ISLAMABAD/TAXILA: Pakis­tan on Wednesday requested Unesco to facilitate the inclusion of two key heritage sites, Rani Ghat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Port of Banbhore in Sindh, in the Unesco World Heritage List.

The request was made during a meeting between Unesco Representative in Pakistan Fuad Pashayev and Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi. The Unesco World Heritage Centre currently catalogues Pakistan’s Tentative List at 37 properties, including the archaeological site of Rani Ghat and the Port of Banbhore.

The meeting was told that a visit by the World Heritage Committee to Banbhore was expected from September 6 to 11.

The minister also requ­ested the UN body for assistance in the inclusion of four selected Pakistani foods and culinary traditions in the Intangible Cultural Heritage framework. These foods incl­ude Makai Roti and Saag (Punjab), Balochi Sajji, Sin­dhi Biryani, and Chapli Ke­bab (Khyber Pakht­unk­hwa).

Culinary traditions of Makai Roti & Saag, Sajji, Biryani and Chapli Kebab proposed for listing as ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’

Gandhara corners

Separately, Imran Shau­kat, coordinator of the PM’s Task Force on Gandhara, said they planned to expand Gandhara exhibitions overseas and establish dedicated ‘Gandhara Corners’ to showcase Pakistan’s Buddhist heritage.

Mr Shaukat said the task force was considering allocating five to 10 acres around selected Gandhara sites where Buddhist schools and institutions could establish research and meditation centres to facilitate extended visits to individual archaeological sites.

An international Gand­hara conference is scheduled for November, while delegations from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are also expected to visit Pakistan in October and November.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2026