KARACHI - The British Council has announced the awardees of the Cultural Protection Fund pilot funding round at an event held at the British Council library in Karachi.
The ceremony was attended by Chair of the British Council Dr Paul Thompson, Deputy Chief Executive of the British Council, Kate Ewart-Biggs, Country Director British Council Pakistan, James Hampson and notable figures from the heritage sector in Pakistan.
From October-December 2023, the Cultural Protection Fund ran an open call for grant applications for a pilot round in Pakistan, with funding available for projects delivered between April 2024 to March 2025. Six projects have been selected through this open call, totalling around £800,000. The pilot funding round received an impressive number of applications and interest building upon previous work done by the British Council in heritage preservation. The Cultural Protection Fund (CPF) is led by the British Council in partnership with the UK Government Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS).
Six projects have been selected through this open call, totalling around £800,000. These include preservation of the Late Buddhist rock heritage of Swat – digitisation and preventive conservation, preserving and promoting the Hazara heritage, The Reading Room, Karachi, Manchar Lake Mohannas – Safeguarding the last surviving houseboat village from extinction, Digital Heritage Trails Project (DHTP) and Community Based Conservation of Silk Route Heritage.
In his remarks, the Chair of the British Council Dr Paul Thompson said: “Protecting cultural heritage and cultural property values our shared past and offers a wider understanding of who we are. Using the shared expertise of Pakistani and UK experts through the Cultural Protection Fund will ensure future generations will be able to explore and appreciate the rich history of this land.”
Beyond financial support, the Cultural Protection Fund emphasises community engagement and seeks to empower local communities by offering training and educational opportunities. This ensures the long-term appreciation and protection of cultural heritage.