Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta
Factors affecting the property in 2023*
- Deliberate destruction of heritage
- Earthquake
- Erosion and siltation/ deposition
- Flooding
- Housing
- Illegal activities
- Land conversion
- Management activities
- Management systems/ management plan
- Other climate change impacts
- Solid waste
- Other Threats:
Stability of the foundations (earth mechanics) of the Jam Nizamuddin tomb
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Deliberate destruction of heritage
- Earthquake
- Erosion and siltation/ deposition
- Housing
- Illegal activities
- Land conversion
- Management activities
- Management systems/ management plan
- Other climate change impacts
- Solid waste
- Flooding
- Other Threats: Stability of the foundations (earth mechanics) of the Jam Nizamuddin II tomb
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2023
Total amount granted: USD 30,000 from the UNESCO Regular Programme Funds for condition survey of Jam Nizzamuddin tomb (2011); USD 33,000 from the UNESCO/Netherlands Funds-in-Trust for the Emergency assessment and immediate response to damages caused by the floods (2012); UNESCO Emergency assistance and immediate response to damages caused by the floods (2012); two phases of the UNESCO/Republic of Korea Funds-in-Trust project ‘World Heritage, Sustainable Development and Community Involvement’ for World Heritage properties in Bangladesh and Pakistan also concern this property (Phase I: 2015-2017 – USD 600,065; Phase II: 2019-2022 – USD 769,741).
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2023
Total amount approved : 75,000 USD
| 2022 | Post disaster response to the impact of monson hazards ... (Approved) | 75,000 USD |
| 2014 | Conservation and Management Assistance Request- ... (Not approved) | 0 USD |
Missions to the property until 2023**
November-December 2006: joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission; October 2010: World Heritage Centre fact-finding mission to the property following major floods that devastated the area in August 2010; May 2012: joint UNESCO/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission; April 2016: joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission; April 2016: joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission; January 2019: joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2023
On 21 November 2022, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/143/documents. Progress in a number of conservation issues addressed by the Committee at its previous sessions is presented in this report, as follows:
- The Management Plan for the property has been completed and submitted to the World Heritage Centre. It includes a Mission Statement, as requested by the Committee, but no technical review or comments have been provided. Implementation actions include staff workshops, community education programmes, deployment of additional security guards, code of conduct, and controls over on-site activities and the monitoring of religious rituals at popular shrines;
- Recommendations of the 2019 Reactive Monitoring mission are being addressed through an action programme. Additional technical staff have been engaged and new visitor facilities provided. Commercial and residential encroachment has been removed and the entry gate has been strengthened. Other projects include the clearing of intrusive vegetation, tree planting, an architectural elements inventory system, visitor information boards, and site documentation. Tasks to be completed include a carrying capacity study, visitor survey and visitor management framework;
- The August 2022 monsoons severely affected the property. Response to monsoon damage remains the immediate priority. Emergency interventions including an emergency response workshop helped to avoid further destruction. Drainage was enhanced. Evaluation of the effects of the flooding is scheduled, and a report will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre;
- Local authorities have included cultural heritage protection in their regional disaster plan. The project: ‘We Connect Makli’ was instigated to provide first aid to the cultural property at the time of disaster and emergency through the local community as part of the ICCROM project: FAR First Aid and Resilience for Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis, together with the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH) Foundation and Egyptian Heritage Rescue Foundation. Capacity building initiatives include a five-week workshop at Makli in 2022 and online courses provided by ICCROM;
- An action plan for the stabilization and conservation of the mausoleum of Jam Nizamuddin II was prepared, and prior to its implementation, was submitted to the World Heritage Centre. No major conservation work has occurred to the main mausoleum of Isa Khan Tarkhan II. However, the floor of the monument in one area was replaced to prolong its life. Components in danger of collapse and been stabilized, and other conservation works have been undertaken;
- Recovery efforts and emergency works are the current focus, so the proposed minor boundary modification has been deferred.
Two emergency missions were conducted under the World Heritage Emergency International Assistance in November 2022 and in February - March 2023 in order to carry out an urgent assessment and provide technical advice for immediate response as well as for elaborating longer-term preservation strategies.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2023
The property was already facing significant physical conservation, security and site management challenges when it was hit by severe monsoonal rains in August 2022.
Following the visit of the UN Secretary General Mr Antonio Guterres in Pakistan in September 2022, UNESCO Director-General announced the mobilization of USD 350,000 to help recovering flood-damaged cultural heritage sites in Pakistan. The Committee may wish to appreciate the two emergency missions sent to the property from 23 to 27 November 2022 and from 26 February to 1 March 2023 under the World Heritage Emergency Assistance scheme, which provided rapid assessment and established a roadmap for future recovery actions. The UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund also contributed to include culture and heritage into the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) for Pakistan.
The response to the impact of the monsoons has been substantive and effective, particularly the urgent response to immediate threats, augmentation of drainage and training of staff in emergency interventions. It would be appropriate for the Committee to encourage the international community to support the State Party, as it continues to respond and undertake longer-term conservation programmes. It would also be appropriate for the existing work on risk and disasters to be expanded into a full risk preparedness strategy and emergency response plan, as previously proposed. The Committee should request submission of the proposed report on the effects of the monsoon flooding, which also presents the action plan and future requirements considering the recommendations of the two emergency missions sent by UNESCO under the World Heritage Fund in November 2022 and February-March 2023. The action plan could include the list of monuments and areas which should be treated as priority, needs and planning for monitoring and documentation, study on the drainage plan, rules to be observed by the visitors, and the update of the Management Plan, including the progress on the disaster risk mitigation plan already under way.
Completion of the Management Plan for the property is welcome. It is however regrettable that the State Party was not provided with technical review at the time that the Management Plan was submitted, but technical comments have been provided since receipt of the State Party report. It would be appropriate for the Management Plan to be revised and updated accordingly, particularly regarding the engagement of local managers. It would also be appropriate to welcome the significant progress that has been made to improve the state of conservation of the property, which has been done through the implementation of recommendations from the 2019 Reactive Monitoring mission, a range of protection and visitor management initiatives, conservation works, staff training, and community engagement. The previously requested visitor management framework is yet to be completed and would further improve the management of the property.
The State Party and international collaborators have successfully pursued opportunities for staff training, and capacity building programmes. The ‘We Connect Makli’ project is particularly welcome and relevant to current risk and damage responsiveness.
The action plan for the stabilization and conservation of the mausoleum of Jam Nizamuddin II has been submitted to the World Heritage Centre. In late 2022, the State Party sought comments on a proposal to renovate the main gate at the property and preliminary advice has been provided by ICOMOS. It would be appropriate for the State Party to submit full documentation, including architectural details, materials schedules and visualizations for review, prior to commencement of works in conformity with paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines.
The State Party has repeated its previous general advice regarding works to provide waterproofing of the mausoleum of Isa Khan Tarkhan II but has not addressed the specific request from the Committee about the appropriateness of the works. Additional information regarding the reasons for installation of such extensive areas of new paving, whether the historic pavement was documented, the use of different sized pavers and the functionality of the new system have also not been provided. This information should be requested again.
The deferral of the previously requested proposal for a minor boundary modification is reasonable, given the circumstances of the monsoon damage, but this matter has been under consideration since 2013, and should be pursued at the earliest opportunity.
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2023
45 COM 7B.170
Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta (Pakistan) (C 143)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B.Add,
- Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.35 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
- Expresses its profound compassion to the State Party on the impacts of the August 2022 monsoons on the World Heritage property, as well as its loss in human lives and livelihoods, welcomes the response and recovery efforts undertaken, and calls on the international community to support the State Party as it responds to the immediate threats, undertakes longer-term conservation programmes and further addresses risk preparedness and emergency response planning;
- Expresses its appreciation for UNESCO’s two emergency missions funded through Emergency International Assistance under the World Heritage Fund to the property in November 2022 and February - March 2023, as well as the support through Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF) to integrate evaluation on culture and heritage into the Post-Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) of Pakistan after the August 2022 monsoons;
- Suggests that the State Party consider the recommendations of the two abovementioned UNESCO emergency missions in preparing a report assessing the damage from the August 2022 monsoon, and presenting short-, medium- and long-term action plans and related financial and technical requirements in preserving monuments and areas, which should be treated as priority, conducting monitoring and documentation, studying on the drainage plan, rules to be observed by the visitors, and the update of the Management Plan, including the progress on the disaster risk mitigation plan already under way;
- Welcomes the completion of the Management Plan for the property, including the requested Mission Statement and requests that the Management Plan be revised with regard to the comments and findings of the recent technical review, particularly to address engagement of the local managers, and then re-submitted to the World Heritage Centre;
- Welcomes the progress made with implementation of the recommendations of the 2019 Reactive Monitoring mission, the protection and visitor management initiatives and conservation works undertaken at the property, the staff workshops, stakeholder engagement and community education programmes and urges the State Party to continue with its action programme and to complete the proposed risk preparedness strategy and emergency response plan, and the visitor management framework and to submit these documents and the proposed report on the effects of the recent monsoons, to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies;
- Welcomes the ‘We Connect Makli’ project, the training programmes and capacity building initiatives that have been undertaken and encourages the State Party and collaborating agencies to continue to identify opportunities for staff to benefit from national and international capacity-building programmes, in particular for risk preparedness and disaster response, management, stone conservation, and conservation of moveable heritage and detached architectural elements;
- Takes note of the submission of the action plan for the stabilization and conservation of the mausoleum of Jam Nizamuddin II;
- Takes note of the plans to renovate the main gate at the property and also requests the State Party to submit documentation including architectural details, materials schedules and visualizations, to the Word Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, prior to commencement of works in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
- Reiterates its previous request that the State Party submit additional information about the works carried out to provide waterproofing of the Mausoleum of Isa Khan Tarkhan II, including particularly the reasons for the installation of such extensive areas of new paving, whether the historic pavement was documented, the use of different size pavers and the functionality of the new system;
- Notes the deferral of the proposal for a minor boundary modification to be prepared in line with Paragraphs 163-164 and Annex 11 of the Operational Guidelines and reflecting the boundaries identified in 2013, along with a regulatory plan for the proposed buffer zone, but further requests that this proposal be prepared and submitted for review by the Advisory Bodies at the earliest opportunity;
- Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, 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 46th session.
Draft Decision: 45 COM 7B.170
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B.Add,
- Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.35 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
- Expresses its profound compassion to the State Party on the impacts of the August 2022 monsoons on the World Heritage property, as well as its loss in human lives and livelihoods, welcomes the response and recovery efforts undertaken, and calls on the international community to support the State Party as it responds to the immediate threats, undertakes longer-term conservation programmes and further addresses risk preparedness and emergency response planning;
- Expresses its appreciation for UNESCO’s two emergency missions funded through Emergency International Assistance under the World Heritage Fund to the property in November 2022 and February - March 2023, as well as the support through Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF) to integrate evaluation on culture and heritage into the Post-Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) of Pakistan after the August 2022 monsoons;
- Suggests that the State Party consider the recommendations of the two abovementioned UNESCO emergency missions in preparing a report assessing the damage from the August 2022 monsoon, and presenting short-, medium- and long-term action plans and related financial and technical requirements in preserving monuments and areas, which should be treated as priority, conducting monitoring and documentation, studying on the drainage plan, rules to be observed by the visitors, and the update of the Management Plan, including the progress on the disaster risk mitigation plan already under way;
- Welcomes the completion of the Management Plan for the property, including the requested Mission Statement and requests that the Management Plan be revised with regard to the comments and findings of the recent technical review, particularly to address engagement of the local managers, and then re-submitted to the World Heritage Centre;
- Welcomes the progress made with implementation of the recommendations of the 2019 Reactive Monitoring mission, the protection and visitor management initiatives and conservation works undertaken at the property, the staff workshops, stakeholder engagement and community education programmes and urges the State Party to continue with its action programme and to complete the proposed risk preparedness strategy and emergency response plan, and the visitor management framework and to submit these documents and the proposed report on the effects of the recent monsoons, to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies;
- Welcomes the ‘We Connect Makli’ project, the training programmes and capacity building initiatives that have been undertaken and encourages the State Party and collaborating agencies to continue to identify opportunities for staff to benefit from national and international capacity-building programmes, in particular for risk preparedness and disaster response, management, stone conservation, and conservation of moveable heritage and detached architectural elements;
- Takes note of the submission of the action plan for the stabilization and conservation of the mausoleum of Jam Nizamuddin II;
- Takes note of the plans to renovate the main gate at the property and also requests the State Party to submit documentation including architectural details, materials schedules and visualizations, to the Word Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, prior to commencement of works in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
- Reiterates its previous request that the State Party submit additional information about the works carried out to provide waterproofing of the Mausoleum of Isa Khan Tarkhan II, including particularly the reasons for the installation of such extensive areas of new paving, whether the historic pavement was documented, the use of different size pavers and the functionality of the new system;
- Notes the deferral of the proposal for a minor boundary modification to be prepared in line with Paragraphs 163-164 and Annex 11 of the Operational Guidelines and reflecting the boundaries identified in 2013, along with a regulatory plan for the proposed buffer zone, but further requests that this proposal be prepared and submitted for review by the Advisory Bodies at the earliest opportunity;
- Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, 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 46th session.
PakistanDocuments examined by the Committee
45COM (2023)Exports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
