Dr. Qazi Ataullah, Senior Director (Research & Publications), represented the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy (KPJA) at the International Conference and Specialized Training Workshop on Combating Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property, organized by the Archaeology Department, Government of Sindh, in collaboration with UNESCO.
The three-day event brought together archaeologists, museum curators, legal experts, judges, researchers, and law enforcement officials from across Pakistan and abroad. The program aimed to strengthen cooperation against the illicit trade of cultural heritage and to build capacity among stakeholders to protect and preserve archaeological assets.
The International Conference focused on key themes including global trends in illicit trafficking, the use of international legal instruments such as the 1970 UNESCO and 1995 UNIDROIT Conventions, application of digital technologies for heritage protection, and the ethical responsibilities of art markets and museums.
The subsequent Training Workshop provided practical sessions for archaeologists, customs officers, FIA and ASF officials, and judiciary representatives. Participants received hands-on training in artifact identification and documentation, crime scene management at archaeological sites, and provenance research to trace ownership histories.
During the deliberations, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Antiquities Act, 2016 was appreciated as the most effective provincial legislation on cultural heritage protection. Participants recommended that other provinces adopt similar frameworks and emphasized the need for judicial academies, in collaboration with UNESCO, to organize specialized trainings for judicial officers and civil society members on the protection of cultural property.
The event concluded with strong recommendations for establishing a provincial heritage protection task force, implementing standardized digital inventories, enhancing community-based site protection, and ensuring continuous professional development for professionals engaged in heritage preservation.
Dr. Qazi Ataullah commended the organizers for the meaningful engagement and reaffirmed KPJA’s commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen the legal and institutional framework for protecting Pakistan’s cultural heritage.