UNESCO widens Pak heritage map

UNESCO has added 12 more historical and cultural sites from Pakistan associated with Gandhara and Buddhist heritage, Mughal-era architecture, historic forts and other cultural heritage to its Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. The latest additions take the total number of Pakistani sites on the list to 37. Their inclusion marks an important first step towards securing World Heritage status and will help highlight Pakistan's diverse cultural and historical heritage on the global stage. Currently, Pakistan has six sites inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The latest inclusion on the Tentative List does not confer World Heritage status on these sites; rather, it represents an important preliminary step towards possible future nomination to the final list. The cultural landscape of the Kalash Valley in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and other important archaeological and historical sites in the province have already been included. According to the latest records of UNESCO's World Heritage Centre, the Kalash Valley was added to the Tentative List in March 2026. Three sites from Punjab - Pharwala and Rohtas forts and the Tomb of Sultan Muqarrab Khan - were added to the Tentative List on May 11, 2026, according to the records. Other additions include Mai Qamro Mosque, Bazira-Barikot, the Gor Khatri Archaeological Complex, Sethi House and the Bhamala Buddhist Complex. Sindh also has significant representation on the Tentative List, with the inclusion of Kot Diji, Naukot and Umerkot forts. According to UNESCO, Kot Diji Fort is an important example of military architecture from the Talpur period, while pre-Harappan remains have also been found in its surrounding area. Pakistan's six sites already inscribed on the World Heritage List are Mohenjo Daro, Taxila, the Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and neighbouring city remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol, Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens, the Historical Monuments at Makli, and Rohtas Fort. Among these, Taxila, Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens, and Rohtas Fort are located in Punjab. Punjab's sites already included in the Tentative List include the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Wazir Khan Mosque, the Tombs of Jahangir, Asif Khan and Akbari Sarai, Hiran Minar and Tank in Sheikhupura, Harappa, the Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, and the Salt Range and Khewra Salt Mines, among others. Former Archaeology Department director Malik Maqsood said the increase in the number of Pakistani sites on the Tentative List could help draw greater international attention to the country's historical and cultural heritage, while strengthening efforts for their preservation and eventual inclusion on the World Heritage List.