Lahore, The Pashtun Cultural Museum and art gallery of University of Peshawar, established in 2009, represent the true picture of Pakhtuns’culture and its historical background.

The museum was dream of directors of Pashto Academy as all of them worked for it.One of faculty member Prof Salma Shaheen, also a famous Pashto poet, who was done a lot for its progress. Prof Shaheen said that the museum still lacked some of facilities because that it almost remained closed for the last two years as the Pashto Academy was merged into the Pashto department. After the academy was invigorated recently, it took charge of the museum again.

“You might call it professional jealousy or a situation which does not let creative people do things as they would like to do,” said Prof Shaheen, who has joined the academy again almost a month ago.
The University of Peshawar`s Pashto Academy had planned setting up of the museum and art gallery for defense and portrayal of Pakhtun culture. Its foundation stone was laid in Oct 2006 and the Higher Education Commission had given Rs23 million for the project.

In Afghanistan libraries and statues were demolished and some books left scattered were bought by Pashto Academy. “We will display whatever needed to be preserved in the age of clash of civilisations and cultures. When there is clash of cultures there is even greater need to preserve identity, language and culture,” Prof Shaheen said.

The poet and writer sued that the museum and art gallery would be developed to preserve Pakhtun life and history. “Although it has not huge funds but still the academy would strive to make it the best museum and art gallery on Pakhtun culture and art,” she added.