1.
Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta (Pakistan) (C 143)
Year of inscription on the World Heritage List 1981
Criteria (iii)
Year(s) of inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger N/A
Previous Committee Decisions see page http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/143/documents/
International Assistance
Requests approved: 0
Total amount approved: USD 0
For details, see page http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/143/assistance/
UNESCO Extra-budgetary Funds
N/A
Previous monitoring missions
November-December 2006: Joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS mission.
Factors affecting the property identified in previous reports
a) Significant decay of the property caused by local climatic conditions and alluvial erosion;
b) Stability of the foundations (earth mechanics) of the Jam Nizamuddin tomb;
c) Lack of definition of boundaries of the property and buffer zone of the necropolis;
d) Lack of monitoring.
Illustrative material see page http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/143/
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2009
The property was listed on the 100 Most Endangered Sites of the World Monuments Watch List in 2005
due to significant decay resulting from harsh climatic conditions and topsoil erosion caused by the
shifting riverbed. A joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission was undertaken
to the property in November-December 2006. The mission identified a series of general and specific
recommendations which the World Heritage Committee requested the State Party to implement
(Decision 31 COM 7B.85).
The State Party submitted a state of conservation report to the World Heritage Centre on 27 January
2009. The report details progress on the implementation of the recommendations as follows:
a) Urgently identify the boundaries of the property and buffer zone of the necropolis
The necessary work for defining the boundaries of the property and buffer zone, including topographic
steatite imaging and archaeological work, is awaiting approval from the Government as part of the
overall Master Plan.
b) Adjust the strategy from a one-monument concept to a serial-site strategy (cluster of many individual
tombs) with individual registration and evaluation of each tomb including their historic value, state of
conservation, and an individual treatment plan
No specific information was provided in the State Party report.
c) Work out a monitoring programme in association with the treatment plan
No specific information was provided in the State Party report.
d) Further develop the site management plan
The Department of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM) has prepared a comprehensive Master Plan for
the conservation and preservation of the Makli Hill Monuments at Thatta, which includes immediate-,
medium- and long-term conservation and management plans for the property. The Master Plan is
awaiting approval from the relevant authorities and the State Party indicates that it will be immediately
implemented during the current financial year after it has been approved.
e) Further develop the didactic concept and documentation
Documentation of the structures within the property is ongoing, with the DOAM photographing and
drawing monuments, and reviewing archive material. Once the Master Plan has been approved the
DOAM intends to establish a documentation centre. Signage and interpretive boards have been installed
at each monument for visitors.
f) Further develop capacity building
Capacity building will be facilitated through the documentation centre once this has been approved and
established. The State Party notes its concern about the lack of funding available to carry out
conservation work at the property.
g) As a matter of urgency, carry out soil investigations to determine the stability of the subsoil and the
foundations of the tomb of Jam Nizamuddin
The State Party has recently applied for Emergency Assistance under the World Heritage Fund, to
undertake preservation and stabilization work at Jam Nizamuddin’s tomb. It has resubmitted a revised
application document, which was received by the World Heritage Centre on 11 February 2009 for an
amount of USD 28,200.
h) Prepare a condition report for all other monuments and tombs and establish a prioritized emergency
intervention plan
No specific information was provided in the State Party report.
i) Set up a weather station for data collection for monitoring the property
No specific information was provided in the State Party report.
j) Request a name change of the property to adequately reflect its Outstanding Universal Value
The State Party requested a name change for the property to “Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta”.
This request will be examined by the World Heritage Committee under Item 8 of the Agenda (Document
WHC-09/33.COM/8B).
The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note the ongoing conservation work being
undertaken at the property including the documentation of monuments and tombs, repair work and the
installation of interpretive signs and boards. However, they are concerned about the overall lack of
progress in the development of a) overall monitoring programme, b) management plan, c) condition
report for all monuments and tombs, d) prioritized emergency intervention plan, and e) identification of
the boundaries of the property and its buffer zone.
The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note however that a majority of the proposed
conservation work at the property is dependant on the approval and implementation of the Master Plan.
In the framework of the forthcoming periodic reporting exercise for the Asia Pacific region, the World
Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies will provide assistance to the State Party to formulate a Statement
of Outstanding Universal Value for the property.
Analysis and Conclusions of the World Heritage Centre, ICOMOS and ICCROM
N/A
Decision Adopted: 33 COM 7B.80
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7B.85, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Notes the ongoing conservation work undertaken by the State Party including the documentation of
monuments and tombs, repair work and the installation of interpretive signs and boards;
4. Requests the State Party to provide three printed and electronic copies of the Master Plan, for review
by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
5. Also requests the State Party to continue progress in the implementation of the following:
a) Overall monitoring programme,
b) Management plan,
c) Condition report for all monuments and tombs,
d) Prioritized emergency intervention plan, and
e) Identification of the boundaries of the property and its buffer zone;
6. Further requests the State Party to make progress with the soil investigations and stabilization of the
tomb of Jam Nizamuddin, in the light of comments received from the Advisory Bodies and the World
Heritage Centre;
7. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit a report to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February
2011 on the progress in implementing the recommendations of the 2006 mission, for examination by
the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session in 2011.
Decision Adopted: 33 COM 8B.1
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/8B,
2. Approves the proposed name change to Historical Monuments of Thatta as proposed by the Pakistani
authorities. The name of the property becomes Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta in English and
Monuments historiques à Makli, Thatta in French.