Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to establish Pakistan’s first conservation laboratory with Italy collaboration

Celina Ali

Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has decided to set up Pakistan’s first conservation laboratory in collaboration with Italy, aimed at preserving archaeological artifacts. The conservation laboratory will be established in five cities across the province.

The Department of Archaeology, KP, and the Italian government have signed multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to protect the province’s archaeological heritage, leading to significant work at several sites.

Italy has now offered its services to help the KP government establish this first-of-its-kind conservation laboratory in Pakistan. In support of this initiative, the Italian government will provide a loan of 4 million euros, approximately 1 billion Pakistani rupees.

Italian experts will offer their professional services for the establishment of the laboratory in KP. According to Director of Archaeology Dr. Abdul Samad, six laboratories are planned—two in Peshawar and one each in Chitral, Swat, Mardan, and Dera Ismail Khan.

Dr. Samad further stated that the project would also include training staff in KP to preserve archaeological sites and prevent smuggling. Italy’s police will introduce the department’s staff to modern techniques for stopping the illegal trafficking of artifacts.

According to sources, the details of the project will be forwarded to the federal government, after which the agreement with Italy will be finalized and the project will commence.