KARACHI, Dec 1: All the rooms and pavilions of the Mohatta Palace Museum buzzed with activity as a major exhibition showcasing the history of Karachi got under way on Wednesday.

Organized by the Mohatta Palace Museum in collaboration with the Dawn Group of Newspapers, the 90-day exhibition is titled Jewel in the crown: Karachi under the Raj 1843-1947.

The exhibition was first held as part of Dawn's All about lifestyle show last year. In October 2004, a sneak preview of the exhibition was held which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. The organizers held a private viewing of the exhibition on Nov 24 which was attended by Mir Ali Murad Khan Talpur of Khairpur.

All the rooms and corridors in the two floors of the Mohatta Palace Museum are occupied by exhibits, quite a few of which have never been displayed before. Seven pavilions on the lawns of the building, also contain a large number of exhibits and pictures which have been thematically arranged.

Outside the pavilions, a towering statue of Queen Victoria stands tall on the lawns of the Mohatta Palace. She is accompanied by two lions sitting tamely at her feet. A photograph in one of the pavilions shows the same scene. The photograph was taken during the visit of Prince and Princess of Wales to Karachi in 1905/06.

On the first floor of the exhibition are on display at least 39 rare paintings by Fyzee Rahamin and other belongings including manuscripts of Atiya Begum. Pictures and memorabilia of leading families of Sindh, such as the Aga Khans, the Haroons, the Kharoos, have also been put on display in various rooms.

Just as a room contains a huge blown-up picture making it look like a municipality hall, another room is made out in such a manner that it looks like the constituent assembly.

One of the pavilions contains an old model of a fire engine which is surrounded by the gear and other paraphernalia employed by fire-fighters in the past. Another pavilion is titled "The sole spokesman - rare glimpses of Mr Mohammad Ali Jinnah".

It contains a large number of photographs of the Quaid-i-Azam. At least 20 books and 59 CDs are to be launched with the exhibition, but at present only five books are on sale.