Disaster Management Cultural Monuments and Heritage was held by Endowment Fund Trust in collaboration with the DAWN Relief at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi on Saturday the 29th October, 2022. The conference was convened in response to the heavy rains/floods that occurred in Sindh from 21st June to 30th September, 2022. Serious damage occurred to several heritage sites and monuments in many Districts including Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Dadu, Sanghar, Gothki, Sukkur and Thatta. Substantial damage happened to the Ranikot Fort, Mohen Jo Daro, White Palace, Madam Waro Bungalow and Shahi Mahal.

Eminent architect, author and pioneer Kamal Mumtaz Khan spoke on the occassion and said for the conservation of architectural heritage disasters are not incidental or purely natural. They also happen as a consequence of our decisions. Land grabbing has known to change maps. Changes on the ground take place in the name of development progress. Other prominent scholar archaeologists town planner Mr. Arif Hassan, Dr. Nilofer Shaikh, visual artist and art conservationist, Ms. Sana Durrani, Dr. Nadeem Umar Tarrar Executive Director Central for Culture and Development, Mr. Damon Monzavi from ICOM, Prince Mir Mehdi Raza Talpur, Mr. Amar Bazl Khan Director and Co-founder of Mari Time Archaeology, Dr. Asma Ibrahim Director of Museum and Art Gallery Department State Bank, Barrister Shahab Usto, DIG Hyderabad Pir Muhammad Shah and Chairman and Managing Trustee of EFT also spoke.

Following recommendations were made:

• The establishment of Disaster Management Cell, calls for a collaborative effort by EFT and Government authorities to establish a Disaster Management Cell for heritage monuments as a permanent autonomous body comprising all the stakeholders. The cell must be well equipped with well qualified disaster management policies and take proactive measures to circumvent the aftershocks of disasters on cultural and heritage sites in the region for which the Government should provide patronage and appropriate funding.
• Protectionandstabilizationofexistingmuseumsinfrastructureandcallsfortheincorporation of first-aid rescue mechanisms for the endangered cultural heritage and precious artifacts.
• Establishment of an immediate task force to mitigate and assess the post disaster impacts on the communities and heritage sites.
• There should be a series of dialogues and consultative meetings of multiple stakeholders including various Government Departments to ensure compliance and develop protocols for Disaster risk management, there should be a conference of these stakeholders to discuss the discussion implemented

The experts visited site Makli, Thatta one of the largest necropolises of the world in Thatta on
Sunday 30th October, 2022.