Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi has said Pakistan is committed to advancing archaeological research, conservation, and education, and looks forward to deepening cooperation with Italy in both scope and dimension.
In a ceremony marking 70 years of the Italian Archaeological Mission in Swat in Rome, Khichi, as a chief guest, highlighted the enduring Pakistan–Italy partnership in archaeology and its vital role in preserving shared cultural heritage while announcing plans to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
The minister, currently leading Pakistan’s delegation to the ICCROM General Assembly, reaffirmed Pakistan’s dedication to safeguarding its rich archaeological legacy through international collaboration, emphasizing ongoing initiatives for enhanced academic exchanges and institutional partnerships, said a news release.
The anniversary celebration honored the Italian Archaeological Mission established by renowned scholar Giuseppe Tucci in 1955, which has conducted technical and academic cooperation at archaeological sites across Pakistan for seven decades, particularly in the Swat Valley.
Organized by Italy’s International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies (ISMEO) with support from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and the University of Venice, the event featured four thematic sessions covering the mission’s history in Pakistan, ongoing collaborations with the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and future projects in archaeobotany, epigraphy, and geoarchaeology.
Discussions focused on landmark archaeological sites including Barikot, Butkara, and Saidu Sharif, showcasing decades of research and conservation efforts.
Professor Luca Maria Olivieri, recipient of the Sitara-e-Imtiaz and a University of Venice archaeology professor with 38 years of fieldwork experience in Pakistan, moderated the ceremony.
The officials from Pakistan’s Embassy in Rome, Italian academics, archaeologists, and cultural institution representatives attended the event, underscoring the strong scholarly and cultural bonds between the two nations.
