International Museum Day

The International Museum Day was observed on 18th May 2012 in Museum of The Department of Archaeology & Ethnology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan. Since 1977, 18th of May is marked as International Museum Day throughout the world every year.

The purpose of the celebration of this day is to sensitize the masses about the importance of museum. It is actually an institution that offers a large variety of knowledge on history, archaeology, cultural heritage, contemporary art, natural history, anthropology, ethnology, oral traditions etc. This year, the museum community celebrated the 35th anniversary of this event under the theme: “Museums in a changing World, New challenges, and new inspirations”.

On this occasion, the Acting Vice Chancellor Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Dr. Saeed Anwar was the chief guest and he visited the museum. In his speech on the occasion he conveyed his message that Museum plays a vital role in the development of a society. To become a progressive nation, we must not forget our past and Museum is the only place that protects and preserves our history for the generations to come. He suggested that the study of museum (museology) should be included in the curricula on school and college levels so that the scope of research can be expanded to our youth; thus opening new horizons of employment in the future.

The museum was visited by students, faculty members and general public who were overwhelmed by seeing the ethnological and archaeological collection and enjoyed watching documentaries on the cultural heritage of the country, particularly in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa.