Federal Minister for National Heritage & Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi delivered a keynote statement at a high-level special event titled “Culture-Climate Nexus: The Missing Link”, held on the margins of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) General Assembly.
Speaking before international delegates, the Minister highlighted Pakistan’s vast and diverse cultural heritage from the ancient urban civilizations of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa to the Buddhist sites of Taxila and Takht-i-Bahi, the Mughal-era Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens, and vibrant indigenous cultures stressing that these treasures now stand on the frontline of the global climate crisis.
He underscored the severe impact of climate change on Pakistan’s heritage, recalling the 2022 floods that damaged more than 750 registered heritage sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mohenjo-Daro. The Minister further pointed to growing threats such as glacial lake outburst floods jeopardizing rock carvings along the Karakoram Highway and petroglyphs in the Diamer-Bhasha region, as well as coastal erosion and rising sea levels affecting Banbhore and the Makli Necropolis.
Calling for stronger international solidarity, Khichi urged the global community to formally recognize cultural heritage as a strategic asset within climate adaptation and mitigation frameworks. He advocated integrating heritage protection into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and proposed the establishment of a dedicated funding window for climate-impacted heritage under the Loss and Damage Fund.
The Minister also recommended the creation of an ICCROM-led global knowledge platform bringing together scientists, heritage professionals, indigenous communities, and youth to co-develop resilient, culture-centered solutions. He further proposed incorporating culture-based indicators into the UNFCCC Global Stocktake to measure cultural loss alongside rising global temperatures.
It is important to mention here that Cultural Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi is leading Pakistan’s delegation to the ICCROM General Assembly Session, taking place in Rome, Italy from December 10–12, 2025.
