Pakistan Army Museum Rawalpindi ,The custodian of heritage

Zufishan Zulfiqar blogger ibcenglish

The aim of this museum is to make the public aware of the history of the Pakistan Army

“Army Museum in Rawalpindi houses many symbols of victories and sacrifices”

The pages of history can never be ignored. Knowledge of the past is an silver bullet for the ideological, academic and intellectual upbringing of the younger generation, except the new generation looks at the past, they will not be able to understand the problems that will arise in the future. for that reason, it is said that a nation a certain is not aware of its past cannot plan properly for the present and future.

The Pakistan Army Museum Rawalpindi was established on October 24, 1961 to connect the younger generation with the past and to make them aware of the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the motherland and the struggle of the Pakistan Army. This building, standing with all its glory, is the guardian of historical and military heritage. This museum is one of the largest museums in Pakistan. This Army Museum was built in British-era aluminum barracks near the General Headquarters. Special care was taken in the layout and color to make the museum attractive. It was inaugurated by the Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army, General Musa Khan. In his inauguration ceremony, the Commander-in-Chief said that “There are countless lessons from history, but these lessons have a tangible form in the form of museums. Museums are the cultural heritage of the nation and their advantage is that they help a lot in education, research and entertainment.

If we examine the pages of history, it turns out that museums began in the 16th century AD. Initially, Italian princesses started it by displaying their antiques. Later, European rulers are also mentioned in history that they had built museums in which they preserved the weapons and equipment that were the legacy of their ancestors. The museums of that time were not accessible to the common people, only prominent people from big families were given this privilege. Later, the idea of establishing military museums came into being from this date and thus this series continued until the present era.

After the establishment of the Pakistan Army Museum Rawalpindi, this museum had a prominent position in the world and especially in the countries of the British Commonwealth due to its collection of antiquities. This museum had a huge collection of rare items and now it has been further increased. The Army Museum of Rawalpindi contains signs of many sacrifices and victories, the aim of this museum is to enlighten the public about the history of the Pakistan Army. And to remind them of the sacrifices that have been made for the survival and security of this country.

The collections of rare items available in the Pakistan Army Museum Rawalpindi include a porcelain cup from the Ming Dynasty of China, the sword of the Iranian king Nader Shah and the dagger of the last ruler of Bukhara, Amir Abdul Malik. In addition, the Mujahideen flag of Syed Ahmad Shaheed Barelvi, the bow and arrow of Sultan Tipu Shaheed have also been preserved. These were certainly the assets that the Muslims of the subcontinent were proud of. This museum houses more than two thousand objects that show the changes that were used in the methods of warfare from the 11th century to the present. These objects help to understand the evolution of the methods of warfare. These objects also include swords that were made during the reign of Genghis Khan. In addition to ancient military uniforms and weapons, this museum also has old regimental insignia, badges, swords and rifles.

There are many interesting objects in the museum, but among them, among the items of particular interest was a 13-inch cannon ball that weighed 88 pounds, i.e. more than a mana. In addition, a muzzle-loading rifle that was 9 feet high and so heavy that it could not be lifted with one hand. It is believed that it must have been used as a cannon. The old-style gun used by the Pathans in the Second Afghan War in 1877 is also a special attraction. At the entrance of the museum, the statue of Subedar Khuda Dad stands in all his glory. Subedar Khuda Dad was the first Muslim soldier from South Asia to be awarded the Victoria Cross for his extraordinary bravery in the First World War.

Historical and historical military vehicles and tanks are on display outside the museum. These include the first tanks used by the Pakistan Army to date. In addition to the Ferret Scout Car, M. 4 Stewart, M. For. 1 Sherman and M. 8 4 tanks, there are field and anti-aircraft guns, howitzers, aircraft, engineering equipment and jeeps. Some of these items were captured during the war. The 1956 model luxury car used by three Commander-in-Chiefs is also here.

Starting from the ground floor lobby, a timeline of all the Prime Ministers and former Army Chiefs from 1947 to date has been arranged in order. The photographs displayed there shed light on the brief history of Pakistan, the key achievements of the Head of State,the tenure of the government, Prime Ministers and Commander-in-Chiefs/Chief of the Army Staff.

The two-storey building of the Army Museum in Rawalpindi has been decorated with various strongest match of the wars of 1948, 1965 and 1971. it feels as if a war is being fought, we are also a part of the atmosphere of gunfire and in such a situation, we feel more proud of our brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the protection of this country and today we are living a peaceful life as a result of their sacrifices. The view of the Nishan-e-Haider gallery, the highest award for bravery, the photos of the recipients of the Nishan-e-Haider, commendation certificates, and the personal belongings of the martyrs, strengthens the morale of the visitors thanks to the bright view of the personal belongings of the martyrs.

The items used by the martyrs who received the Nishan-e-Haider are also part of the historical museum After this comes the gallery of the recent war on terrorism where the sacrifices of the Pakistan Army made while uprooting the monster of terrorism have a very deep impact on the visitors. This gallery highlights the courage and bravery of the brave sons of the Pakistan Army through war maps, photographs and graphs. The museum’s gallery features selected paintings, portraits, photographs, sculptures, antiques, old regimental insignia and computer screens to guide the tourists. Similarly, the evolution of weapons from the Stone Age to the present, the role of the Pakistan Army in nation-building and in times of crisis and the peacekeeping missions of the United Nations are presented in a comprehensive manner. The museum remains open from 9 am to 4 pm on all days of the week except Tuesday. The Pak Army Museum is located near the Lal Kurti CSD.

Tourists can park their vehicles at the CSD, where the entrance gate of the Army Museum is located nearby. Civilians can visit the museum after showing their National Identity Card, while all persons associated with the Armed Forces can visit the museum after showing their Service Card. The entry to the museum is free for educational institutions. For the visit of students of schools, colleges and universities, the head of the educational institution writes a letter of permission, which mentions the number of students, day and time. The museum administration informs the relevant institution about the permission as per the day and time mentioned in the letter and on the appointed date, the students are taken on a tour with the help of guides.

Pakistan Army Museum Rawalpindi has developed rapidly over time and its priorities have changed with each era. With the passage of time, it was felt that the museum should be presented in a systematic historical order so that it could become a source of more interest, attraction and information for tourists. Therefore, in 2009, the Quartermaster General entrusted the responsibility of reconstructing the Pakistan Army Museum to the Director General of the Army Heritage Foundation and the Director of Pak Army Museum so that the museum could be built on modern lines in an imaginative manner. To achieve this goal, the services of an experienced team comprising of renowned architects, interior designers and communication experts were engaged. The museum was formally inaugurated on November 26, 2013.

This museum not only showcases the past but also has a wealth of information and interesting material for future generations. This historical army museum not only reflects the sacrifices of the martyrs but also provides an opportunity to learn about the military history, victories and heritage of the Pakistan Army. This Pakistan Army Museum Rawalpindi is a milestone in keeping the history and traditions of the Pakistan Army alive, which has many signs of victories and sacrifices. Our young generation, especially history students, should definitely visit it so that they can know their history.

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