Pakistan is poised to make history as the first South Asian country to ratify the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH), according to the Press Information Department (PID).
The announcement came from Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry during a meeting with UNESCO representative Dr Cristina Menegazzi in Islamabad. The move aims to safeguard Pakistan’s submerged maritime legacy, including shipwrecks, ancient ports, and historic trade routes along the Arabian Sea.
Underwater cultural heritage offers valuable insights into ancient civilizations, maritime practices, climate change, and human interaction with marine environments, UNESCO says. Pakistan plans to adopt non-invasive technologies such as remote sensing and photogrammetry for exploration, ensuring protection of marine ecosystems. Excavations will only occur under strict scientific guidelines.
Minister Chaudhry also sought UNESCO’s support in registering Karachi’s historic maritime buildings, including the Marine Fisheries Department and the Marine Lighthouse. Plans for a maritime historical museum to preserve and display coastal heritage were also discussed.
“This step will position Pakistan as a regional leader in protecting underwater cultural heritage and strengthen our voice internationally,” Chaudhry said, adding that preserving submerged sites can also help study past sea levels and climate patterns.
Dr Menegazzi welcomed Pakistan’s commitment and pledged UNESCO’s cooperation in mapping and documenting the country’s largely unexplored underwater archaeological resources.
