ISLAMABAD, Oct 9: Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH), the only national repository for permanent storage of plants, animals, rocks, minerals and fossils, is in need of Rs13 million financial assistance, an official source told Dawn on Thursday.

The source said non-development funds released to the PMNH were inadequate and did not commensurate with the actual needs of the organization. He said during the current financial year 2003- 04, an amount of Rs17.5 million was allocated to the PMNH for current expenditure (non-development) when the organization had demanded Rs45.25 million.

“The amount so provided was not enough even to meet the essential expenditure of the institutions,” he said, adding that due to the financial constraints, the organization could not appoint the much needed research associates.

At present, the museum needs funds to fill the post of 21 research associates in different departments in addition to art designers in the designing section, he said.

The monetary constraints were also adversely hampering the research activities which were evident from the fact that field trips for research purposes were not being organized. Besides, vehicles were accumulating rust for want of repairs and maintenance work. Even the employees of the institution were not being provided enhanced salary of 25 per cent which the government had announced during the last financial year, the source claimed.

He said the institution had not been provided assistance when Rs7.72 million were demanded in budget estimates of 2003-04 ignoring the fact that expenditure on utilities and operational cost of the museum had increased manifold due to implementation of two development projects namely biodiversity of Pakistan and Virtual Orientation Gallery launched recently.

The recurring cost of these projects was about Rs4 million. The biodiversity of Pakistan was inaugurated by the minister in charge for science and technology, Prof Attaur Rehman, under which 250,000 natural history specimens of animals, plants, rocks, minerals and fossils were placed on the net, which could be accessed nationally and internationally. The facility was developed to provide complete details of biodiversity found in Pakistan both for scientists and general public on internet.

The source said the PMNH had not only been allocated less funds than requested, but also the original allocations were further reduced in 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99 and 2000-01.

The financial problem was further compounded due to less allocation of funds by the government.

The source said the relevant government authorities were aware of the situation, but so far not a word had come from them.