Sindh govt, KMC, in collaboration with CAP, launch Karachi Museum of History

KARACHI, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd May, 2026) Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah performed the groundbreaking of the Karachi Museum of History at Beach View Park, a new digitally interactive museum being established by the Sindh Culture, Tourism, Antiquities & Archives Department and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) in collaboration with The Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP), declaring that “Karachi is not merely a metropolitan city - it is a living story of migration, coexistence, resilience, trade, literature, art, and progress.”

The groundbreaking ceremony at Beach View Park was attended by Culture Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui, Patron-in-Chief CAP Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, members of The Citizens Archive of Pakistan, representatives of the business community and other guests.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said Karachi has, for centuries, welcomed people from different regions, cultures and communities, making it one of the most diverse and vibrant cities in the world.

“Every street, every building and every community in Karachi carries memories and stories that deserve to be preserved,” he said, adding that, unfortunately, many important chapters of the collective history remain undocumented or inaccessible to younger generations. “This museum will play a vital role in bridging that gap.”

Planned as a landmark cultural and educational space, the Karachi Museum of History will be a digitally interactive museum dedicated to preserving, documenting and celebrating the history and heritage of Sindh and the Pakistan movement. The initiative builds on the Sindh government and its partner CAP’s longstanding commitment to public history and cultural preservation, following the launch of the National History Museum in Lahore in partnership with the Government of Punjab in 2017.

The Karachi Museum of History will draw on globally recognised museum practices to create an immersive cultural institution that brings Pakistan’s independence and Sindh’s 5,000-year history to life through storytelling, technology, archival material and interactive experiences. Conceived as a dynamic civic space, the museum will document Karachi’s layered histories and foreground the voices, memories and communities that have shaped the city.

At a time of rapid urban transformation, the project responds to the need for public institutions in Pakistan that preserve cultural memory while remaining accessible, contemporary and community-driven. Through innovative exhibition design, oral history, research and public engagement, the museum aims to become a landmark destination for culture, education and tourism in Karachi.

“Karachi is not only a city of commerce and opportunity; it is a living archive of our collective memory, resilience and cultural diversity. The Karachi Museum of History will preserve that legacy for generations to come,” the chief minister said.

The Government of Sindh reiterated its belief that nations which preserve their history strengthen their future, and that cultural institutions such as museums are not luxuries but essential spaces of education, reflection and identity, Murad Shah said.

Shah appreciated the efforts of the Culture, Tourism, Antiquities & Archives Department, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and the Citizens Archive of Pakistan for their commitment and collaboration in transforming this vision into reality.

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He congratulated all the scholars, historians, architects, artists and professionals who have contributed to the project. “Your work will help preserve the soul of this great city for generations to come,” he said.

Culture Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah said the Karachi Museum of History reflects his department’s commitment to ensuring that Sindh’s extraordinary heritage is preserved, celebrated and made accessible to all citizens. “Through our partnership with the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and the Citizens Archive of Pakistan, we are creating an institution that will anchor Karachi’s cultural landscape for decades to come,” he added.

“Karachi is one of the great cities of the world – a city built by migration, resilience and an extraordinary diversity of people and cultures. For too long, it has lacked a civic institution that reflects that richness. The Karachi Museum of History will change that. The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation is proud to play its part in delivering a landmark that belongs to every resident of this city,” said Mayor Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui.

CAP’s Patron-in-Chief Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy said, “As Pakistan approaches the 80th anniversary of its independence, this partnership with the Sindh government and the KMC is an opportunity to create a lasting home for the stories that shaped our nation. The museum will honour the people who fought for Pakistan’s independence, celebrate the rich history and culture of Sindh, and reflect the resilience, hope and extraordinary spirit of Karachi, a city that has carried the dreams of generations from across the country. We hope it becomes a place where people can see themselves, their histories and their shared future reflected to them.”

The CAP President added, “This groundbreaking represents years of work and a shared conviction that Karachi’s communities deserve to see their histories honoured in a permanent, public space.

The museum will be research-driven and community-centred, built to display the past and spark dialogue about who we are and where we come from. We could not have reached this milestone without the commitment of the Government of Sindh, its Culture, Tourism, Antiquities and Archives Department, and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation. We are eternally grateful for their partnership.”

The ceremony reflected a shared commitment between the Government of Sindh, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and the Citizens Archive of Pakistan to strengthen heritage and cultural preservation through the development of the Karachi Museum of History as an inclusive, research-driven and public-centred institution- one that preserves the past while engaging new generations in meaningful dialogue about Pakistan’s cultural identity.

Earlier, the chief minister, accompanied by the culture minister, the Karachi mayor, the chief secretary and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, performed the groundbreaking and unveiled a plaque to mark the formal commencement of the project.