Unesco considers Pakistan’s nomination of ‘Suri Jagek’ as technically complete

Islamabad :United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has considered Pakistan’s nomination file of ‘Suri Jagek’, as technically complete for possible inscription in its ‘List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2018.

This was revealed by Deputy Secretary, National History and Literary Heritage (NH&LH), Nazir Ahmad while talking to this agency.

‘Suri Jagek’ is a vanishing tradition and meteorological and astronomical practice of inhabitants of Kalash Valley to observe sun, moon and stars in reference to the local topography for weather related forecast.

Nazir Ahmad said this initiative would keep the ancient cultural tradition of Kalash people alive. He said the nomination file of ‘Suri Jagek’ was submitted by Pakistan for a possible inscription in 2018 on the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

Pakistan was the only country in the South Asia which had filed such nomination to be inscribed in the Unesco’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, he said.

This file will be evaluated by the Evaluation Body of UNESCO and transmitted to the Intergovernmental Committee for a decision at its thirteenth session in November or December.

He said  cultural heritage of Kalash is facing various threats and there is urgent need to preserve this unique culture of Chitral district which is rich in both tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

 Listing the other initiatives taken by the division, Nazir Ahmad said Unesco allowed every country to send one element for inscription every year and it was a big achievement of Pakistan it had got inscribed two practices of intangible heritage including ‘Falconry and Nowruz’ on Unesco’s list of intangible heritage within two years.

He informed that the division has also initiated a project of inventorying the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and identified around 45 elements with the help of local school teachers to formulate National ICH inventory of Pakistan.

He said the division had also developed national guidelines for integrating intangible cultural heritage in to teaching and learning for promoting education for sustainable development. Talking to this agency, Adviser to Prime Minister, Irfan Siddiqui said every civilized nation considers preservation of its cultural heritage as its prime duty towards humanity.

The NH&LH Division, since its formation, was taking strong measures to give recognition to the cultural heritage of all the communities and places across the country as well as their preservation for transmission to the next generations, he said. Irfan Siddiqui said inscription of Pakistan’s traditions and intangible cultural heritage at Unesco lists would promote soft image of the country.