March, 29 2005	Tuesday	18 Safar 1426

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LAHORE, March 28: The Punjab government has released Rs5 million for starting construction of a new building for the Lahore Museum. It has decided to construct the building on six-and-a-half kanals of land on the back side of the through Nespak to display its most valuable artifacts there. According to official sources, the amount has been released out of the total Rs100 million upgradation and extension of Lahore Museum project, with a go-ahead signal from the authorities.

Another development was that the authorities had decided to have the new building built under the supervision of Nespak. Initially, reputed firms were invited to express their interest. Many firms responded but the expression of interest was again invited on the direction of the P&D chairman.

This time only four firms showed their interest but instead of accepting their offers, the museum design committee, constituted by the chief secretary, decided to hand over the project to such an institution which could ensure quality and transparency.

“And when this idea came the natural choice was Nespak whom we do not need to engage through a tender,” sources said, adding the proposal had been sent to the chief minister for final approval.

“Nespak would be given the project, of course, after negotiations,” they said. They said the ground breaking would be performed by the chief minister soon after an approval by him. “We want this to happen in the first week of June,” they said.

Giving details of the project, they said it would be huge. The building would be modern yet reflecting the cultural heritage of Lahore. It would be in conformity with the architectural grandeur of the existing Lahore Museum building built in 1890.

The new building would serve as a vault for all the valuable artifacts of the Lahore museum. These included all perishable and climatic control demanding manuscripts, paintings and coins.

The existing building which itself has become an artifact of Lahore, would be linked to the new building either through an underpass or an overhead bridge. If selected, the overhead bridge would itself be a gallery where people would reach through an elevator.

To ensure safety of the artifacts, the show-cases in galleries would have openings at the rear where only the museum officials could have access for cleaning or maintenance purposes. There would be no front opening and the cases would have unbreakable glasses.

The passage to be built behind the walls of the showcases having openings for access for the employees would be monitored round the clock. They would have only one entrance, close circuit cameras and record of the entrants.

“American and Japanese government have offered us to provide free of cost latest equipment for the protection of the building and the artifacts to be placed here,” they said, adding if required, their services would be acquired through Nespak. —Intikhab Hanif