New rules needed to restore museum

LAHORE: A plan to introduce museum studies at the Lahore Museum, in collaboration with the National College of Arts (NCA), has been pending for over two years, a museum official told The Express Tribune.

Seeking anonymity, he said that five directors had been transferred away since 2008. “Since they stay for a very short period, many restoration projects initiated or approved by them are shelved are shelved by the next director,” he said.

Asghar Nadeem Syed, the museum director in 2008, announced a course in museum studies to encourage NCA’s history and art students understand Pakistani culture, tradition and civilisation.

He had also announced plans to train people in preserving and restoring antiques.

The official told the Tribune that no courses were started following Syed’s resignation.

The plan for lectures on Lahore’s history proposed by another director was also shelved after he resigned. A few lectures were indeed delivered but none have been arranged since November 2008, he said.

Prof Salima Hashmi, a member of the Lahore Museum’s board of governors, emphasised the need to introduce and implement new rules and regulations to avoid disruptions every time a director leaves.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, she said a set of new rules proposed by the museum administration has been forwarded to the regulation wing of the Punjab government. Once approved, they will be implemented in letter and spirit, she went on to say.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2010.