Salman Beg.

AKDN

Why should Pakistan, which has many competing needs, restore cultural heritage?

Simply put, the benefits and impact of restoring and bringing cultural heritage sites into active re-use far outweighs the costs incurred in conserving them. I would like to reference the Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s (AKTC) work on the forts of Baltit, Shigar, Altit and Khaplu Palace, which were conserved at a cost of around US$ 7 million. In 2019 (prior to COVID-19), these generated US$ 1.5 million in revenues (annually) with US$ 300,000 as surplus for re-investment into the local neighbourhoods. Over 150 direct jobs and much more indirect employment are the results. In addition, the returns on investment in terms of pluralism, identity, self-confidence, appreciation for culture and well-being are beyond measure.

AKTC’s experience makes absolutely clear that investments in cultural heritage repay themselves many times over. The real question, therefore, is not whether Pakistan needs to give priority to cultural heritage development but how it can develop the capacity to be able to carry out more such work across the length and breadth of Pakistan. As His Highness the Aga Khan has said, we need “to leverage the unique transformative power of culture to improve the socio-economic conditions prevailing in many Muslim populations – communities that often have a rich cultural heritage but that live in poverty.”