PESHAWAR, In a significant move to safeguard Pakistan\u2019s cultural and historical treasures, the Secretary Tourism, Director General of Archaeology and Museums KP, Dr Abdul Samad, and Philip Davies of the UK-based Commonwealth Heritage Forum (CHF) have agreed to collaborate on pursuing UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) status for the Khyber Pass and the Kalash valleys.
\nDuring a meeting held at the Secretary Office in Peshawar, both sides recognized the global importance of these sites \u2013 the legendary Khyber Pass, a historic gateway between South and Central Asia, and the Kalash valleys, home to one of the world\u2019s most unique indigenous cultures.
\nDr. Samad noted that the Khyber Pass qualifies under all seven criteria for UNESCO inscription and called for its urgent inclusion on Pakistan\u2019s tentative list.
\nHe added that the Kalash cultural landscape is also under consideration for nomination through UNESCO channels.<\/p>\n
Philip Davies OBE, one of the UK\u2019s leading heritage experts and Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Heritage, who visited the legendary Khyber Pass reaffirmed the CHF\u2019s commitment to supporting Pakistan\u2019s heritage initiatives.<\/p>\n
Author of 14 books and former Director at English Heritage with nearly five decades of experience in London, the UK and across the Commonwealth, Davies is a global champion for heritage conservation and an authority on the architecture and monuments of the British Empire and Commonwealth.
\nHe emphasized that Khyber Pass and Kalash Valleys represent exceptional examples of shared human history and cultural resilience and deserve to be inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
\nThe proposed collaboration aims to mobilize national and international stakeholders \u2013 including the British Council, World Monuments Fund, and relevant Pakistani departments at both Federal and Provincial levels \u2013 to prepare comprehensive nomination dossiers and build the necessary institutional and public support for the inscription process.
\nIf approved, the initiative would mark Pakistan\u2019s first new World Heritage inscriptions since many decades.
\nDescribing the Khyber Pass, Philip Davies termed it \u201cthe most important and historic mountain pass in the world \u2013 its romance timeless and legendary.\u201d
\nHe said the Khyber Steam Railway deserved to be revived as a world-class attraction, noting that November 2025 would mark its centenary.
\n\u201cGlobal support will come for its revival,\u201d he added, suggesting that the first phase could operate between Jamrud and Shagai stations.
\nMr. Davies also announced plans to bring international railway enthusiasts, engineers, and experts to Pakistan to offer their technical advice on restoring the vintage engines.
\nDuring his visit, he toured several heritage sites including Jamrud Fort, Ali Masjid Fort and its underground WW2 hospital, the Ishpola Stupa, and Michni Post overlooking Afghanistan.
\nHe also visited the historic Khyber Rifles Mess and the nearby British Cemetery in Landi Kotal, before stopping at the beautifully restored Landi Kotal Railway Station \u2013 a highlight of the recently opened Khyber Pass Heritage Trail.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR, In a significant move to safeguard Pakistan\u2019s cultural and historical treasures, the Secretary Tourism, Director General of Archaeology and Museums KP, Dr Abdul Samad, and Philip Davies of the UK-based Commonwealth Heritage Forum (CHF) have agreed to collaborate on pursuing UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) status for the Khyber Pass and the Kalash valleys. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":507418,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-507408","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n