Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta

a) Significant decay of the property caused by local climatic conditions and alluvial erosion;

b) Stability of the foundations (earth mechanics) of the Jam Nizamuddin tomb;

c) Lack of definition of boundaries of the property and buffer zone of the necropolis;

d) Lack of monitoring.

The State Party submitted a state of conservation report to the World Heritage Centre on 31 January 2011.  A number of management issues identified in 33COM 7B.80 have either been addressed in the State Party’s report or remain unresolved, and are outlined as follows:

a) Master Plan and Management Plan

A Master Plan for the preservation and development of the property has been developed and is yet to be approved by the Sindh Government, therefore not yet implemented, a situation that has not changed since the 2009 State Party report. As a result, there is no progress concerning the Management Plan, which is to be developed within the scope of the Master Plan.

b) Monitoring programme, Condition report and Prioritised Emergency Intervention Plan

The State Party has not reported on any of these issues.

c) Identification of boundaries and buffer zone

The State Party has indicated that work on the topographic mapping and documentation of monuments would take place after the Master Plan is approved. The State Party has stated that work on defining the property boundary and the establishment of a buffer zone will be completed before the end of June 2011.

d) Conservation of Jam Nizamuddin’s Tomb

The State Party has resubmitted a request for conservation and management under the World Heritage Fund (28 March 2011) for soil investigations to determine the stability of the foundation (earth mechanics) of the Jam Nizamuddin tomb, and prepare an action plan for measures to stabilize the endangered monuments. In addition, a condition report for all other monuments and tombs shall be carried out to establish a hierarchic emergency intervention plan.

The World Heritage Centre together with international experts carried out a fact-finding mission to the property following the major flood that devastated the area in 2010. 

The mission observed that during the flood internally displaced persons (IDP) have occupied the property. While recognising that this was not a phenomenon that can be controlled and cannot be directly attributed to the current state of conservation, the mission observed looting, vandalism, destruction and degradation of various elements of the property. The mission however, attributes some of these to the lack of clearly defined boundaries of the property and buffer zone and protective measures such as proper fencing in place. It was also observed that there were no adequate security measures in place to control the access to the property and inside some of the important buildings. The mission also felt that security measures were also necessary to protect visitors since some of the buildings within the property were in danger of collapse. On the other hand, the mission also reiterated the need to consider negative impacts of the visitors, already highlighted by the 2006 mission. The mission also noted that there was no adequate preparation of emergency plans for appropriate interventions and actions.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies are very concerned about the serious degradation of the property and the lack of adequate attention given to the issues raised by the Committee at its previous decisions. They are also concerned about the situation after the flood and the lack of any preparation for emergency situations.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies are of the opinion that the formal adoption of the Master Plan by the Sindh Government, and the subsequent development of the Management Plan are critical to sustain the Outstanding Universal Value of the property.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies consider that the State Party should pursue its effort to define the property boundary and establish a buffer zone, and to resubmit its International Assistance request for the stabilisation of the Tomb of Jam Nizamuddin.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies suggest that, based on the findings of the October 2010 Post-flood Assessment Mission, a reactive monitoring mission be carried out to the property to enable the World Heritage Committee to re-examine the state of conservation of this property, with a view to considering, in the event of ascertained threats to the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, the possibility of inscribing the World Heritage property of the Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta, Pakistan, on the List of the World Heritage in Danger.