1.         Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta (Pakistan) (C 143)

Year of inscription on the World Heritage List  1981

Criteria  (iii)

Year(s) of inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger  N/A

Previous Committee Decisions  see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/143/documents/

International Assistance

Requests approved: 0
Total amount approved: USD 0
For details, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/143/assistance/

UNESCO Extra-budgetary Funds

Total amount granted: USD 30,000 from UNESCO Regular Programme Funds for condition survey of Jam Nizzammuddin tomb (2011).

Previous monitoring missions

November-December 2006: Joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive mission; October 2010: World Heritage Centre fact-finding mission to the property following the major flood that devastated the area in August 2010; May 2012: joint UNESCO/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission.

Factors affecting the property identified in previous reports

Illustrative material  see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/143/

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2013

On 22 February 2013, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, as requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 36th session (Saint Petersburg, 2012).

a)   Conservation actions

The Culture Department, Government of Sindh, has prepared a project proposal (called “PC-I”) to the Planning Commission of Pakistan for the Protection, Preservation, Promotion and Development of the World Heritage property of the Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta, with an implementation cost of approximately USD 4,810,000. The major components include: detailed survey of the site, including baseline data, condition surveys, documentation and topographic surveys; preparation of a master plan (outsourced to a consultancy firm in December 2012), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), International Seminar on Makli; capacity building for technical staff; implementation of interpretation measures (signage, brochures, leaflets); water supply; construction of visitor pathways; and conservation of monuments in the short, medium and long term. Although it is reported that condition surveys have commenced, no specific information has been provided on whether the funds have been secured for the full implementation of the “PC-I” nor on the timeframe for its completion.

Annexed to the state of conservation report is a condition report providing an analysis of the general factors impacting the conservation and protection of property together with future actions proposed to address the issues. This document is similar to the one provided in the state of conservation report for the property in 2012 and there are no indications on the status of implementation of the provisions made. In addition, it is not clear what the timeframe for implementation is or whether resources have been allocated for it.

The State Party also reports that a strategy has been developed to prevent Internally Displaced People (IDP) to take shelter within the property. Recent heavy rain falls in lower Sindh have led to the displacement of people but they have been accommodated outside the property. In terms of security, it is proposed to erect boundary pillars and protection walls to ensure that no encroachment occurs. Additional guards shall be assigned to ensure monitoring of vulnerable entry points. 

b)   Preparation of the Comprehensive Master Plan

The State Party reports that this action is included in the “PC-I” developed for the property. The planning process is underway and expected to be completed by March 2013 for subsequent approval by the authorities. The report includes the objectives of the Master Plan and the scope of activities to be undertaken by the consultancy firm.

c)   Boundaries of the property

As part of the planning process, the boundaries of the inscribed property and its buffer zone will be identified and adequate regulatory measures defined to ensure the adequate protection and management of the property. The State Party report includes the preliminary map developed by the Heritage Foundation, taking into account guidelines and comments made by the May 2012 reactive monitoring mission that has yet to be revised.

d)   Conservation of Tomb of Jam Nizamuddin

Work has continued at the Tomb in collaboration with the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan, including the undertaking of geo-technical studies. No additional information has been provided on additional research to assess stability problems, the installation of a crack monitoring system, or whether or not the preliminary assessment has been updated. No technical specifications have been provided on specific conservation measures implemented to date.

e)   Management of the property

 

The State Party reports that the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums Sindh has allocated a regular budget for the conservation, preservation and maintenance of the monuments. There are eight Conservation Schemes identified for some of the monuments as well as provisions made in the Master Plan. It is noted that staff will need to be increased for the optimal implementation. The May 2012 mission considered that the present capacity of the Directorate is insufficient and needs further strengthening, being the custodian of over more than 1200 monuments in the Province. 

Analysis and Conclusions of the World Heritage Centre, ICOMOS and ICCROM

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note the commitment made by the State Party in supporting the implementation of measures to address the factors that constitute a serious threat to the property. They further note that serious problems are still facing the property and that sustained measures will be required. The lack of an effective management system, capacity building, risk preparedness and clarification of the boundaries are a matter of concern.

 

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies suggest that the Committee may wish to encourage the State Party to invite an ICOMOS/ICCROM advisory mission to the property to assist in: a) developing a comprehensive programme for conservation and stabilisation of the most threatened monuments; b) defining the boundaries of the property and its buffer zones; c) defining the objectives of a Management Plan for the property to address its critical issues, including disaster risk management and public use; d) developing a capacity building strategy with a view to reinforcing national capacity in the field of heritage conservation and management. 

Decision Adopted: 37 COM 7B.66

The World Heritage Committee,

1.  Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7B,

2.  Recalling Decision 36 COM 7B.66, adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),

3.  Acknowledges the efforts made by the State Party in addressing the conservation issues of the property but expresses its concerns that significant threats to the Outstanding Universal Value of the property have yet to be fully addressed;

4.  Encourages the State Party to invite an ICOMOS/ICCROM advisory mission to the property to assist in the following:

a)  Develop a comprehensive programme for conservation and stabilisation of the most threatened monuments,

b)  Finalise the boundaries of the property and its buffer zones,

c)  Define the objectives of a Management Plan for the property to address critical issues, including disaster risk management and public use,

d)  Elaborate a capacity building strategy with a view to reinforcing national capacity in the field of heritage conservation and management;

5.  Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2015 , an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015.

Decision Adopted: 37 COM 8E

The World Heritage Committee,

1.  Having examined Documents WHC-13/37.COM/8E and WHC-13/37.COM/8E.Add,

2.  Congratulates States Parties for the excellent work accomplished in the elaboration of retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for World Heritage properties in their territories;

3.  Adopts the retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value, as presented in the Annex of Document WHC-13/37.COM/8E, for the following World Heritage properties:

4.  Decides that retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for World Heritage properties in Danger will be reviewed by the Advisory Bodies in priority;

5.  Further decides that, considering the high number of retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value to be examined, the order in which they will be reviewed by the Advisory Bodies will follow the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting, namely:

6.  Requests the World Heritage Centre to harmonise all sub-headings in the adopted Statements of Outstanding Universal Value where appropriate and when resources and staff time allow to carry out this work;

7.  Also requests the State Parties, Advisory Bodies and World Heritage Centre to ensure the use of gender-neutral language in the Statements proposed for adoption to the World Heritage Committee;

8.  Further requests the World Heritage Centre to keep the adopted Statements in line with subsequent decisions by the World Heritage Committee concerning name changes of World Heritage properties, and to reflect them throughout the text of the Statements, in consultation with States Parties and Advisory Bodies;

9.  Finally requests the States Parties to provide support to the World Heritage Centre for translation of the adopted Statements of Outstanding Universal Value into English or French respectively, and finally requests the Centre to upload these onto its web-pages.