Our history preserved at Pakistan Museum of Natural History

Pakistan

Our history preserved at Pakistan Museum of Natural History

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LAHORE: (Web Desk) - Museums of all kinds in all parts of the world carry a special sort of interest with them and such museums exist in almost all countries. They are considered to be a great asset of human heritage because of their practical, exploratory, scientific and communicative benefits. For example, British Museum is considered one of the very few museums of the world where an entire new world of rarities and manuscripts exists and the number of people benefiting from these gems is in millions.

However, when we talk about museums related to natural heritage i.e. natural history museums then the first images that come to mind are those of animals that have extinguished from the face of the Earth, skeletons of those animals, fossils of plants and minerals that are found only rarely today. This is probably because animals, jungles and natural atmosphere have been of great interest to human beings for centuries. Natural history museums thus play a vital role in augmenting human knowledge and information. Though scientists have not been able to determine the location and time when the first museum of the world was made yet the research on ancient civilizations proves that they date back to Babylonian, Egyptian, Chinese or Nainwa civilizations’ eras.

There would be hardly a country in the world where there are no museums. The oldest museum of Pakistan is in Lahore, established in 1855. Currently, there are more than 50 museums in Pakistan and most of them are related to the study of ancient civilizations. It was essential, therefore, to set up a natural history museum in the country. Museums pertaining to biodiversity are in massive numbers in West and even in our neighbouring countries. Mumbai’s Salam Ali Natural History Museum is considered one of the largest museums of its kind.

Pakistan is certainly one of the most fertile countries in the world in terms of biodiversity, archaeological diversity and mineral wealth. The task of collecting and using these renewable and non-renewable natural resources for achieving educational and research objectives was taken up by Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and thus Pakistan Museum of Natural History was established in Islamabad in 1976.

Pakistan Museum of Natural History basically consists of four different departments including departments of botanical sciences, zoological sciences, archaeological sciences and public services and information. The first three departments are busy in researching, exhibiting and preserving unique plants, animals and mineral samples. Department of public services is appointed for provision of proper public guidance, communication and information.

The main objectives of this only museum of the country preserving natural antiques include collection of the samples of rare plants, living organisms, minerals and fossils, identifying them correctly and preserving them properly so that they can be used for reference in future. This museum provides research facilities regarding benefits and importance of natural heritage so that local and international researchers may get appropriate atmosphere for their research activities. It helps to interpret our natural resources and environment and make strategies for future course of action. The museum advertises some portions of our natural history to develop interest of the common public, students and researchers in this field. It also publishes books and research papers on natural history to promote scientific study of these subjects.

It is important to mention here that Pakistan Museum of Natural History has collected more than two hundred thousand (200,000) unique samples of living organisms, plants, animals, rocks, minerals and fossils while a team comprising of more than 30 experts is busy researching biodiversity and environmental degradation. Around 200 research papers of these researchers have been published in various internationally acclaimed science magazines.

Although this museum is still in its developing phases yet the services being provided by it for the improvement and promotion of knowledge cannot be undermined. Currently, only two of its galleries are being used for exhibition. Various eras of biodiversity and forests have been presented in a manner in these galleries that they actually take you back in time and give you almost a real feel of the events of the past. The number of people visiting this museum is almost negligible currently yet there is a large room for improvement and it is the duty of the government and media to promote such places so that knowledge of the people regarding our history, our culture and our environment can be augmented in a positive manner.