UNESCO adds 12 Pakistani sites to tentative list

UNESCO adds 12 Pakistani sites to tentative list

ISLAMABAD: UNESCO has added 12 historical and cultural sites from Pakistan to its Tentative List of World Heritage Sites, strengthening the country’s efforts to secure international recognition for its diverse heritage.

The new additions cover a wide range of cultural treasures, including Gandhara and Buddhist heritage, Mughal-era architecture, historic forts and archaeological sites. With these additions, the number of Pakistani sites on UNESCO’s Tentative List has reached 37.

Inclusion on the Tentative List does not mean that a site has received World Heritage status. Instead, it marks an important preliminary step before a country can formally nominate a site for inscription on the World Heritage List.

Among the newly listed sites are the cultural landscape of the Kalash Valley in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Bazira-Barikot, the Gor Khatri Archaeological Complex, Sethi House, the Bhamala Buddhist Complex and Mai Qamro Mosque.

Punjab has also received significant representation. Pharwala Fort, Rohtas Fort and the Tomb of Sultan Muqarrab Khan were added to the Tentative List on May 11, 2026, according to UNESCO records.

Sindh’s heritage has also gained recognition through the inclusion of Kot Diji, Naukot and Umerkot forts. UNESCO describes Kot Diji Fort as an important example of Talpur-era military architecture, while archaeological remains from the pre-Harappan period have also been discovered in the surrounding area.

The Kalash Valley was added to the Tentative List in March 2026, alongside other archaeological and historical sites in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Pakistan currently has six sites officially inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List: Mohenjo Daro, Taxila, the Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and neighbouring remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol, Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens, the Historical Monuments at Makli, and Rohtas Fort.

Punjab is home to several of these internationally recognised sites, while its Tentative List also includes the Badshahi Mosque, Wazir Khan Mosque, the Tombs of Jahangir and Asif Khan, Akbari Sarai, Hiran Minar and Tank, Harappa, the Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, and the Salt Range and Khewra Salt Mines.

The growing number of sites on the Tentative List reflects Pakistan’s rich archaeological and cultural diversity and could pave the way for more of the country’s historic landmarks to receive World Heritage status in the future.