Climate change has unlikely victim in Pakistan: ancient Mohenjo Daro ruins

In this photograph taken on February 9, 2017, visitors walk through the UNESCO World Heritage archeological site of Mohenjo Daro some 425 kms north of the Pakistani city of Karachi. (AFP/file)
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Updated 13 June 2024
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Climate change has unlikely victim in Pakistan: ancient Mohenjo Daro ruins

  • Archaeologists say heritage site under threat in Mohenjo Daro where temperatures rose as high as 52.2 C in May
  • The 2022 rains and floods also “severely damaged” the ruins, according to government and UNESCO officials 

LARKANA: As temperatures rose above 52.5 degrees Celsius (126 degrees Fahrenheit) in Pakistan’s southern province of Sindh amid a heat wave last month, a UNESCO world heritage site dating back to 2,500BC also felt the heat.

Archaeologists say ancient ruins are under threat in Mohenjo Daro, a town in Sindh that was once a major center of the Indus Valley Civilization, and where temperatures rose as high as 52.5 C (126 F) in May, the highest reading of the summer so far and approaching the town’s and country’s record highs of 53.5 C (128.3 F) and 54 C (129.2 F) respectively.

“Due to the prevailing heat wave, the ruins of Mohenjo Daro bricks are gradually melting,” Ali Hyder, an archaeological engineer with the Sindh Culture, Tourism & Antiquities Department who is posted in Mohenjo Daro, told Arab News.

“The temperature has been consistently rising to 50-51 degrees Celsius, which is unprecedented … This phenomenon is very dangerous for archaeological ruins in terms of salt crystallization and precipitation that may cause very severe damage to the archaeological ruins.”

Hyder said salt crystallization and precipitation resulting from unusually high temperatures were contracting the unbaked bricks used to build the ancient structures and could lead them to crumble. 

“You can see this wall is leaning and the main factor behind the leaning of the wall is extreme weather,” Hyder said as he pointed to a second century stupa built using sun-dried bricks and which had been propped up with metal rods. 

“It was also affected by extreme weather. We have provided it with a layer of sun-dried bricks to protect it from heat and rain … Due to rise in temperature, the evaporation and humidity available in the bricks, dehydration process starts, and the rate of deterioration rapidly increases. That is why we [have] provided support ensuring [protection] from further collapse … So that’s a very dangerous situation for Mohenjo Daro.”

Mohenjo Daro, the largest settlement of the Indus Valley civilization, is situated on the banks of the Indus River in Pakistan’s Larkana district, covering over 620 acres of land.

At its peak, the settlement rivaled contemporaneous cities in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, with a peak population of 40,000 before the site was abandoned in around 1,900 BCE. 

The city was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1980.

But human-driven climate change is now threatening its existence, Hyder said.

“In summer the salt available in the ruins contracts and in winter it expands in volume,” he said. “In the end come the [monsoon] rains that wash away different parts of the structural ruins.”

Pakistan ranks among the countries most vulnerable to climate change and has seen untimely downpours, deadly floods, heatwaves and droughts in recent years. A deadly heat wave that hit Pakistan’s largest city of Karachi, the capital of Sindh, claimed 120 lives in 2015.

In 2022, torrential monsoon rains triggered the most devastating floods in Pakistan’s history, killing around 1,700 people and affecting over 33 million. Millions of homes, tens of thousands of schools and thousands of kilometers of roads and railways are yet to be rebuilt.

“SEVERELY DAMAGED”

After the May heat wave, Pakistan witnessed another one in the first week of June and is expected to see a third in the last week of the month, according to Met officials. 

But heat is not the only threat to Mohenjo Daro, said Abdul Fatah Shaikh, the director general of the Archaeology and Antiquities Department in Sindh, explaining the damage to the ancient ruins from the 2022 rains and subsequent floods. 

“Mohenjo Daro is facing severe threats from extreme weather conditions, particularly rains and heat waves, which have impacted the upper artificial layer of mud slurry covering the original structure,” he told Arab News, saying the structures were so far “safe.”

“But it is still at risk, with a 10 percent impact already from extreme weather,” he added. “To provide extra protection, the upper artificial layer of mud slurry has been increased from 1 inch to 2.25 inches, in accordance with UNESCO guidelines.”

Given rising temperatures, an additional artificial layer of mud slurry was being considered for application from February next year, Shaikh explained. 

He said the damage from the 2022 rains and floods had been “conserved and preserved to 75 percent completion so far.”

“To combat these threats, the workforce has been increased from 30 laborers working before the 2022 rains arrived to 80 laborers in the post-2022 rains period to accelerate repairs and maintenance,” the official said. “The Mohenjo Daro site is vulnerable to brick decay, color change, and artificial layer decay due to the heat waves, making prompt action necessary to preserve this ancient archaeological site.”

Jawad Aziz, National Professional Officer (Culture) at UNESCO Islamabad, said Mohenjo Daro had been “severely damaged” during the 2022 monsoon season, including structural destruction like the collapse of walls and the development of cavities and holes in structures due to the loss of mud and bricks.

Heavy rainfall had also affected the drainage system, causing water to accumulate inside the ruins and leading to more damage to the structure.

“In response to the emergency situation, Aziz said, UNESCO mobilized the Emergency Assistance from the World Heritage Fund for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, established in 1977 under Article 15 of the World Heritage Convention.”

“UNESCO also mobilized international experts, who worked with the local team of Directorate of Antiquities and Archaeology, Sindh, and undertook the impact assessment, trained the local staff in disaster risk reduction and conservation techniques and undertook the immediate remedial measures as well as restoration work,” the UNESCO officer said.

“The remedial work focused on improving the drainage system, repaired the flooring, improved wall capping and slopes, underpinning, repaired the visitors path, adding shallow drain, restoration of several structures and cleaning the circular drain which was blocked with silt and wild growth at many spots.”


Pakistan launches operation in Kurram district, sets up camps for displaced families

Updated 19 January 2025
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Pakistan launches operation in Kurram district, sets up camps for displaced families

  • Tribal and sectarian clashes since Nov. 21 have killed at least 136 people in Kurram and caused medicine, food and fuel shortages
  • A senior police official says military will lead the operation in Kurram’s Bagan area, with police providing ‘second-tier support’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces have launched an operation to clear the northwestern Pakistani district of Kurram of militants, a senior police official said on Sunday, following months of unrest in the region.
Kurram, a district of around 600,000 people in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, has been rocked by tribal and sectarian clashes since November 21, when armed men attacked a convoy of Shia passengers, killing 52 people.
The attack sparked further violence and blockade of a main road connecting Kurram’s main town of Parachinar with the provincial capital of Peshawar, causing medicine, food and fuel shortages in the area, as casualties surged to 136.
The operation in Lower Kurram comes after the KP government announced the establishment of camps for temporarily displaced persons (TDPs), following an ambush on a supply convoy that killed 10 people on Thursday.
“The operation has commenced in Lower Kurram’s Bagan area and the sanitization process to clear the area is underway,” Abbas Majeed Marwat, the Kohat regional police officer (RPO), told Arab News.
“The military will lead the operation, with the police providing second-tier support through the Elite Force, regular police, and other security forces.”
Asked about the scale of the operation, Marwat said it was targeted at specific areas where militants were using hideouts to sabotage peace efforts.
“The operation will focus on certain pockets, particularly in Bagan and its adjacent areas,” he said.
Thursday’s ambush targeted a convoy of 33 vehicles set to resupply local traders in the region with rice, flour and cooking oil and two aid vehicles carrying essential medicine. It followed a similar attack on a supply convoy this month that injured five people, including a top administration official in the region.
The violence has continued despite a peace agreement signed between the warring tribes on Jan. 1. Under the peace agreement, both sides had agreed on the demolition of bunkers and the handover of heavy weapons to authorities within two weeks.
RPO Marwat said the operation aimed to target elements “embedded within the local community who were acting as spoilers.” He said authorities had completed arrangements for TDPs, while some families had already left the most affected areas to stay with their relatives elsewhere.
“The commissioner of Kohat and I visited the proposed sites for TDP camps in Hangu to inspect the administrative and security arrangements,” he told Arab News on Sunday.
“As of yesterday, more than 20 families had relocated [from Bagan] and more are leaving because the situation here remains critical.”
Separately on Sunday, the KP government announced action against militants in violence-hit areas of Kurram, following a high-level huddle in Peshawar.
“Action against few miscreants in the affected areas has become unavoidable and a decision has been made to take strict and indiscriminate action against miscreants,” said a statement issued from the office of KP government spokesperson Mohammad Ali Saif.
For the past three months, the statement said, the KP government had been working hard to restore peace and stability in Kurram, and a peace agreement was reached through a grand jirga in line with Pashtun traditions.
“A few miscreants in Kurram have attempted to sabotage the peace agreement,” it said, adding that the militants attempted to assassinate Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud, leaving him seriously injured, and were also targeting security personnel and supply convoys.
The statement said the government feared that the “miscreants” had infiltrated peaceful communities, and to protect peaceful citizens, they would be separated.
“Alternative housing arrangements have been made for the affected population,” it added.
Feuding tribes have battled with machine guns and heavy weapons in Kurram, cutting off the remote and mountainous region bordering Afghanistan from the outside world.
Provincial authorities have been supplying relief goods and transporting ailing and injured people from Kurram to Peshawar via helicopters since late last month.


Pakistan commerce minister arrives in Cambodia to hold bilateral trade talks

Updated 19 January 2025
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Pakistan commerce minister arrives in Cambodia to hold bilateral trade talks

  • The development comes amid Pakistan’s push to revive its $350 billion economy since avoiding a default in June 2023
  • Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan will attend the inaugural Joint Trade Committee and Ministerial Meeting in Phnom Penh

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan on Sunday arrived in Cambodia on a three-day official visit to hold bilateral trade talks, his ministry said, amid Pakistan’s push for trade and investment.
The commerce minister will participate in the inaugural Joint Trade Committee and Ministerial Meeting in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, according to the Pakistani commerce ministry.
Upon arrival, Khan was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Cambodia Zaheer Uddin Baber Thaheem and Tith Rithipol, undersecretary of state from the Cambodian ministry of commerce.
“The visit aims to strengthen bilateral trade ties, explore new economic opportunities, and enhance cooperation between the two nations,” the Pakistani commerce ministry said in a statement.
“The meetings are expected to cover a range of topics, including trade facilitation, investment prospects, and market access.”
The development comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to revive its $350 billion economy since avoiding a default in June 2023. The South Asian country last year secured a new $7 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and has been actively pursuing trade and investment opportunities to put the economy on the path of recovery.
The Pakistani commerce ministry said Khan’s visit marked a “significant step” toward deepening economic engagement between Pakistan and Cambodia.
“Further discussions and agreements are anticipated during the visit,” it added.


Minister calls for strict measures to curb carbon emissions to deal with Pakistan smog crisis

Updated 19 January 2025
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Minister calls for strict measures to curb carbon emissions to deal with Pakistan smog crisis

  • Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province experiences smog each year, with the provincial capital of Lahore ranking second among world’s most polluted cities on Sunday
  • Officials say smog is a byproduct of large numbers of vehicles, construction and industrial work as well as burning of crop residue at the start of winter season

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Sunday called for the enforcement of stringent policy measures to mitigate heat-trapping carbon emissions from vehicles in order to tackle the issue of smog, Pakistani state media reported.
Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province experiences dense smog each year, with the provincial capital of Lahore ranking second among the world’s most polluted cities on Sunday, according to Swiss air monitor IQAir.
Late last year, the province closed down schools and offices, banned outdoor activities and shortened timings for restaurants, shops and markets in a bid to contain the crisis.
The dangerous smog is a byproduct of large numbers of vehicles, construction and industrial work as well as burning of crop residue at the start of the winter wheat-planting season.
“Smog has emerged as a serious environmental and public health concern,” Tarar said as reported by Radio Pakistan, stressing the need to ensure conformity with Euro-5 or higher-grade fuels to improve the air quality and mitigate heat-trapping carbon emissions.
The comments came at a meeting of a committee to implement the National Climate Change Policy, aimed at steering Pakistan toward climate resilience and low carbon development.
Officials informed the participants that efforts had already been ramped up to transition the South Asian country to renewable energy sources, with significant investments in solar, wind, and hydropower projects.
“The government’s plan to achieve a 30 percent share of renewables in the energy mix by 2030 is well on track and all-out efforts are being made to promote Electric Vehicles to reduce the environmental impact of transportation,” they were quoted as saying.
Pakistan is among countries deemed most vulnerable to extreme weather caused by climate change, despite contributing less than 1 percent to global carbon emissions, according to officials. 
In 2022, devastating floods, blamed on human-driven climate change, killed more than 1,700 Pakistanis, affected another 33 million and caused the country over $30 billion in economic losses.


Top Bangladeshi commander meets Pakistan Navy officials, discusses regional maritime security

Updated 19 January 2025
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Top Bangladeshi commander meets Pakistan Navy officials, discusses regional maritime security

  • The development comes amid a thaw in relations between both nations since PM Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August
  • The two sides discussed joint military exercises, reciprocal visits and training exchange programs, Pakistan Navy says

ISLAMABAD: Lt. Gen. SM Kamr-ul-Hassan, principal staff officer (PSO) of the Bangladesh armed forces division, on Sunday met senior Pakistan Navy officials and discussed with them regional maritime security cooperation, Pakistan Navy said.
Lt. Gen. Hassan toured Pakistan Navy ships and units during his visit to the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi, according to the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) of Pakistan Navy.
He met Pakistan Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Abdul Munib, Coast Commander Rear Admiral Faisal Amin and Managing Director of Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW) Rear Admiral Salman Ilyas.
“During these engagements, discussions focused on professional matters of mutual interests, including regional maritime security and bilateral defense collaboration,” the DGPR said in a statement.
“Various potential areas of cooperation were highlighted, such as joint military exercises, reciprocal visits, and training exchange programs between the two countries.”
Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war, which saw the part previously referred to as East Pakistan seceding to form the independent nation of Bangladesh.
In the years since, Bangladeshi leaders, particularly former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, chose to maintain close ties with India. Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have warmed up since Hasina’s ouster as a result of a student-led uprising in August, witnessing a marked improvement.
“The visit of Lt. Gen. SM Kamrul Hassan is expected to further strengthen defense ties between the two brotherly nations, enhancing cooperation and solidifying the bonds between the armed forces of Pakistan and Bangladesh,” Pakistan Navy said.
Lt. Gen. Hassan, who is currently on a visit to Pakistan, this week met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir in Rawalpindi, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing. During the meeting, both military commanders stressed the need for an enduring partnership between the two countries to remain “resilient against external influences.”
Earlier in the day, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) said it would send two trade delegations to Bangladesh on Jan. 19-20 to increase bilateral relations and economic collaboration as both countries move to repair strained ties.
“The first delegation of dates comprising 13 exporters will leave for a week-long visit on Jan. 19 while the second delegation of citrus will leave for a business-to-business (B2B) meeting on Jan. 20,” the TDAP said.
The delegations will explore more trade opportunities, promote business partnerships and Pakistan’s export potential in the Bangladeshi market, it added.
The development comes days after the signing of a landmark agreement between Pakistan and Bangladeshi businesspersons to establish a joint business council between the two countries.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is also scheduled to visit Dhaka at the start of February to further consolidate the relations between the two countries.


Pakistan to launch yuan-denominated Panda bonds by June, finance minister says

Updated 19 January 2025
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Pakistan to launch yuan-denominated Panda bonds by June, finance minister says

  • The South Asian country intends to raise approximately $200 million from Chinese investors through Panda bonds
  • Muhammad Aurangzeb says the move is part of a strategy to achieve sustainability in Pakistan’s balance of payments

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said that Pakistan plans to launch yuan-denominated Panda bonds in June to enhance its presence in Chinese capital markets, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday.
The development follows an upgrade in Pakistan’s sovereign rating by all three major credit agencies. The country aims to get into the “single-B” category that would allow it to return to global bond markets to raise funds.
Aurangzeb said the South Asian country intends to raise approximately $200 million from Chinese investors through the issuance of the Panda bonds, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“This step is part of a broader strategy to transition Pakistan’s economy toward export-driven growth, with a focus on achieving sustainability in the country’s balance of payments,” he was quoted as telling Hong Kong’s TVB news channel.
The South Asian country is navigating a challenging economic recovery path and has been buttressed by a $7 billion facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September. The government is optimistic it will meet the terms of the program.
Pakistan is being advised on the issuance of Panda bonds by the China International Capital Corporation, a partially state-owned financial services company, according to the finance minister. However, the latest figure is lower than the $300 million targeted by Pakistan last year.
Aurangzeb extended an invitation to Hong Kong to send delegations to explore trade and financial opportunities in Pakistan, according to the Radio Pakistan report.
“Hong Kong could serve as a strategic hub for joint ventures between Chinese and Pakistani companies,” he said.
To revive its $350 billion economy, Pakistan has been making efforts to position itself as a regional trade and transit hub by leveraging its strategic geopolitical position.
The South Asian country has witnessed a flurry of visits, investment talks and economic activity involving officials from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, China and Central Asian nations in recent months.