Federal Minister for National Heritage & Culture delivered keynote statement at special event titled ‘Culture-Climate Nexus: The Missing Link’, on margins of his participation at International Centre for Study of Preservation & Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) here in Rome.

Hon’ble Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi highlighted Pakistan’s rich heritage from ancient urban settlements of Mohenjo-Daro & Harappa to Buddhist sites of Taxila and Takht-i-Bahi, Mughal landmarks like Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens & living indigenous cultures—as standing on frontline of climate crisis.

The Minister underlined the impact of 2022 floods damaging over 750 registered heritage sites, including UNESCO World Heritage Property of Mohenjo-Daro. He underlined ‘glacial lake outburst’ endangering rock carvings along Karakoram Highway and petroglyphs in the Diamer-Bhasha region as well as coastal erosion and sea-level rise impacting Banbhore and Makli Necropolis.

Calling for global solidarity, the Hon’ble Minister solicited recognition of cultural heritage as a strategic asset in climate adaptation & mitigation within Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and proposed dedicated funding window under ‘Loss & Damage Fund’ for climate-impacted cultural heritage.

The Minister also proposed creation of ICCROM-led global knowledge platform involving scientists, heritage experts, indigenous communities and youth for co-producing resilient solutions and integrate culture-based indicators into UNFCCC Global Stocktake to measure cultural losses alongside warming degrees.

The Minister is leading Pakistan’s delegation to ongoing ICCROM General Assembly Session from December 10-12, 2025.

Pakistan Embassy Rome,

December 11, 2025.