ISLAMABAD: A museum dedicated to Pakistan’s ancient Mehrgarh civilisation will reopen later this month following the completion of a US-funded preservation project in Balochistan, the US Embassy said on Saturday. The Mehrgarh Museum in Quetta houses archaeological artefacts from one of South Asia’s earliest settled farming communities. The restoration was funded through the US Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation. The project marks the programme’s first preservation initiative in Balochistan, extending its work to all four provinces of Pakistan. US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker attended a ceremony in Karachi on Saturday alongside Balochistan Parliamentary Secretary Nawabzada Mir Muhammad Zarain Khan Magsi and heritage experts to mark the project’s completion. The work included conserving Neolithic artefacts, upgrading museum displays and training local professionals in heritage preservation. “Today, we are thrilled that, through American excellence in museums and heritage preservation, the Mehrgarh Museum of Balochistan will showcase the 8,000-year-old Mehrgarh civilization and many others,” Baker said, according to a statement issued by the US Embassy. Mehrgarh, located in Balochistan’s Kachi Plain, is among the earliest known farming settlements in South Asia. Archaeological evidence points to agriculture, animal domestication and permanent settlements dating back thousands of years. The site offers important evidence of the transition from hunting and gathering to settled agricultural life. It also provides insights into early communities in the region, long before the emergence of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The preservation project was carried out in partnership with the Sindh Exploration and Adventure Society and the Balochistan Culture Department. According to the embassy, the initiative focused on conserving archaeological collections, bringing museum displays in line with international standards and expanding community outreach. It also included training local heritage professionals to support the long-term protection of the artefacts. “Together, the United States and Pakistan are making real progress in protecting this remarkable legacy,” Baker said. During the ceremony, Baker, Magsi and project leaders Dr Asma Ibrahim and Dr Kaleemullah Lashari unveiled a commemorative plaque. The plaque will be installed at the museum’s entrance in Quetta. The US Embassy said the museum was expected to reopen officially later this month, but did not announce a specific date. Post navigation New Administrative Units: Khawaja Asif Calls for Decentralising Government Power
