PESHAWAR: Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has decided to launch a project for the rehabilitation and renovation of six museums to attract foreign and domestic tourists to the province.

The decision was taken at a meeting of officials of the archaeology and museums here on Wednesday, said a press release issued by the archaeology department.

The museums at Dir, Bannu, Swat, Chitral, Mardan and Hund would be restored and renovated under a two-year project for which Rs60 million had been allocated.

Under the project, display centres would also be established at these museums while lighting and drainage systems would also be improved. Construction of international standard parking lots, lawns, benches, racks for antiquities, cafeteria, upgradation of library and stores are also part of the project.

Virtual tours would be initiated and use of technology would be made in projection of antiquities and museum exhibit for the convenience of tourists. Another innovative prospect of this project is that multilingual titles and descriptions are also in the pipeline.

After the 18th amendment, the archaeology and museums were handed over to the provinces and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government launched various steps to attract tourists by developing tourism and heritage sites. The participants of the meeting said that the museums needed maintenance, development and expansion to preserve the precious antiquities.

A nominal fee would be charged for entry, parking and conducting cultural events and exhibitions to generate revenue for the maintenance of museums, the meeting decided.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2015

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