Italy has returned a collection of ancient relics more than 5,000 years old to Pakistan, marking a major step in efforts to protect the South Asian nation’s cultural heritage. Experts say Pakistan must do more to prevent such thefts.
The latest repatriation is “a significant treasure trove of stolen or smuggled antique artefacts returned to Pakistan by Italy under the 1970 UNESCO Convention,” art and antiquities law expert Osama Malik told the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) on Tuesday.
“Earlier this year, France, the U.S., and the U.K. also repatriated hundreds of artefacts back to Pakistan,” Malik said. “While these attempts to bring back stolen artefacts are laudable, Pakistani authorities must do more to ensure they are not smuggled out of the country in the first place.”
The artifacts, which were recovered from archaeological sites in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, originated from the ancient towns of Kuli and Naal - settlements that predate the Indus Valley Civilization and date back to the early Bronze Age.
Italian authorities had seized the items after they were stolen and smuggled out of Pakistan. Seven other artifacts recovered earlier this year were returned to Pakistan’s Consulate General in Milan in April.
The Pakistani Embassy in Rome said the relics arrived safely in Pakistan on Oct. 30 following an international investigation into the illicit trade of antiquities.
“The recovery of stolen and smuggled artefacts is an outstanding example of excellent cooperation between two friendly states, both being homes to ancient civilizations and UNESCO sites,” the embassy said in a statement.
Officials said the returned items will be displayed in museums across Pakistan to help educate future generations about the country’s early history.
Over the past 18 years, Pakistan has worked with several countries to recover nearly 100 stolen historical relics.
