National museum to build ocean diorama

Plans to introduce 3-D film display for modern experience amid expansion plans

ISLAMABAD: In a bid to attract a younger audience, the Pakistan Museum of Natural Heritage is working on bringing exhibits with a modern twist.

As part of its upgradation plans, the museum of natural heritage (PMNH) is building an “ocean diorama” so that the people can learn more about the deep-sea life which inhabits the 1,046 kilometre-long coast of the country.

PMNH Director General Dr Muhammad Rafique told APP that the museum was going to introduce the “ocean diorama” very soon, which would give visitors a chance to enjoy views of deep-sea life.

Dioramas are three-dimensional full-size or miniature models. They are often used by museums to recreate life-like displays, to provide immersive cultural scenes and settings.

In the first phase, Dr Rafique said, they were planning on introducing a 3-D film display facility in the museum – a first, to provide viewers with modern digital viewing facilities.

Moreover, the museum is planning to bring in some exhibits from China including models of bird eggs, a first in the museum’s history, the DG said.

“We have imported a sensor-based dinosaur from China with Rs1 million and it is now on display in the museum,” he added.

“The people, especially the children, are fond of this modern dinosaur,” he enthused.

Talking about the exhibits, the DG said that the museum has over 1,400 specimens, including taxidermy and stuffed animals, insects and birds. He further said that no museum in the country had such a large repository of specimens.

To accommodate more visitors and exhibits, Dr Rafique said that the museum was planning to build around six new blocks to house the specimens.

“We will soon conduct a feasibility survey for upgrading the museum which is expected to cost around Rs3.5 million,” he said. The survey, he added, is expected to be completed within a year and will see some foreign architects help out in preparing layouts and storey plans.

The entire expansion project, he estimated, would be completed within three years. Once complete, Dr Rafique hoped that the upgraded museum would provide a more lively and modern experience to visitors who want to know more about the natural history of different life forms in the country.

Around 120,000 people including foreigners annually visit the Pakistan Museum of Natural Heritage, he said, adding that the administration charges a Rs20 ticket from government employees while Rs30 is charged from regular people visiting the museum.

Talking about revenues, Dr Rafique said owing to renewed public interest, the museum had earned Rs1.2 million over the last two months in ticket sales, the DG said.

He added that more people visit during the summer and winter vacations and over the weekends, while the number of visitors falls on normal days.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2017.