Who are we ?

Built Heritage Professionals

We are architects, historians, archeologists, urban planners, urban designers, structural and environmental engineers, landscape architects, heritage-centered community development experts, conservators, educators, historians, lawyers, and economists and heritage centric development experts working together to strengthen preservation practices in Pakistan. We believe that meaningful heritage work demands multidisciplinary collaboration in order to provide holistic, resilient, and sustainable solutions. Despite the diversity of our fields, we are united by the shared conviction that heritage is a powerful tool for positive change.

There is an urgent need to develop effective policies, strengthen education and training, and raise professional standards to evolve heritage conservation in Pakistan. ICOMOS Pakistan, through its network of experts, collaboration with UNESCO, and its access to ICOMOS International’s global community of over 10,000 heritage practitioners in more than 130 countries, aims to help bridge these gaps and support a more integrated, knowledge-based preservation culture.

ICOMOS Global Network

ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) is a global non-governmental organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of cultural heritage places. With a network of over 10,000 expert members across 132 countries, organized through national and international scientific committees. ICOMOS plays a vital role in enhancing heritage preservation worldwide. It also serves as an official advisory body to UNESCO on matters related to World Heritage.

132

10,000 +

Expert Members

Countries

• Organizes and manages international expert missions for heritage assessment and advisory support.

• Provides detailed reports on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties.

• Distributes the quarterly newsletter ICOMOS News to share updates and engage specialists worldwide.

• Publishes the scientific journal Monuments and Sites, featuring in-depth research on conservation theory and practice.

• Maintains the ICOMOS Documentation Centre and its comprehensive database of heritage resources and publications.

Activities of ICOMOS

ICOMOS Supports Sustainable Development Goals

Our Role at ICOMOS Pakistan

As the National Committee of ICOMOS in Pakistan, our role in the country’s evolving heritage landscape is to promote applied research, critical theory, and scientific methodology in the conservation and protection of our architectural heritage, monuments, cultural landscapes, and archaeological sites. We are committed to building a future where change is better managed at heritage sites and ensuring that future generations can engage with and experience the authenticity of Pakistan’s rich cultural legacy.

• Facilitate international collaboration by bringing together conservation specialists and serving as a forum for professional dialogue and exchange.

• Support the creation and strengthening of documentation centers in cooperation with national and international heritage authorities.

• Advocate for the adoption and enforcement of international conventions related to architectural and cultural heritage.

• Contribute to capacity building by organizing and supporting training programs for conservation professionals.

• Provide expert guidance by connecting the community and other stakeholders with highly qualified professionals and specialists in heritage conservation.

• Share global best practices and policy insights through the collection, evaluation, and dissemination of conservation knowledge and techniques.

Our Objectives

What we do

ICOMOS Pakistan focuses on preserving cultural heritage through expert guidance and international collaboration.

Technical Assistance

We believe that information is the first step to improving the practice of conservation. We ensure the dissemination and exchange of the latest knowledge in the field of preservation through roundtable discussions, conferences, training programs, and workshops, in order to elevate standards and advance the practice.

Conferences, Training Programs, and Workshops

ICOMOS Pakistan engages with national and regional bodies concerned with cultural heritage, offering technical expertise to support informed decision-making.

We provide guidance to government agencies, academic institutions, and civil society organizations working on conservation-related issues. In addition, we are committed to developing accessible resources on heritage conservation to support researchers, professionals, and the public.

We will soon be launching a mentorship placement programme for interns conducting research aimed at;

1. establish baseline data in heritage policy and architectural / archeological conservation,

2. refine the process of heritage site nominations, to the World Heritage Committee

3. carrying out heritage surveys using manual and digital tools

Mentorship

Annual General Assembly 2025

The ICOMOS AGA2025 will take place in Lumbini, the Birthplace of Lord Buddha, World Heritage property, in Nepal. The formal events of the AGA2025 will take place between 11 October 2025 and 19 October 2025.

Lumbini, the Birthplace of Lord Buddha, was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1997 under criteria (iii) and (vi). “Siddhartha Gautama, the Lord Buddha, was born in 623 B.C. in the famous gardens of Lumbini, which soon became a place of pilgrimage. Among the pilgrims was the Indian emperor Ashoka, who erected one of his commemorative pillars there. The site is now being developed as a Buddhist pilgrimage centre, where the archaeological remains associated with the birth of the Lord Buddha form a central feature”.

Discover the Sacred Garden of Lumbini

Explore the profound cultural, archaeological, and spiritual significance of the birthplace of the Buddha in this richly illustrated UNESCO publication. The Sacred Garden of Lumbini: Perceptions of Buddha’s Birthplace brings together expert insights on the site's history, conservation, and evolving meaning across time.

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Contact Us

Reach out for inquiries about monument conservation and collaboration.