Pakistan Museum of Natural History

If you think museums are boring and fit for nerds only, then a visit to the Pakistan Museum of Natural History will surely change your mind. Situated at Garden Avenue, Shakarparian in Islamabad, the museum presents natural history in a fun and informative way. It has colourful and educational displays on various topics such as fossils, rocks, plants and animal species indigenous to our homeland. 

The museum remains open on all days, except Friday, from 10am to 5pm. The entry is free for students and children under 12 while adults have to pay just Rs5 to enter. The reception area houses Virtual Orientation gallery. This electronic system provides information to students and the general public about the museum and the natural resources of Pakistan using touch screen technology. We can also see photographs and movies of wildlife, minerals, gemstones, fossils and rocks on these machines. 

As you walk down the steps of the main hall, you are greeted by a huge crocodile with its jaws wide open. Don’t worry! It is just a stuffed one but looks very real and gives you an idea of all the sights ahead. The museum is divided into five galleries each showing a different aspect of our natural history.

The Palaeo gallery houses teeth, bones and skulls of pre-historic ape species of Pakistan. Fossils from all over the country are displayed in glass cases. The centre of the hall is occupied by skeletons of a giraffe and an elephant. Colourful wall paintings depict the pre-historic era with man and wild animals fighting for survival. 

palaeo gallery

Eco gallery is focused on the ecosystem and how various living organisms interact with the environment. A wonderful representation about ‘food chain’ is found in one corner while many glass cases provide information about lifecycles and habitats of insects, fish, butterflies, birds, etc. 

eco-gallery

 Gems gallery displays various precious and semiprecious gemstones that are found in Pakistan. In spite of the interesting theme, this gallery was quite disappointing because it was very small and cramped. There was hardly any room to move about and see the gems on display. 

Tethys gallery provides information about ocean life, the Salt Range and various minerals and rocks found in Pakistan. It also has a huge skeleton of a whale on display. 

The Bio gallery is divided into two parts. One section displays the diversity of plants and animals found in Pakistan. There are stuffed animals and plants portrayed in their natural habitats ranging from oceans to high mountains. 

The other section highlights man-made and natural problems that are seriously threatening this bio-diversity. Three-dimensional models highlight problems of pollution, deforestation, soil erosion, over-fishing, over-hunting and severe effects of water logging, salination and desertification on our environment. 

Although a trip to the museum is very informative and highly educational, the experience can be made better with some sound effects and more extensive audio-visual aids for the visitors. Some parts of the museum are closed and one can only hope that they will reopen soon with better and more extensive exhibits for us to enjoy and learn from.

At the end of the tour, you will leave the museum building feeling proud of the biodiversity of Pakistan. It is our moral and civic duty to respect and preserve the wonderful flora and fauna and the rich mineral resources that we are blessed with. If you live in Islamabad or are here on a visit, you must ask your teachers and parents to take you to the Pakistan Museum of Natural History for a visit. It will be an experience you will remember forever!