UNESCO Panel at Lahore Literary Festival 2026 Explores Western and Eastern Approaches to Heritage Conservation

The Lahore Literary Festival, established in 2013, has become a major annual cultural event in South Asia, bringing together writers, intellectuals, artists, policymakers, and international institutions. Through its partnership with LLF, UNESCO seeks to strengthen public dialogue around cultural heritage, intellectual exchange, and the role of culture in sustainable development.

The 2026 panel has explored the dialogue between Western and Eastern approaches to the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. While international frameworks such as the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, have established shared principles and technical standards, their implementation often intersects with local philosophies, living traditions, and socio-cultural realities, particularly in South Asia and other regions of the Global South.

Dr. Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO from 2009 to 2017, has reflected on how the World Heritage Convention has evolved in response to cultural diversity and global challenges. As she has often emphasized, "Culture is who we are. It shapes our identity and provides the foundation for dialogue and peace." Her intervention has revisited the role of heritage in times of political fragmentation and conflict, highlighting how conservation can contribute not only to safeguarding monuments but also to fostering shared narratives and sustainable development.

Professor Francesco Bandarin, former Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and former Assistant Director-General for Culture, has addressed the balance between universal conservation standards and culturally specific interpretations of authenticity and integrity. Drawing on his work on the Historic Urban Landscape approach, he has argued that "Heritage is not only about monuments, but about the living urban and social fabric in which they exist." His recent publication Changing Heritage: How Internal Tensions and External Pressures Are Threatening Our Cultural and Natural Legacy provides a critical lens through which to understand contemporary pressures on both cultural and natural heritage.

From a regional and practice-oriented perspective, Mr. Tausif Khawaja, Chief Executive Officer of Aga Khan Cultural Services Pakistan, has presented conservation initiatives that integrate restoration with socio-economic development and community participation. Architect Usman Sami, President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Pakistan, has examined how global charters and advisory guidance translate into complex local contexts. Architect Kai Weise, Former President of ICOMOS Nepal, has shared lessons from post-2015 earthquake reconstruction in Nepal, particularly concerning authenticity, reconstruction, and resilience-based conservation. The panel has been moderated by Dr. Cristina Menegazzi, UNESCO International Expert-Culture and Heritage.