The Socio-economic Impact of Neglecting Cultural Heritage Preservation in Pakistan: A Call for Effective Government Policies

Abstract

The neglect of cultural heritage preservation in Pakistan has long-term socio-economic consequences, including an underdeveloped tourism sector, ethnic tensions and inequality, and a decline in the quality of life of many communities. Though the country has a rich and diverse cultural landscape, comprising remains of ancient civilisations and cultural sites of various ethnic and religious groups, outdated and inadequate government policies like the Antiquities Act of 1975 fail to protect these or develop them for the tourist sector. Instead, minority groups like the Kalasha tribe and Afghan refugees face discrimination, while security threats and the lack of development prevent any real growth in tourism. Cultural heritage is strongly interlinked to many other fundamental aspects of the country’s socio-economic landscape, and the interplay between them sheds light upon the need for immediate policy reforms to help preserve the country’s cultural heritage, increase tourism, promote equality, and enhance the quality of life of various groups.