ON 6 August 2026 Pakistan launched “Naqoosh-e-Watan”, the nation’s first-ever National Cultural Narrative, in a bid to preserve the country’s rich cultural heritage and promote national unity. The event was organized by the National Heritage and Culture Division through the Centre of Excellence for National Cohesion & Outreach, Lok Virsa, Islamabad. The author of this piece was one of the guests of the event. He was dazzled to watch vibrant cultural performance at the stage. The event truly reflected the cultural and civilizational potentials of Pakistan. The first objective of the Naqoosh-e-Watan National Cultural Narrative is very instructive arguing “Strengthen Pakistan’s national identity by fostering ownership and appreciation of its diverse and ancient cultural heritage, while promoting national unity and integrated multiculturalism.”
Luckily, Pakistan is blessed with ancient cultural heritage and multiculturalism. The above-mentioned areas would promote cultural economy, civilizational potentials embarking on to soft power projection, job opportunities and countering violent extremism through culture. Mortimer Wheeler in his classical book entitled “Five Thousand Years of Pakistan” articulates that the Gandhara Civilization and Indus Civilization are the genuine pride of Pakistan. The questions remain: Why has Pakistan despite being an epicentre of civilizations not fully utilized its genuine pride? What modus operandi could be implemented to get maximum dividends from the country’s civilizational potential? It is important to align Naqoosh-e-Watan with the civilizational debate.
Interestingly, Pakistan in South Asia is focal point of the two ancient civilizations like Gandhara Civilization and the Indus Civilization. The Gandhara Civilization is the birthplace of the Buddhist religion and has a great deal of importance for 29 countries of the world where the Buddhist religion is practiced. Meanwhile, China uses Buddhist diplomacy in Southeast Asian countries, promoting its soft power, gaining political and diplomatic dividends. Pakistan, being a birthplace of Gandhara Civilization, can follow China’s trajectory to advocate religious harmony and soft power.
China possesses 245 million Buddhist population. They could be mobilized to visit the Gandhara Civilization sites represents the living religion. Pakistan is a great source to be connected with 29 countries of the world where Buddhism is practiced. Buddhism is a local religion in China including in other Buddhist countries like Thailand, South Korea, Myanmar and Sri Lanka having Buddhist identities. Pakistan has an Islamic identity; similarly, the Buddhist states have a Buddhist identity which exists in Pakistan. China has the world’s largest outbound tourism industry encompassing 155 million outbound tourists. Beyond Chinese Buddhists, Pakistan may also capitalize on the massive outbound industry of China to visit scintillating Northern Areas of Pakistan including the Gandhara Civilization. It is pertinent to mention that integrating Gandhara tourism as a part of national diplomacy by involving nations housing Gandharan heritage like China, Japan, India, Thailand and South Korea is also essential for increasing sponsorships and gaining diplomatic successes.
Meanwhile, fostering Indus Civilization is equally important. Against this backdrop, Sir John Hubert Marshall states “There is nothing that we know of in pre-historic Egypt or Mesopotamia or anywhere else in Western Asia to compare with the well-built baths and commodious houses of the citizens of Mohenjo-Daro.” The Indus River remained an ecological foundation of the Indus Civilization, provided water and fertile land for agriculture resulting in permanent settlements and urban development. Agriculture sector is lifeline of Pakistan’s economy contributing nearly 21 to national GDP and 43 percent job creations. The sector, by and large, depends on Indus River. The economy of the country has deep roots in the Indus River. The Indus Civilization too depended on Indus River. In contemporary international politics civilizational debate is gaining currency. China initiated Global Civilization Initiative GCI showcasing to the world that civilizational heritage could contribute to contemporary development and dialogue. Indus Civilization and Gandhara Civilization, thus, represent Pakistan’s historical heritage to contribute diversity of world civilizations.
Last week Pakistan expended its UNESCO World Heritage tentative sites from 25 to 37 inclusion of 12 cultural and heritage properties. The UNESCO has listed the Mehrgarh site in its tentative heritage list. However, the site has not been declared as a World Heritage Site. The Mehrgarh is an ancient archaeological site situated near the Bolan Pass, Balochistan. Imran Shabir, an archaeologist affiliated with University of Balochistan, Quetta says “Before adding Mehrgarh site in the list of World Heritage Site, it is important to expedite work on conservation and preservation of the site”. Islamabad needs to proactively present the Mehrgarh case to UNESCO to declare it as a permanent World Heritage Site on UNESCO’s list.
Imran Shabir further states “One of the major contributions Mehrgarh has provided to the world is to be one of the earliest evidences of an incipient farming economy in South Asia, in a region whose geographical location is of a high significance.” While, professor Jahanzaib Rind states “There would have been no Indus Valley civilization if there was no Mehrgarh culture.” Arguably, the projection of Mehrgarh is likely to reduce extremism tendencies in Balochistan.
It can present an alternative identity narrative. The province, currently is primarily seen as a landscape of conflict. Mehrgarh could provide the historical centre of human settlement craftsmanship, trade, agriculture and cultural interaction. The properly developed Mehrgarh archaeological museum would generate cultural economy. The scientific research regarding Mehrgarh protective walls and fencing including backfilling of excavated areas will wins hearts and minds of the local people.
In short, “Naqoosh-e-Watan”, the nation’s first-ever National Cultural Narrative, would contribute to project Pakistan’s civilizational potential, cultural economy, diverse history, arts, poetry, crafts, indigenous languages, dance, literature, cuisine, religious practices and scientific discoveries resulting in bolstering economy and social cohesion, elevating Pakistan’s position on the global stage.
—The writer is an expert on Balochistan and regional politics.
