TİKA Supports Preservation of Manuscripts in Pakistan

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), in collaboration with the Manuscript Institution of Türkiye and the Directorate of State Archives, provided training to a total of 8 experts from 5 different institutions who are studying in the field of manuscripts in the cities of Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan.

Within the scope of the “Preservation of Manuscripts in Pakistan Program” commenced by TİKA in 2024, the “Technical Training on Preventive Protection Measures in Preservation of Manuscripts” was provided to a total of 8 Pakistani experts from 5 different institutions who are studying in the field of manuscripts in Istanbul, Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. The training program was organized in collaboration with the Directorate of Manuscript Institution of Türkiye and the Directorate of State Archives.

Within the training program organized by the Department of Manuscript Conservation and Archives of the Directorate of Manuscript Institution of Türkiye, practical trainings such as preservation, maintenance and restoration practices of manuscripts; pest control in warehouses; appropriate conditions for storing manuscripts; dry cleaning practises; documentation activities and protective box making were held.

Practical training sessions on the classification of manuscript documents, techniques for maintaining and repairing damaged documents, the digitization and storage of restored documents were given to Pakistani experts at the Directorate of State Archives’ campus in Kağıthane, Istanbul.

The 7-day training program aimed to provide Pakistani experts with comprehensive knowledge and experience in the latest applications meeting international ethical standards which are applied by Türkiye in the preservation of manuscripts.

Experts from the University of Punjab in Lahore, the National Museum of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, Karachi National Museum of Pakistan and the National Archives in Karachi attended the training program. In the period following the training program, it is planned to implement follow-up projects such as practical training programs in Pakistan on manuscript preservation and providing essential equipment support.