Lok Virsa bill gets Senate nod

Committee also reviews broader issues related to heritage protection

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Lok Virsa bill gets Senate nod

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ISLAMABAD:

The Senate Standing Committee on National Heritage and Culture on Thursday approved the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, after detailed deliberations, a meeting chaired by Senator Hidayatullah Khan.

The committee reviewed the proposed amendments, which include replacing the term "Federal Government" with "Prime Minister" in certain provisions of the 2022 ordinance. Officials informed lawmakers that the changes were made in line with directions issued by the Supreme Court. The bill was unanimously approved after brief discussion.

Members, including Senators Bushra Anjum Butt, Rubina Khalid, Syed Waqar Mehdi, and mover of the agenda item Senator Shahadat Awan, also examined matters related to the protection and preservation of national heritage sites and enforcement of relevant laws.

During the session, lawmakers raised concerns over the lack of a formal coordination mechanism between the federal ministry and provincial governments following the 18th Constitutional Amendment. Officials admitted that no structured working arrangement or memorandum of understanding currently exists, prompting calls for a more institutionalised framework.

Senator Bushra Anjum Butt stressed that coordination should be backed by formal rules rather than informal engagements, while Senator Shahadat Awan expressed concern over gaps in heritage protection, lack of comprehensive data on new World Heritage nominations, and limited public outreach efforts.

The committee was informed that proposals for Bhambore and Ranigat had been submitted to UNESCO, but only one nomination can be processed annually. Members noted that sustained nominations could help increase Pakistan's internationally recognised heritage sites.

Officials also briefed the committee on a mobile application developed for heritage information, though lawmakers observed it was not prominently accessible on the ministry's official platforms and should be better integrated for public use.

The minister informed the committee that the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture has one of the lowest budget allocations among federal ministries.

The chairman committee recommended arranging a meeting with the Prime Minister to seek enhanced support for the ministry. The agenda item was subsequently deferred, and the ministry was directed to return with a comprehensive briefing in the next meeting.