Federal Minister Attends Ceremony for National Museum Upgrade Partnership
Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi witnessed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony on Friday, marking a strategic partnership to upgrade the National Museum of Pakistan. The ceremony was held at the University Center of Aga Khan University (AKU) in Karachi, bringing together key stakeholders from the Federal Ministry of National Heritage and Culture and AKU.
Strategic Collaboration for Cultural Preservation
The MoU formalizes a comprehensive partnership aimed at revitalizing the National Museum of Pakistan through institutional strengthening, conservation efforts, and enhanced public engagement. This collaboration represents a substantial investment in safeguarding Pakistan's shared history while reimagining the museum experience for future generations. Senior leadership from AKU and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), along with other stakeholders, attended the event alongside the Federal Minister.
Minister Emphasizes Heritage as National Identity
While addressing the ceremony, Federal Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi highlighted the importance of cultural heritage as the bedrock of national identity and a source of immense pride for all Pakistanis. He stated, "This partnership with the Aga Khan University represents a step in our mission to safeguard this legacy. By revitalizing the National Museum of Pakistan, we are not just preserving artifacts; we are creating a world-class center of learning and inspiration that will showcase Pakistan's rich history to the world and foster a deeper sense of unity and connection among our citizens."
Comprehensive Upgrade Programme
The project aims to upgrade the National Museum of Pakistan through a detailed programme focusing on curatorial enhancement, public engagement, and improved stewardship of the museum's collections. Through this collaboration, the partners seek to support the museum's role in preserving, presenting, and sharing Pakistan's cultural heritage with wider and more diverse audiences. To oversee these efforts, an Advisory Committee has been established, co-chaired by Director General of Archaeology and Museums Aman Ullah and Vice Provost at AKU Pakistan Professor Anjum Halai.
Educational and Scholarly Contributions
Vice Provost Professor Anjum Halai remarked, "Museums play an important role in education in society through promoting an understanding of one's culture and heritage." He noted that students and faculty of the newly launched Faculty of Arts and Sciences will play a pivotal role in this project. AKU and other agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) will provide strategic, technical, and advisory support to the upgradation of the National Museum of Pakistan.
The project will also bring together the history faculty of AKU's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, historians at AKU's Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilizations in London, and AKU's Department of Archives in a focused scholarly collaboration. President of AKU Dr. Sulaiman Shabuddin emphasized the power of culture, stating that it is a source of pride that can inspire and unify an entire nation while revealing it at its best to the outside world.
