UNESCO Promotes Intangible Cultural Heritage of Pakistan through ...

Press Release
For Immediate Release
Inquiries
Date: 12 June, 2012
Further
Phyza Jameel
p.jameel@unesco.org
UNESCO, Islamabad. +92 51 111 710 745 Ext 28
www.unesco.org.pk
UNESCO Promotes Intangible Cultural Heritage of Pakistan
through Capacity Building
Lahore: 12 June 2012: Being a home to many civilizations in the past, Pakistan has a very
rich and diversified cultural heritage. All the provinces of Pakistan have their own
unique cultures and traditions. This rich intangible culture is in fragile state and in
danger of being lost due to various internal and external factors and is needed to be
safeguarded and
promoted. Pakistan has
ratified this convention
in 2005 and has an
obligation to
implement the
convention for
safeguarding and
promoting the
Intangible Cultural
Heritage. Following to
the 18th amendment,
culture is now
responsibility of
provinces and it is
required to build the
capacities of provinces
for effective implementation of the convention. The Convention provides a complete
framework to protect and safeguard the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

UNESCO Islamabad in partnership with Department of Culture, Government of Punjab is
organizing a 4‐day training workshop for the capacity building of the relevant
government institutions to implement the 2003 convention of UNESCO for safeguarding
the intangible cultural heritage.
The opening session of the 4 day training
workshop was organized in Lahore today,
where eminent Experts of Cultural
heritage sites in Pakistan attended the
session. Dr. Kozue Kay Nagata, Director
UNESCO graced the occasion as the Chief
Guest. She mentioned of the Indus valley
and Gandhara Civilizations and
appreciated the deep‐rooted history and
cultural heritage of Paksitan. “Although
the term intangible cultural heritage is
relatively new, but the concept is as old as
humanity. This intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from generation to generation,
is constantly recreated by communities in response to their environment, their
interaction with nature and history, and provides them with a sense of identity and
continuity,” Said Dr Nagata.
Mr. Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, Secretary Culture & Information, Government of Punjab
appreciated the role of UNESCO to protect and safeguard the Intangible Culture and
thanked Dr. Kozue Kay Nagata for supporting and organizing the said workshop.
The Resource person Prof. Sajida Haider Vandal emphasized on the need to promote the
diversity of culture in order to build the climate of peace and tolerance. Highlighting the
importance of the capacity building workshop on the implementation of 2003
convention she called it a major step towards gaining the advantage from the
mechanism established by the 2003 convention.
This training workshop will continue for 4 days and relevant staff from Department of
Culture, Government of Punjab and staff from Culture Departments of other provinces
including Federal Capitol, Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa, Baluchistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir
and Sindh have been invited to attend the workshop. The workshop focuses on
understanding the 2003 convention, its implementation and how to benefit from the
mechanism of international cooperation established by the convention.