ISLAMABAD — A parliamentary committee has requested a comprehensive briefing from the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture concerning UNESCO’s reservations about the conservation work undertaken at Mohra Moradu and Sirkap, two World Heritage Sites in Taxila.
Ministry Secretary Asad Rehman Gilani is slated to appear before the Senate Standing Committee on National Heritage and Culture on Monday, July 27, to discuss the recent reconstruction activities at these historic sites.
Last week, UNESCO warned the Pakistani government to reverse the recent reconstruction work at the Taxila World Heritage Sites, or face inclusion on its “Danger List,” noting that the interventions compromised the sites’ authenticity and integrity.
Recent photographs of the heritage sites, obtained by Dawn, reveal newly laid masonry that replaces centuries‑old walls.
In certain areas, reconstruction was undertaken to raise wall heights “in the name of conservation,” yet the contrast between the original irregular stonework and the modern, uniform materials remains apparent.
To verify the facts, a joint technical mission comprising UNESCO representatives, the Department of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM), and the Ministry of National Heritage and Cultural Division (NH&CD) visited Taxila Museum on June 12, 2026, where the Punjab Archaeology Department presented its position. A ministry source reported that the UNESCO team expressed concerns about the conservation process.
UNESCO has requested detailed documentation of the conservation and restoration activities undertaken at Mohra Moradu and Sirkap, including the Heritage Impact Assessment report, extensive photographic records of the archaeological structures before and after restoration, and drawings of proposed interventions within the core and buffer zones of Mohra Moradu.
