PESHAWAR, March 9: The first phase of Peshawar Museum extension project has been completed. In this phase, a new block for Islamic collections with two galleries, two new halls and a conservation laboratory have been built.

The expansion project was launched in 2002 with a total cost of Rs33.11 million and Rs14 million had been spent on the completion of the first phase, Director of Archaeology and Museums Prof Dr. Ihsan Ali told APP on Tuesday.

The museum, he said, was built in 1906-07 and the extension work had been carried out to display more items. Similarly, he said, antiques belonging to the Gandhara culture, had been separated from Islamic collection and they would be displayed at a separate block.

Dr Ihsan said the extension of the museum would help in research studies because more items would be displayed. At present, he said, a number of important items had been kept in store due to shortage of space

About the second phase of the project, he said, renovation and revamping of the floor and ceiling was essential because the museum building had become very old and was not up to the international standard.

In the renovation phase, the old show cases will be replaced with the new ones and lighting system would be improved for proper display of antique items. Dr Ihsan said the directorate had also exhibited necessary information for visitors in the Peshawar museum and other museums of the province.

"Similarly, the building of Peshawar museum has been illuminated for attracting the people. We want to attract more people to visit the museum and apprise themselves about the historic background of the area," he said.

The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums was also making preparations for upcoming Gandhara Week which would commence from March 28 and continue till April 3, he said.

The Gandhara week is being organized by Ministry of Tourism to invite tourists to visit remnants of one of the most significant civilizations of the world. The historic sites where the tourists will visit during the Gandhara week are: Takhtbhai, Swat, Charsada, Peshawar and Taxila. -APP