A new technology driven heritage exhibit has been launched at TDF MagnifiScience Centre in Karachi, offering visitors an immersive look into the ancient maritime civilisation of the Indus Delta and the environmental threats now placing it at risk. Titled Lost Cities of the Indus Delta, the installation is the outcome of a two year Digital Heritage Trails Project and has been announced as a permanent feature at the science centre.
The exhibition brings five endangered archaeological sites back to life through advanced 3D modelling, interactive displays, virtual reality experiences, and narrative storytelling. Among the highlights is a virtual reality recreation of Lahiri Bandar, once a thriving port city located in today’s Mirpur Sakro Taluka in Thatta, along with hands on digital puzzles and magnetic map activities showcasing historic trade centres such as Banbhore, which once linked South Asia to Arabia. Speaking at the launch, The Dawood Foundation CEO Favad Soomro said the project blends history, science, and learning to reconnect young audiences with Pakistan’s past while promoting responsibility toward heritage preservation. Maritime Research Director and project lead Amer Bazl Khan explained that years of research were translated into accessible experiences for the public, noting that before Karachi emerged as a commercial hub, the Indus Delta was the region’s centre of global maritime trade, with ports that ranked among the largest in the subcontinent during the 11th century.
Beyond digital reconstructions, the initiative also includes high resolution 3D documentation of vulnerable sites and the production of two documentaries titled The Lost Cities of the Indus Delta and Cursed Waters. These films have been translated into several languages, including Pakistan Sign Language in collaboration with Deaf Reach Karachi, ensuring inclusive access to historical and environmental education. British Deputy High Commissioner Lance Domm highlighted the importance of informal learning spaces that combine entertainment with knowledge, particularly for children, while reinforcing the value of technology as a tool for public awareness. Engro Corporation CEO Ahsan Zafar Syed also stressed that long term sustainability efforts must prioritize human development, noting Pakistan’s current low ranking on the global human development index.
The exhibit’s opening aligned with the release of Cursed Waters, which focuses on the rapid environmental decline of the Indus Delta. The documentary reveals that the delta has shrunk dramatically from 13,000 square kilometres in 1833 to just 1,667 square kilometres today, while freshwater flow has fallen from 150 million acre feet a century ago to less than 10 million. Local landowner Gulab Shah described how seawater intrusion has turned once fertile land saline and unfarmable, reversing the natural flow of the river into the sea. As a result, between 500,000 and 600,000 people have been displaced, many migrating to Karachi’s outskirts where traditional community structures, cultural identity, and social stability have steadily eroded. British High Commissioner Jane Marriott pointed to rising sea levels driven by climate change as a direct factor behind the disappearance of delta communities and historic sites, while expressing cautious optimism that collective action can still slow the damage.
Through a blend of immersive technology, scientific research, and storytelling, the Lost Cities of the Indus Delta exhibit positions digital innovation as a powerful medium for cultural preservation, environmental awareness, and public education in Pakistan’s evolving tech and heritage landscape.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
