BAHAWALPUR, Sept 29: The Punjab government is spending a sum of Rs30 million on the development of Bahawalpur museum. Talking to the press here on Thursday, museum director Hafiz Husain Ahmed Madni said six new galleries for the preservation of artifacts and antiques had been added, raising the total number of galleries to 11.

He said two new halls for visitors would be constructed for the display of antiques, including those of Cholistan.

“There is a proposal to construct a model Cholistan village at a cost of Rs10 million where antiques of Cholistan desert will be displayed to attract visitors.”

Mr Madni said another hall after the name of the late Bahawalpur amir Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi would also be added within the premises of the museum. He said a total of 5,600 antiques had been preserved here.

The director said a railway steam engine of 1838 which had been used to transport material from Ahmedpur East for the construction of Panjnand headworks had been shifted to the museum from Panjnand.