ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) plans to allocate 20 acres of land for the National Museum of Pakistan in Bhara Kahu, Islamabad, as part of a proposed 160-acre museum complex.
CDA Chairman Lt. (Retd.) Sohail Ashraf shared the plan during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Heritage and Culture, chaired by Senator Hidayatullah Khan.
The proposed complex will also include separate museums for the Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force. The plan would bring several national heritage and military museums together at one location in the federal capital.
National Museum Project Moves to a New Location
The National Museum of Pakistan was initially planned for Shakarparian in Islamabad. According to the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture, the original proposal required eight acres of land, of which the CDA had provided three acres. The remaining five acres were still pending.
Following discussions involving the federal interior minister and the CDA chairman, authorities decided to shift the proposed museum to Bhara Kahu and include it within the larger museum complex.
The revised plan increases the proposed land allocation for the National Museum to 20 acres. However, the announcement does not confirm a construction start date or a completion schedule.
CDA and Heritage Ministry to Share Responsibilities
Under the proposed arrangement, the CDA will provide the land and undertake construction of the National Museum building. The Ministry of National Heritage and Culture will manage the museum’s maintenance and operations.
During the committee meeting, members emphasised that the building should meet national museum standards. These requirements will be important for preserving historical collections and providing suitable facilities for visitors.
The committee also reviewed the project’s earlier delays and the financial penalties associated with them. The heritage minister argued that delays in land allocation and handover had contributed to the project’s slow progress and called for the penalties to be waived or adjusted.
The CDA chairman stated that financial transactions and land allocations related to the museum would follow a government-to-government process.
Korean Partnership and Project Funding
The museum project is being undertaken in collaboration with the Korea Heritage Agency under a grant-in-aid programme worth $6.79 million.
The latest plan changes the proposed location from Shakarparian to Bhara Kahu, but the available information does not clarify whether the relocation will affect the project’s funding arrangements, implementation schedule or overall cost.
Further official details will be needed to establish how the revised site plan will affect the next stages of development.
What Happens Next?
The proposed 20-acre allocation represents a significant change in the museum’s planned location and development arrangements. However, the land allocation and construction work must progress before the facility can open to the public.
The next steps to watch include formal confirmation of the land allocation, progress on construction planning, clarification of the funding arrangements and an official project timeline.
Once completed, the National Museum could provide a dedicated space for preserving and presenting Pakistan’s historical and cultural heritage. Its actual contribution will depend on the facilities delivered, the collections displayed and the long-term management of the complex.
