Baku, November 5, AZERTAC Established in 1951 in historical building of Frere Hall and functioning there until July, 1969, the National Museum of Pakistan is the biggest museum of Pakistan, which displays some of the oldest artefacts ever excavated in the country. The goal of establishing the National Museum was to assemble, preserve, exhibit, study and display the cultural history of Pakistan. The idea was to showcase the best of Pakistan and its people while also promoting and creating awareness of the personality of the people of Pakistan. The premises of the museum were shifted to Burns Garden, Dr. Zia-ud-din Ahmed Road, in 1970 where it was inaugurated by the then-president of Pakistan, General Mohammad Yahya Khan.The Museum represents a complete vista of Pakistan's cultural heritage from Stone Age down to the birth of Pakistan. It boasts an incredible collection of 58,000 old coins (dating back to 74 Al-Hijra and 550 AD) and well-preserved sculptures. Around 70,000 books and publications of the Archeology and Museums Department were shifted to the National Museum for the public.The main highlights of the museum galleries include the Gandhara civilization sculptures, calligraphy, miniature paintings, Islamic art, old coins, and rare manuscripts of the Quran. Out of the 300 copies of Quran that the museum holds, 52 are rare handwritten manuscripts. Some of the intricately written manuscripts are in early Kufic and Bahr Arabic scripts. These manuscripts are very popular among the museum visitors. Additional amenities include an auditorium with a capacity of 250 people, eleven galleries covering six stories, committee room and a laboratory.The building was designed specifically to house rare and precious artefacts and manuscripts.The six-story building has eleven galleries and it is the only public museum in Karachi and it continues to facilitate international and local academics in their research. It also shares a glimpse from the lives of people of Indus Valley and Gandhara Civilisation, portraying their creativity and aesthetic sense.Karachi is known to several well-kept museums in Pakistan. But the National Museum each year holds a lot of exhibitions on National Days and other important occasions and festivals, hosting visitors from all over the country.