NA panel seeks report on efforts to repatriate 400 artefacts

ISLAMABAD: Expressing serious concern over the smuggling of historical artefacts, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Federal Education, Professional Training, National Heritage and Culture Friday sought a detailed report on the efforts to repatriate 400 historical statues to Pakistan.

The standing committee met at the National Library of Pakistan (NLP), chaired by Dr. Azim Uddin Zahid Lakhvi, to scrutinise the budgetary proposals of the National Heritage and Culture Division for PSDP 2025-26.

The committee recommended “The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (Amendment) Bill, 2024”. It also emphasized the urgent need to increase the budgetary allocation for the Culture and Heritage Division by up to 25 per cent to ensure the preservation, promotion, and revitalisation of Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage and its infrastructure. This enhanced funding is deemed essential to address the growing challenges in safeguarding the nation’s historical and cultural assets.

The committee recommended that the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) be brought under the mandate of the National Heritage and Culture Division. This alignment is considered vital due to the intrinsic connection between tourism and cultural heritage, as well as the PTDC’s pivotal role in promoting Pakistan’s cultural and historical sites.

The committee also proposed the establishment of a dedicated YouTube channel under the Quaid-e-Azam Academy to disseminate valuable historical content and engage a wider audience.

Recognising the importance of educating future generations about Pakistan’s literary giants, the committee also recommended the inclusion of a dedicated chapter on Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Muhammad Iqbal in the national curriculum.

This initiative aims to instill a deeper understanding and appreciation of Iqbal’s contributions to literature, philosophy and the nation’s ideological foundation. To further engage the youth, the committee recommended that the Iqbal Academy and Quaid-e-Azam Academy organise a series of events, including debates, discussions, quizzes and poetry sessions.

These activities will highlight the ideologies and contributions of Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, inspiring younger generations to connect with their legacy. It was noted that the budget should be increased for these academies to strengthen their role and encourage them to enhance their initiatives.

In addition, the committee proposed the establishment of an Iqbal Complex in Sialkot to honour Allama Iqbal’s legacy. Regarding the proposed Faiz Ahmad Faiz Complex, the committee suggested revisiting the plan to establish it in Sialkot instead of Narowal. Given that Faiz Ahmad Faiz was born in Sialkot, the committee emphasised that locating the complex in his birthplace would ensure greater historical relevance and alignment with his legacy. The committee highlighted the importance of linguistic diversity and recommended that the National Language Promotion Department expand its translation efforts to include books from languages other than English. This step will enrich Pakistan’s literary landscape and promote cross-cultural understanding.

The National Heritage and Culture Division in its briefing unveiled its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects, with a total allocation of Rs14,204.2 million, aimed at preserving and promoting Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage.

Key initiatives include infrastructure development (Rs12,410 million) for projects such as the establishment of National Cultural Heritage Institute in Islamabad, National Centre for Performing Arts at Shakar Parian, and up-gradation of the National Museum of Pakistan in Karachi.

Additionally, the division is working on the establishment of an Urdu House (Awan-e Urdu) to promote the Urdu language. In line with sustainable energy goals, solarisation projects worth Rs292 million will install on-grid solar systems at key institutions such as the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), Lok Virsa and the National Library of Pakistan. Digitalisation efforts (Rs290 million) will focus on preserving rare books, digitising Quaid-e-Azam’s speeches, and upgrading audio facilities.

To revitalise cultural spaces, Rs562.2 million has been allocated for projects such as the revamping of Aiwan-e Nawadrat-e-Quaid-e-Azam in Karachi, the upgradation of PNCA Open Air Theatre in Islamabad, and the revitalisation of the Zia Mohyeddin Theatre in Karachi.

A master plan for Pharwala Fort’s conservation (Rs500 million) will ensure the preservation of this historic site. In the literary domain, Rs150 million has been allocated for the compilation of the Encyclopaedia of Pakistani Literature, celebrating the works of Pakistani writers and poets. These projects underscore the government’s commitment to safeguarding Pakistan’s cultural heritage, fostering sustainable development and enriching the nation’s cultural ecosystem.