TAXILA, May 18: Budgetary constraints and bureaucratic hiccups prevented Department of Archeology and Museums officials from observing World Museum Day in Taxila on Saturday.

Every year since 1977, International Museum Day is observed on May 18.

The officials of the archeology and museums department seem least interested in bringing changes to economic condition of those involved in stone carving and sculpture making.

Local sculptures and stone artists including Ilyas Khan, Abdul Waheed, Shafeeq Ahmed and Mohammad Fareed have criticised the officials of the department of archeology.

When contacted, deputy director department of archeology and Museums Mohammad Irshad said the department had no extra fund to spend on an activity like World Museum day. When asked about collaboration with any private company, tour operators or event mangers in marking the day, he said that for such activity a prior approval from the department’s head office in Lahore was mandatory. — Correspondent