MARDAN/MINGORA: Speakers at a function at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan on Wednesday asked the government to include study of museum in syllabus to broaden the scope of research.

The function was held to mark International Museum Day. The faculty members of the university, students and common people attended the function in a large number.

Speakers at the function said that International Museum Day was observed on May 18 since 1977 throughout the world every year. They said that purpose of the day was to highlight importance of museum as it was an institution that offered knowledge on history, archaeology, cultural heritage, contemporary art, natural history, anthropology, ethnology and oral traditions etc.

“‘To become a progressive nation, we must not forget our past. Museum is the only place that protects and preserves our history for the generations to come,” they said.

The speakers said that study of museum (museology) should be included in the curricula of schools and colleges so that the scope of research could be expanded.

International Museum Day observed in Mardan, Swat

On the occasion, 50 students of Al-Islah Orphan Centre visited the University Museum.

In Swat, a large number of visitors thronged the local museum to observe International Museum Day on Wednesday.

Cultural activists, students and lovers of history visited the museum to see the historical items belonging to different ancient civilisations. They appreciated the provincial archaeology department for allowing free entry to the museum to mark the day.

Faizur Rehman, curator of Swat Museum, said that archaeology department had directed them to allow people to visit the museum without paying entry fee. “We have also advertised about free entry. A large number of people visited the museum today,” he told Dawn.

Mr Rehman said that museum was not only a building but an institution, which housed antiquities, entertained common visitors and helped in research on different subjects.

“When I came to know that entry to the museum was free, I informed other friends and we came here to see and learn about different historical items. I observed many useful things excavated by archaeologists,” said Yousaf Khan, a young visitor.

Other visitors said that they learnt about the life of Buddha and other religious figures of the past.

Dr Luca Maria Olivieri, head of Italian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan, who was present in Swat Museum, said that each of the objet in the museum had a complete record.

“The museum is situated in one of the most wonderful and archaeologically richest area, the Swat valley, which contains several civilisations,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2016