A significant number of archaeological artifacts smuggled from Pakistan’s Balochistan province to France have been repatriated to Pakistan after being seized by French customs authorities, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
The Pakistani embassy in Paris received the historically valuable artifacts, which were confiscated under the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. Following a formal procedure, the embassy has now sent the artifacts back to Pakistan.
According to sources, French customs intercepted these artifacts over recent years, which included pottery vessels and other ancient objects suspected to have been illegally removed from archaeological sites in Balochistan.
The move follows earlier repatriations, including a notable handover in 2019 when France returned 450 artifacts, dating back to approximately 4,000 BC, to Pakistan. These had been seized by French authorities a decade prior.
In a related case, a 2006 seizure at Paris airport revealed 17 pottery vessels believed to be over 100 years old. Subsequent expert examination dated the items to between 2,000 and 3,000 BC, likely originating from Balochistan’s ancient ruins. This investigation led to a year-long probe culminating in a raid on the Harris Gallery, uncovering 445 objects with an estimated value of 139 million euros (approximately $157,000).
The Pakistani embassy in Paris maintained close coordination with French authorities throughout the process to ensure the safe return of the cultural heritage items.
Officials in Islamabad have welcomed the repatriation, stressing the importance of protecting Pakistan’s rich archaeological heritage and combating illicit smuggling.
The return of these artifacts not only restores invaluable pieces of Pakistan’s history but also strengthens international cooperation in safeguarding cultural property.
