Italy returns 7 historical artefacts to Pakistan

Pakistan has received seven historical artefacts from Italy. According to the Pakistani Embassy, the artefacts arrived in Islamabad on Thursday after the completion of all necessary legal and administrative procedures.

The embassy further stated that these smuggled artefacts were handed over to the Pakistani Consulate General in April by Italian authorities after their recovery. The return of these artefacts reflects strong cooperation between the two countries in preserving cultural heritage and preventing the illegal trafficking of historical objects.

It is worth noting that last year in October, Italy also returned 90 ancient artefacts to Pakistan which had been seized in 2007 by the Carabinieri Command for the protection of cultural heritage. These efforts highlight Italy’s continued commitment to safeguarding cultural property.

Pakistan and Italy have maintained strong ties for decades in the field of archaeology and cultural heritage preservation. Both countries have expressed their commitment to continue working together in the future on archaeological research and the protection of cultural heritage.

It is also worth mentioning that in 1955 renowned scholar Professor Giuseppe Tucci established an Italian archaeological mission in Swat for which he was later awarded Pakistan’s Hilal-e-Imtiaz. Other Italian archaeologists including Professor Luca Maria Olivieri and Professor Valeria Piacentini have also been honoured with national awards for their services.