Pakistan has joined a China-led 15-nation international working group to help develop further global technical standards for mural conservation, as the country moves to advance the preservation of its diverse Mughal and Gandharan-era heritage.

The working group, under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage Conservation (ISO/TC 349), was formally established on 26 March 2026. It is led by the Dunhuang Academy, whose director Su Bomin serves as convenor, Gwadar Pro reported on Friday.

The group's work builds on a landmark ISO standard on mural deterioration classification, developed by experts from 11 countries.

That standard establishes a common technical language to categorise forms of damage, ranging from optical and chemical changes to biological degradation, and aims to resolve long-standing inconsistencies in how heritage sites are assessed and documented globally.

The initiative is particularly relevant for Pakistan's ongoing conservation efforts. The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) is currently in the final stages of restoring the Tomb of Anarkali, with fresco conservation expected to be completed as part of the overall project by June 2026.

Pakistan has a vast repertoire of wall art in need of protection: ancient Buddhist paintings in the Gandhara region, Mughal and Sikh-era frescoes, and the extensive tile-mosaic and fresco works at the Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The adoption of these ISO standards is expected to enhance the scientific rigour of local restoration projects, ensuring that cultural assets are maintained according to internationally recognised criteria.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China