Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta

• Deliberate destruction of heritage
• Earthquake
• Erosion and siltation/ deposition
• Housing
• Illegal activities
• Land conversion
• Management activities
• Management systems/ management plan
• Other climate change impacts
• Solid waste
• Other Threats: Stability of the foundations (earth mechanics) of the Jam Nizamuddin II tomb

Total amount granted: USD 30,000 from the UNESCO Regular Programme Funds for condition survey of Jam Nizzamuddin tomb (2011); USD 33,000 from the UNESCO/Netherlands Funds-in-Trust for the Emergency assessment and immediate response to damages caused by the floods (2012); UNESCO Emergency assistance and immediate response to damages caused by the floods (2012); two phases of the UNESCO/Republic of Korea Funds-in-Trust project ‘World Heritage, Sustainable Development and Community Involvement’ for World Heritage properties in Bangladesh and Pakistan also concern this property (Phase I: 2015-2017 – USD 600,065; Phase II: 2019-2022 – USD 769,741).

On 27 January 2020, and 1 February 2021, the State Party submitted reports on the state of conservation of the property, which are available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/143/documents. These reports provide information on the implementation of particular elements of Committee’s previous decisions, as follows:

• The State Party has further elaborated the draft Management Plan for the property by engaging stakeholders in the process, and a final draft was submitted to the World Heritage Centre in February 2021;
• The Master Plan for the property is progressively being implemented;
• The management authority has reinforced the technical capacity of its staff by involving them in aerial photography, 3-D scanning and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) studies on site. The Site Manager also participated in two sessions of the Site Managers Forum, organized in conjunction with World Heritage Committee sessions;
• Stone conservation and site management are priority areas, and the International Assistance request submitted by the authorities for capability building under the World Heritage Fund for the 2019-2020-2021 cycle is under approval process;
• Prioritized actions were conducted to prevent further damage to important monuments in 2019, in particular in response to heavy rainfall. Eight monuments were investigated for priority stabilization; During the reporting period, a total of 12 monuments were investigated with GPR, and 9 monuments were subject to intervention in 2020;
• The “Study the effects of wind-borne salinity on the monuments and development of feasible mitigation measures to reduce this impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV)” was prepared and submitted with the 2021 update report. Some 250 trees were planted to protect monuments from wind-borne particles in 2020, and an additional 200 are scheduled to be planted in 2021;
• Processes are in place to formalise protocols for stakeholder engagement and community education programmes;
• The Action Plan for the mausoleum of Jam Nizzamuddin is being elaborated, additional crack monitoring and a 3D photogrammetric study were undertaken, the required budget was allocated, and a GPR study completed to detect possible buried masses and identify non-intrusive points within and outside the structure for future conservation interventions;
• The documentation system for detached architectural elements is ongoing, using a simple format, and suitable storage space has been identified;
• A monitoring system is being used to record data from monument monitoring devices;
• The boundary wall was completed in 2020 and has permanently prevented vehicular and animal access at the western and northern boundary, rendering encroachment on the site very difficult. Buffer zone regulations are still under elaboration;
• The visitor management framework remains in preparation, while new information boards and additional sanitary facilities have been installed;
• An emergency preparedness strategy is underway.

The World Heritage Centre and the State Party also exchanged letters relating to the reported non-professional restauration of the Tomb of Isa Khan Tarkhan-II in February 2021.

The State Party has responded to previous decisions of the Committee and to the recommendations of the 2019 Reactive Monitoring mission. A final draft of the Management Plan was submitted and technical interventions and preventive measures on several important monuments within the property have been implemented and visitor facilities added. However, the Action Plan for the mausoleum of Jam Nizzamuddin has been not yet submitted for review. Reported investigations into the impacts of wind-borne salinity, the coordination of conservation activities according to clear standards, and efforts to involve staff in technical interventions are welcome. A request for International Assistance under the World Heritage Fund for the 2019-2020-2021 cycles is under approval process. 

The State Party has addressed the need for stronger governance, previous.ly raised by the Committee and the 2019 mission, and proposes to implement the relevant recommendations at the level of policy tools. These include the creation and running of a Steering Committee with the necessary decision-making power and jurisdiction, a clear risk preparedness strategy and an overall visitor management framework. A request for a minor boundary modification, which should reflect the boundaries identified in 2013 and be in line with the regulatory plan for the proposed buffer zone and Paragraphs 163-164 and Annex 11 of the Operational Guidelines, is yet to be submitted to the World Heritage Centre.

The efforts and concerns of the State Party regarding the effectiveness of monitoring for such a large number of monuments, some of which are in a precarious state of conservation, are noted, and it is recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party to pursue its efforts towards systematic monitoring and the implementation of a protocol for strategic prioritization. The effectiveness of the coordination mechanism for external cooperation should be demonstrated.

Concerning the reports from civil society expressing concern about flooring and waterproofing works undertaken at the Tomb of Isa Khan Tarkhan-II, photographic evidence provided by the State Party indicates that some large areas of new paving have been installed, but the basis for the extent of new fabric, the reason for using different sized pavers and the functionality of the new works are not clear.

The management of architectural elements detached from the original structures has been addressed by improving the inventory format and establishing storage areas for displaced elements and the remaining architectural surface decoration. The inventory format included in the report could be further refined to include additional information. Continued efforts could be engaged to ensure in situ conservation of large objects or their return to their original locations, following the comprehensive studies to which the State Party has committed.

The State Party’s efforts towards the development of a Management Plan, requested by the Committee since 2009, are acknowledged, although it is recognised that the current draft has incomplete sections and appears to be particularly focused on work completed to date, rather than setting out a viable future pathway supported by effective funding and resources. It is not clear whether there has been meaningful input from local personnel and close consultation with the large community of stakeholders so as to create joint commitment towards its implementation. While a thorough evaluation of the draft will be provided following a technical review by ICOMOS, the final Management Plan should include high-level principles and guidelines, action plans for individual monuments and projects, address the recommendations of the 2019 Reactive Monitoring mission, and incorporate other management documents currently under preparation, including the visitor management framework, a risk preparedness strategy and emergency response plan, policies and systems for monitoring and conservation, and the identification and appropriate conservation of detached elements. The Management Plan should also clearly articulate the operational relationship with the Master Plan and integration of all staff in the management process.