MULTAN – Director General Punjab Archaeology Zaheer Abbas Malik and Commissioner Multan Amir Kareem Khan inaugurated the newly built Multan museum here Monday, the day being observed all over the world as the International Museums Day and Punjab made the occasion special by simultaneously opening three new museums with two more opened in Gujrat and Sialkot. Two more museums were inaugurated today, one each in Gujrat in historical Ram Piyari building and in Sialkot, archaeology officials said on Monday. Punjab secretary Auqaf Ehsan Bhutta formally opened the museum in Sialkot while Project Director PMU Archaeology Malik Maqsood Ahmad inaugurated museum in Ram Piyari building in Gujrat. Scores of Multanites thronged newly built Multan museum including school girls, history lovers and media representatives to witness the historical occasion marking the fulfillment of decades long desire of the city of saints’ inhabitants. “Three cities, three new museums.” “This International Museums Day, Gujrat, Sialkot and Multan are each getting a new museum, because Punjab’s history deserves to be seen, celebrated and passed on,” says an Instagram post of Punjab Archaeology department. The museum has been declared open for public free of charge, however, once the notification is issued, a nominal Rs 20 is expected to be charged per person while Rs 500 per person ticket would be charged in case of visit by foreigners, said Muhammad Hassan, the lead archaeologist who led the project to its completion after taking over its interior decoration assignment, the last segment of the project. Spread over 10 Kanal area, the Rs 111.70 million museum has emerged as a panorama of South Punjab history, culture and heritage, said DG Archaeology Punjab while talking to the newsmen after taking a round of all the galleries and facilities along with commissioner Khan. The museum encompasses preserved symbols from the ancient Indus Valley Civilization to the modern age, Zaheer Abbas Malik said adding it also covers Gandhara civilization, besides historical and cultural glimpses from Mughal era. The museum also showcases coins minted during different dynasties rule to help visitors visualize or imagine the trade and commerce activities during ancient times besides art and craft including Blue Pottery, Kashikari, camel skin art, and other traditional Multani crafts that found space in art and craft gallery. DG Archaeology said that museums play a pivotal role in preserving identities and heritage of civilizations and Multan museum would serve that purpose- preserving the centuries old culture, history and arts under one roof. Commissioner Amir Kareem Khan declared May 18, 2026 a big day for Multanites for having a facility that was missing earlier adding it was an important cultural gift from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz-led Punjab government to the people of Multan. “It would help keep younger generation abreast of our heritage, civilizational identity and history knowledge.” Everybody present was happy as DG Zaheer Malik and commissioner Khan formally opened the museum, a success achieved after decades long struggle by Multan literary circles well supported by bureaucrats, former secretary tourism and archaeology Ehsan Bhutta, former commissioners Multan Muhammad Ali Gardezi, and Mehmood Javed Akhtar, senior bureaucrat Babar Hayat Tarar, retired SDO archaeology Malik Ghulam Muhammad and others. Veteran educationist and intellectual Prof. Dr. Hameed Raza Siddiqui, and seasoned journalist and writer Shakir Hussain Shakir were seen elated at the museum opening and declared Monday as a day of Eid for Multaniites.
