UN Urges Pakistan to Halt Reconstruction at Taxila Heritage Sites

UNESCO's Warning to Pakistan

The United Nations has called on Pakistan to cease the ongoing reconstruction efforts at the historic Taxila sites, asserting that these actions compromise the sites' integrity. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Taxila is under threat of being delisted if the current alterations are not reversed. During a recent meeting, UNESCO officials conveyed to Pakistani authorities that they would not hesitate to remove the sites from the World Heritage List, similar to a previous case involving a site in Germany, due to what they termed as "unnecessary interventions," as reported by local media sources. Failure to comply with these directives could result in the sites being added to the agency's "danger list." The UN agency reiterated its stance that Taxila would be delisted if the modifications were not undone.

Understanding Taxila

What is Taxila?

Taxila is an extensive archaeological site that encompasses a Mesolithic cave along with the remnants of four early settlements, Buddhist monasteries, and a mosque and madrassa. Situated in the Rawalpindi district of Punjab, Pakistan, the ruins at Taxila illustrate the urban development patterns on the Indian subcontinent over a span of more than five centuries, according to UNESCO.

Concerns Over Reconstruction

How 'Reconstruction' At Taxila Sites Was Exposed?

In March, a visitor alerted Pakistan's Permanent Delegate to UNESCO in Paris about the reconstruction activities undertaken by the Punjab archaeology department. The visitor noted that these interventions could jeopardize the authenticity and integrity of the sites, particularly due to the replacement of original walls with new materials or alterations to their height. Following this, UNESCO issued a warning that such "unnecessary interventions" could endanger the sites' status and potentially lead to their placement on the "danger list." Photographic evidence revealed that new masonry had replaced some ancient structures, and efforts were made to raise the height of existing walls. The contrast between the irregularly sized old stones and the uniform, polished modern materials was evident.

Official Response from Pakistan

What Pakistan Said

In response, Malik Zaheer Abbas, the director general of the Punjab archaeology department, stated that labeling the ongoing work at Sirkap and Mohra Moradu as "reconstruction" is misleading. He emphasized that the current efforts are conservation measures grounded in internationally recognized principles aimed at stabilizing vulnerable archaeological remains, preventing further decay, and maintaining the authenticity and integrity of these World Heritage sites. Abbas asserted that there is no intention to reverse the ongoing work, as it is not reconstruction but rather essential conservation interventions.