Cube EduTour

10/02/2025

09/02/2025

04/02/2025

04/02/2025

02/02/2025

13/01/2025

06/01/2025

Bridging the Past and Future: AI Meets Pakistan’s Cultural Heritage

In 2025, we’re opening a new chapter for Pakistan’s cultural heritage. At Indus River Valley Institute, we’ve spent 12 years preserving Pakistan’s architectural and cultural gems, working with over 50 heritage sites. Our focus has always been on safeguarding architecture, folk music, textiles, indigenous crafts, and local traditions. Now, we’re embracing AI and to ensure these treasures are presepartners, collaborators, organizations, volunteers, and experts to help us bring this vision to life, including:
• AI-Powered Virtual Heritage Tours: Partnering with Arts & Culture, Microsoft AI, or IBM Watson to create immersive virtual experiences that bring Pakistan’s heritage to global audiences.
• Predictive with AI:
Collaborating with UNESCO, The British Council, and local universities for AI-driven heritage conservation.
•Community Empowerment:
If you specialize in AI for social good, indigenous crafts, or digital education, we want to work with you to create tools that help local communities share and preserve their legacies.
• Funding Partners: Seeking support from USAID, The World Bank, PTDC, Cultural Survival, or private foundations focused on heritage and hashtag hashtag .
• Educational Collaborations: We’re excited to collaborate with universities in Pakistan and across the Silk Road region, including LUMS, Karachi University, Quaid-i-Azam University, NCA, and more. institutions like Tashkent State Institute, Foreign Studies University, and others offer incredible cross-border collaboration in heritage studies and AI.
Please reach out to explore partnerships, collaborations, or volunteer opportunities. Let’s make 2025 a year of transformative cultural preservation.

02/01/2025

A recap which was easier said than done:

IRVI’s 2024 Recap & Looking Ahead to 2025

As we step into a new year, we reflect on the growth and milestones of IRVI—a project born from over a decade of educational experiences at heritage sites across Pakistan. Our journey began with Cube Edutours, connecting with communities who have stewarded these sites for generations, and over time, evolved into IRVI.

What we’ve accomplished so far, thanks to the support of many passionate contributors, includes:
• A Directory of people working in Pakistan’s cultural and heritage space
• A curated list of 500+ reference books on the region’s history and heritage
• The launch of our newsletter, highlighting individuals and organizations preserving Pakistan’s cultural heritage
• The Manchar Lake project, focused on eco-sensitive tourism for the Mohanna community
• Our internship program fostering new talent in cultural preservation
• Continuing our Edutours, bridging education and heritage preservation
• Speaking at events, sharing insights on Pakistan’s diverse cultural legacy
• Offering advisory to organizations seeking practical ways to achieve social impact through culture
• Articles published on IRVI’s platform, including insights on sustainable tourism
• Two artist residencies supporting creative engagement with heritage (Fall 2022 & Fall 2023)

All these efforts are a small contribution towards fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing, particularly across the countries linked by the ancient Silk Road and Indus River Valley.

Looking ahead to 2025, we aim to build on these foundations by:
• Strengthening partnerships and collaborations with more communities and organizations
• Expanding artisan involvement in preserving local crafts and knowledge

We’re particularly excited about collaborating with organizations in the following sectors:
• Cultural heritage preservation (NGOs, local foundations, government agencies)
• Sustainable tourism and eco-friendly initiatives
• Educational institutions working on cultural studies, history, and sustainability
• Creative industries (artists, curators, architects, designers)
• Social impact organizations focused on rural development and community empowerment
• Regional collaborations with institutions in countries along the Indus River, Silk Road, and Central Asia

None of this would be possible without the incredible individuals and communities who have supported us. IRVI’s mission remains grounded in humility and the belief that true change comes from collective action.

We look forward to what we can achieve together in 2025!

08/12/2024

“Pedigree matters.” – Iftikhar Arif (poet)

As I stand before the great bath at Mohenjodaro, one of the most awe-inspiring remnants of ancient urban planning in the Indus Valley Civilization, I am reminded of the immense legacy we inherit from this land. The India River Valley is home to one of the world’s earliest and most sophisticated urban designs remarkably ahead of its time. This is our pedigree.

Today, we need to consider how we can continue this legacy—not just in architecture and urban development, but in our cultural identity. Just as the great civilizations of the past built cities of ingenuity and purpose, we too must craft a “pedagogical pedigree” that honors and nurtures our roots. By deepening our understanding of this history, we empower future generations to shape a vibrant, sustainable, and culturally rich Pakistan.

Let’s build our future with a clear vision rooted in the wisdom of our past.

Ph: Sheikh Javed, Mohenjodaro

03/12/2024

The Indus River, also called the Sindhu River, begins in the Tibetan Plateau near Lake Mansarovar. It flows through Ladakh in India and enters Pakistan through Gilgit-Baltistan. From there, it passes through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh provinces, covering a total length of about 3,180 kilometers.

This river is the lifeline of Pakistan, supporting its agriculture and economy. It irrigates vast lands, especially in Punjab and Sindh, making Pakistan’s soil fertile and ensuring food security. The river completes its journey in Sindh, where it meets the Arabian Sea at Kharo Chan near Keti Bandar in Thatta.

The Sindhu River is truly Pakistan’s "shehrug" (lifeline), as it sustains millions of lives and shapes the nation’s agricultural strength.