UNESCO said the Kalasha Cultural Landscape represents a well-preserved and continuously inhabited high-mountain cultural environment.
The landscape includes the Bumburet, Rumbur and Birir Valleys in the Hindu Kush range.
UNESCO said the valleys’ remote location and rugged mountain terrain have helped preserve the distinct cultural identity of the Kalasha people.
The agency described the site as a living cultural system shaped by the Kalasha community, traditional beliefs, settlement patterns and natural environment.
UNESCO said daily life, rituals, agriculture and community governance in the valleys continue to follow long-established traditions.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi called the listing a “proud moment” for Pakistan in a statement on X.
Kundi said the inclusion marked a major milestone in the recognition of Pakistan’s cultural heritage globally.
Read: KP Introduces Kalash Marriage Bill 2026 in Assembly
Dr Abdul Samad, Director General of Archaeology and Museums, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said the recognition reflected the region’s cultural legacy and scenic beauty.
He said the milestone followed efforts by the Directorate General of Archaeology and Museums, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, UNESCO, the federal archaeology department and other stakeholders.
