ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Pakistan has received seven ancient artefacts recovered by Italian authorities, marking another milestone in cultural cooperation and heritage protection between Pakistan and Italy.
According to the Pakistani Embassy, the antiquities were recovered by Italy’s Guardia di Finanza and formally handed over to Pakistan’s Consulate General in Milan in April before being transported to Islamabad after the completion of all legal and administrative procedures.
The embassy said the latest repatriation follows the return of 90 artefacts from Italy in October 2025, which had been seized in 2007 by Italy’s Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage as part of efforts to combat the illegal trafficking of cultural property.
Officials noted that Pakistan and Italy enjoy a long-standing partnership in archaeology and the preservation of cultural heritage. The two countries continue to collaborate in archaeological research, professional training, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at protecting historical sites and artefacts.
The statement also highlighted Italy’s contributions to archaeological studies in Pakistan, particularly through the Italian Archaeological Mission in Swat, established in 1955 by renowned scholar Giuseppe Tucci. Pakistan awarded Tucci the Hilal-i-Imtiaz in 1959 in recognition of his services.
The embassy further noted that Italian archaeologists Luca Maria Olivieri and Valeria Piacentini were honoured by Pakistan with the Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 2016 and the Tamgha-i-Pakistan in 2025, respectively, reflecting decades of academic cooperation between the two nations.
Emphasising Pakistan’s rich historical legacy, the embassy pointed to ancient civilisations and archaeological treasures across the country, including Mehrgarh in Balochistan, the Indus Valley Civilisation sites of Mohenjo Daro and Harappa, and the Gandhara Buddhist heritage of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The statement also highlighted Punjab’s historic centres, including Multan and Lahore, which remain key symbols of the region’s cultural and historical heritage.
Pakistan expressed gratitude to Italy’s Guardia di Finanza, Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, and the Ministry of Culture’s Office of Export Licensing for their role in recovering, documenting, and returning the artefacts.