Expansion of natural history museum hits snag

Paucity of funds, lack of attention from authorities cited as reasons behind delays in constructing six blocks

ISLAMABAD: Even though a project concept-I (PC-I) to expand Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH) has been prepared, the government has failed to approve it, putting some 1.5 million conservational specimens of rich natural resources at stake

The PMNH was supposed to get six additional blocks to securely house all artefacts and specimens. The museum had even submitted a revised PC-I worth Rs1.36 billion for the construction of the remaining blocks to the Ministry of Science and Technology two weeks ago.

Apart from enhancing storage space, the blocks would have increased the display space in the museum which could benefit thousands of students, a PMNH official said while talking to the media.

The science and technology ministry was supposed to forward the PC-I the Planning Commission for review and onwards presentation to the central development working party (CDWP) and then the executive committee of the national economic council (ECNEC) for approval.

However, the matter is still pending with the authorities.

The PMNH official said that since the establishment of the museum in 1976, only two of stipulated eight blocks have been built while work on the remaining six blocks never started.

The paucity of funds and scant attention by the government contributed to the needs of the museum being ignored.

While a feasibility report had been prepared by the relevant steering committee by hiring consultants while keeping international trends and standards in view, the project was never executed.

The official hoped that the revised PC-I for building the remaining blocks of the museum will be approved this time and the pending project will finally be completed nearly 50 years on.

Over 1.5 million conserved specimens of rich natural resources are at stake due to non-construction of the remaining blocks of the museum. PMNH officials said that they have accommodated as many natural resources and historical specimens by utilising even small spaces in the corridors and small rooms of the existing two blocks of the museum.

This museum, being the only one of its kind, is a source of education for thousands of students and researchers who visit it daily and are provided with a comfortable environment and maximum facilitation to conduct studies on different species, the official said.

The museum includes a gemstone gallery, biodiversity gallery, Birds of Pakistan gallery, dinosaur gallery, fossils gallery, a gallery for higher plants, gallery for medicinal plants, gallery for lower plants, the world of mammals, the world of reptiles, the world of fishes etc.

PMNH is the only museum, working under Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), which has conserved the 1.5 million specimens of rich natural resources collected from all over the country and displaying in form of the more than 150 attractive 2-D and 3-D exhibits.

The museum, under the patronage of the Ministry of Science and Technology, is playing a vital role for imparting formal and informal education on various aspects of ecology, biodiversity and environmental sciences through arranging study tours. The official termed non-appointment of PSF chairman is another reason for the delay in the approval of PC-I as there is no one to pursue this issue in the relevant ministry.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2020.