Delay in land transfer threatens loss of $6.79 m South Korean grant for national museum
Parliamentary officials warned that unresolved land allocation for the proposed National Museum at Shakarparian could cause Pakistan to forfeit a $6.79 million grant from South Korea.
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Open on Business Recorder## Background
The Senate Standing Committee on National Heritage and Culture was briefed on Thursday about a pending land transfer needed for the construction of a new National Museum at Shakarparian, Islamabad. The project is funded by a US$6.79 million grant from the South Korean government.
## Delay and Potential Loss
Committee members highlighted that the required parcel of land has not been transferred for several years. Officials cautioned that continued delays could result in Pakistan losing the South Korean grant altogether. The committee directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture to resolve the land issue urgently.
## Parliamentary Concerns
The meeting noted the absence of senior CDA officials, prompting the committee chair, Senator Hidayatullah Khan, to instruct the Ministry of Interior to convey the displeasure to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The committee warned government bodies against ignoring parliamentary oversight.
## Wider Heritage Issues
Beyond the museum, the committee discussed preservation of historic sites such as Ranikot Fort and the Great Wall of Sindh, UNESCO nominations, repatriation of 523 antiquities from the United States, and encroachments around protected zones. It also approved a report on the renovation of Karachi’s Mazar‑e‑Quaid and considered converting the Radio Pakistan Karachi building into a museum.
## Future Steps
The committee called for an increased heritage budget and urged the ministry to develop revenue‑generating models based on cultural and heritage tourism. It also noted invitations to culture ministers from Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states for the upcoming Lok Virsa festival.