Preserving antiquities

THE decision by Pakistan and Italy to formalise cooperation against antiquities trafficking is a welcome and long overdue step towards safeguarding cultural heritage. Under the proposed framework, the FIA will establish a dedicated liaison with Italy’s Carabinieri for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, which is an elite force that has recovered over 3m stolen artefacts since 1969. For Pakistan, the move signals a shift from reactive enforcement to sustained collaboration. The timing is critical. In 2025 alone, the FIA reported seizures of smuggled artefacts worth over $3.2m, while a major trafficking ring in Taxila was recently dismantled as it attempted to route second-century sculptures to Europe via Dubai. These are not isolated incidents, but symptoms of a steady and persistent loss of our historical legacy. Pakistan sits at the crossroads of civilisations. From Mehrgarh to the Indus Valley to Gandhara, its archaeological wealth is part of humanity’s shared inheritance. Yet organised criminal networks, often linked to narcotics trafficking, continue to exploit weak enforcement, porous borders and economic vulnerability to plunder sites across KP and Punjab.

These pressures are intensifying. Climate-related damage has exposed fragile sites, while poverty pushes local communities towards illicit excavation. At the same time, regional instability has turned Pakistan into a transit corridor for looted antiquities from Afghanistan as well as from within Pakistan itself. International cooperation offers promise. Access to Italy’s Leonardo database, the world’s largest registry of stolen art, alongside joint training and intelligence sharing, can strengthen Pakistan’s investigative capacity and help dismantle transnational networks. But external support, though welcome, cannot substitute for domestic resolve. Stronger border controls and sustained investment in site protection are essential. The legal framework exists, but enforcement must follow. Cultural heritage is a record of identity. Allowing it to be trafficked abroad is our collective failure. This partnership must mark the beginning of a serious national commitment to protecting the past.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2026

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