Residents, activists demand building for Khost museum

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Some residents and cultural activists in southeastern Khost province have demanded the construction of a proper building for the museum.

They said 5,000 old historic items and monuments were currently kept in a room in the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs.

Noorajan Baheer, one of the cultural activists, told Pajhwok Afghan News that cultural and historic items not only reflected upon the identity and culture of a place but it also proved the value of its inhabitants.

He said keeping in consideration the value and importance of historic items there is need for the construction of a building where hundreds of historic items could be put on display.

“Public showed their interest and sincerity with the Museum and shared with them historic items of their houses, but unfortunately, concerned institutions did not pay proper attention, so far there is no proper building for the museum and historic items are stored in improper place.”

He warned if relevant authorities did not pay attention to this point, these historic and cultural artifacts could be lost. Din Mohammad Zalan, another cultural activist, also demanded the construction of a proper building for the museum where historic items could be placed.

He believed: “These historical monuments, which belonged to the Afghan nation reflected upon the culture, habits, traditions and heroism of a country therefore its protection was the joint responsibility of state and people.”

Abdulhaq, one of the students, who visited the museum, said important historic items are inside the museum but not kept properly. He said if the museum get its own building and these historic items are kept properly it will attract more visitors.

Some other people also expressed similar view and stressed the construction of special and building for the museum. Shabir Ahmad Usmani, head of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department, said historic items in the museum are unprofessionally kept and the place is not suitable.

He said after the takeover of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) 18 more items are added to the museum and the number may increase in the future. Referring to the building issue, he said the plan and design had been sent to ministry but no budget had been approved in this regard.

He added: “This three acre area is allocated for the museum, now we don’t have enough fund to build a good building for it. This is a historical place and historical relics are kept in it, alongside the ministry if some businessmen invest in the construction of building the museum will be enriched and will have many visitors.”

Khost cultural activists besides their demand for the construction of Museum building want the protection and rehabilitation of some historic sites in the province as well.