Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, held a meeting with U.S. Charge d’Affaires to Pakistan, H.E. Ms. Natalie A. Baker, on Thursday to discuss expanding Pakistan-United States cooperation in the fields of cultural heritage preservation, museum development, archaeological conservation, cultural exchanges, and the promotion of shared cultural initiatives.
Welcoming the US Charge d’Affaires, the Federal Minister appreciated the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and the United States and acknowledged the U.S. Government's continued support for the preservation and promotion of Pakistan's cultural heritage. He highlighted the successful implementation of the Pakistan-U.S. Cultural Property Agreement and stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation to prevent the illicit trafficking of cultural property, enhance institutional collaboration, and preserve Pakistan's rich archaeological legacy.
The Minister thanked the United States for its valuable support in the repatriation of smuggled Gandhara and other invaluable Pakistani artifacts. He noted that hundreds of antiquities had been successfully returned from the United States and other countries, including Italy, France and the United Kingdom, while efforts were also underway to facilitate the return of additional artifacts from Australia. He expressed the hope that the United States would continue extending its cooperation in the repatriation of Pakistani cultural property still located abroad.
Highlighting Pakistan's efforts to preserve and showcase its heritage, the Minister informed the Chrge d'Affaires that the Government is upgrading the Islamabad Museum into a state-of-the-art facility with the cooperation of the Republic of Korea. He said the museum will comprehensively showcase Pakistan's rich archaeological and cultural heritage, including artifacts repatriated from the United States and other countries.
The Minister also proposed organizing a Pakistan-U.S. Cultural Week in Pakistan to celebrate the rich cultural traditions of both countries. He invited the Ambassador to participate in Pakistan's major cultural festivals, including the internationally renowned Shandur Polo Festival in Chitral and other regional cultural events, emphasizing that such exchanges would further strengthen people-to-people ties and mutual understanding.
Ms Natalie A. Baker appreciated the efforts of the National Heritage and Culture Division in preserving Pakistan's cultural heritage and particularly commended the display of repatriated artifacts at the Islamabad Museum. She thanked the Government of Pakistan for its support in organizing the Liberty Bell Exhibition and other cultural activities at Lok Virsa, recalling her positive experience at the Lok Mela, where she appreciated Pakistan's vibrant cultural diversity and the warmth and hospitality of its people.
She reaffirmed the United States' commitment to expanding cultural cooperation with Pakistan. She proposed developing a joint calendar of cultural activities, including exhibitions, artist exchanges, cultural performances and collaborative events in major cities across Pakistan.
She further highlighted the potential role of U.S. companies operating in Pakistan in supporting heritage conservation, digitization of cultural records, restoration initiatives and major exhibitions through public-private partnerships. Referring to the Joint Action Plan under the Pakistan-U.S. Cultural Property Agreement, she expressed her desire to translate the agreed areas of cooperation into practical initiatives that would further strengthen bilateral cultural relations.
During the meeting, Secretary, National Heritage and Culture Division, Asad Rehman Gillani, informed the Ambassador that the Ministry had made sustained efforts for the repatriation of Pakistan's cultural property from different countries. He said an exhibition featuring all repatriated artifacts is planned at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) in October to showcase Pakistan's success in recovering its cultural heritage.
The Secretary also highlighted Pakistan's active participation in international cultural exchanges, stating that Pakistani cultural troupes regularly represent the country abroad and expressing the Government's willingness to welcome American cultural groups to Pakistan for joint cultural programmes.
Officials of the Department of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM) briefed the Charge d’Affaires on the legal framework, procedures, statistics and international cooperation involved in the repatriation of Pakistan's invaluable antiquities, as well as ongoing efforts to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property.
Both sides agreed to continue close collaboration in implementing the Joint Action Plan, promoting joint exhibitions, strengthening institutional cooperation, expanding cultural exchanges and preserving shared heritage. They reaffirmed their commitment to using cultural diplomacy as a means of fostering mutual understanding, goodwill and stronger people-to-people relations between Pakistan and the United States.
