antiquities Act of 1975 and related provincial laws, which provide penalties for unauthorized construction, vandalism and encroachment around protected sites, according to the National Heritage and Culture Division and the Department of Archaeology and Museums.

Conservation work is funded through federal and provincial development programs. According to government planning documents, Punjab authorities have allocated funding for preservation projects at Taxila and Rohtas Fort, while the Taxila 2055 Archaeological Master Plan was developed to support long-term conservation through tourism-related revenues.

Pakistan has also expanded efforts to protect heritage sites from climate-related risks. According to UNESCO, restoration work was carried out at the Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta, and the Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro following monsoon damage, alongside measures aimed at reducing future flood-related threats.

Government agencies have also introduced digital inventories (Directorate General of Archaeology and Museums), three-dimensional mapping (Directorate General of Antiquities and Archaeology) and training programs (jointly executed by Federal National Heritage Fund and the Provincial Heritage Departments) for site managers as part of broader efforts to preserve cultural assets and improve heritage management.

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