Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta

• Significant decay of the property caused by local climatic conditions and alluvial erosion
• Stability of the foundations (earth mechanics) of the Jam Nizamuddin tomb
• Lack of definition of boundaries of the property and buffer zone of the necropolis
• Lack of monitoring
• lack of a Comprehensive Master Plan and a management plan

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

On 30 March 2015, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, as requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session 2013. This document is similar to the one provided in 2012 and there are no indications or details on the status of implementation of the provisions made. According to the document, the Government of Sindh approved the “Development of World Heritage Site of Makli Hill Monuments, Thatta” in 2012, however no details of the work carried out in 2013 and 2014 have been provided in the document with the budget of Pk Rs471.881 million. The report includes the information as follows:

• The Master Plan including conservation actions is being prepared and progress made with a large number of actions is mentioned in the report. These include a comprehensive inventory, comprehensive strategy for emergency work, conservation and maintenance works. However, no further details about their implementation status have been provided. An action plan for capacity building has been prepared with the assistance of Aachen University (Germany). Damage assessment and a treatment plan for Jam Nazamuddin tomb, mentioned in the previous SOC report, are still underway.
• As part of the Master Plan, it is reported that the identification of boundaries and buffer zone, as well as adequate regulatory measures have been completed, but no details have been provided.
• As part of the Master Plan activities, planning to formulate a management plan including conservation action, public use and disaster risk management plan is underway.
• The report makes reference to welcoming an Advisory mission but no invitation from the State Party has been received.
• The report contains a detailed account of various factors affecting the heritage such as earthquakes. The report also provides details about the financial and other assistance received from the State Party and donors.

It is noted that some of the issues raised by the Committee and those anticipated through an Advisory mission have been partially addressed. They include the defining of boundaries and buffer zone and a capacity building strategy. Although reference is made to a strategy for stabilization of emergency work, no details have been provided. Despite financial assistance provided by UNESCO (2011), damage assessment and a treatment plan for Jam Nazamuddin tomb, which is one of the key attributes carrying the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), and mentioned in the previous state of conservation report, have not been completed. The progress with works envisaged as part of the Master Plan to ensure long term protection of the OUV appears to be very slow and no attempt has been made to develop a disaster risk management plan as the property is located in an earthquake prone area.

Another area of concern is the slow progress made with Master Plan, especially in view of the threats to the OUV of the property. It is recommended that the Committee express its concern over the slow progress with actions to preserve the property, in view of the significant threat to the OUV, which are still remaining. Therefore, the State Party should expedite the completion of the Master Plan as a matter of priority. It is also recommended that the Committee further request the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission to the property to assess the general state of conservation of the property, including factors that constitute a serious threat to the property and conservation of Tomb of Jam Nizamuddin, to review the progress of finalizing the Master Plan and to provide advice with the implementation of activities listed in the Master Plan.