Written by: Mehr Jan
Posted on: November 28, 2019 | 
| 中文
A preserved whale shark found in Karachi 2012 (photo credits to the writer)
The Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH) opened to the public in 1986, and is located in Shakarparian, Islamabad. Since then, it has attracted 18,000 to 20,000 visitors every month. Our guided tour by Research Associate, Mr. Mohammed Imran, revealed how the museum is more than what meets the eye. PMNH provides an impressive and detailed presentation of species which also call this country home. The displays are magnificent, providing a depiction of Pakistan’s diverse treasures, which include various stones, salt ranges, fossils from centuries ago, and more.
Consisting of four main divisions and six galleries, the museum houses more than 1.4 million specimens in categories of rocks, minerals, animals and plants, even prehistoric beasts. The Museum displays are detailed and varied, which requires at least two hours to explore.
Displaying birds of Pakistan (photo credits to the writer)
The museum’s Bio Gallery is a detailed display of animals, birds and plants along with their habitats, found in different eco-regions, ranging from the alpine heights to the seashores of Pakistan. This part is definitely one of the most exciting sections of the tour, especially for the young ones. The Tethys Gallery provides visuals on Pakistan’s Salt Range via the rocks, fossils and minerals collected there. In addition, a 3D diorama of the Khewra Salt Mine is also available nearby, compelling locals and foreigners alike to visit the real location near Jhelum, Punjab.
Quartz displayed at the museum (photo credits to the writer)
Gems found in their natural deposits from all four provinces of the country, are displayed in both raw and polished forms in the Gemstones Gallery. The Eco Gallery depicts rock formations, as well as the food webs and lifecycles of animals.
Another exciting display is a huge tree trunk, with annual rings that show its age and the weather conditions in which it grew. However, the best segment for me was the Palaeo Gallery, which features fossils collections from all over Pakistan, some of them almost 650 million years old.
The Palaeo Gallery (photo credits to the writer)
The institution is committed to a dynamic learning experience, which is reflected through the recently launched, state-of-the art Virtual Orientation Gallery. This is an interactive portal for young visitors to gain more information on the exhibits through games and creative layouts. And while this is a good initiative, the museum can certainly benefit from creating more activities and hands-on learning experiences for its younger audience. Having special themes and competitions can also attract more visitors, especially on slow weekdays, such on a Monday when we visited the museum.
Art kiosks for virtual learning (photo credits to the writer)
Aside from displays, the museum also consists of a research facility of 30 scientists and other professionals, who are actively engaged in preserving the natural wealth of Pakistan. Our guide Mr. Imran, stated that the team has been identifying and displaying specimens that are over 20,000 years old. PMNH’s exhibits have been collected over the course of three decades from all regions of the country, specifically around the rural areas in Punjab and Baluchistan.
A 13-million year old Gavial skull (photo credits to the writer)
In particular, northern parts of the country have been a popular spot for studying flora and fauna, especially amphibians and reptiles from the Pothwar (or Pothohar) Plateau. These days, they have turned their attention to the ecology and zoogeography of the Northern Areas.
While the institution regularly schedules workshops, seminars and lectures, they have recently crossed a special milestone. Mr. Imran informed us that PMNH held a meeting for the Pakistan Science Foundation and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This would, in turn, lead to stronger collaborations between China and Pakistan in the field of natural science research and discovery in the future.
Butterfly Collection (photo credits to Dawn)
The museum has also taken up the responsibility of highlighting socio-economic factors that need urgent emphasis, like climate change. This will soon be showcased in a diorama depicting climate change and its impact on our environment. Committed to creating awareness while encouraging exploration, PMNH is an ongoing project that remains a strong beacon to Pakistan’s efforts in studying our natural environment.
The museum tickets are priced at Rs.20 for students, Rs.30 for the general public, Rs.100 for foreigners and free entrance for children aged below 5. Timings are from 9am till 9pm every day.
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