ISLAMABAD: “Baluchitherium”, the largest mammal on earth, and blue whale exhibits went on display here at the Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH) on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Changez Khan Jamali said that the government is making all out efforts to promote science and technology in the country despite financial constraints.
Federal Secretary Science and Technology Akhlaq Ahmad Tarar, Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) Dr. Manzoor H. Soomro and PMNH Senior Operational Manager Akhtar Javed also addressed the inaugural ceremony.
The federal minister lauded PMNH’s efforts in research, documentation, conservation, preservation and display of natural history of Pakistan as well as its role in public education.
He also appreciated PSF’s role in promotion of science and technology in the country.
He said this new addition to the displays in the museum will be of immense interest for students and general public.
Federal secretary for Science and Technology Akhlaq Ahmad Tarar spoke on different programmes of the ministry for building science and technology infrastructure in Pakistan.
He called upon scientists to take a proactive role in making Pakistan scientifically strong, which is imperative for the socio-economic development of any country.
PSF Chairman Dr. Manzoor H. Soomro highlighted the foundation's research funding and science promotion programmes.
He said PSF, PMNH and Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Center (PASTIC) are actively engaged in promotion of science to make Pakistan self-reliant technologically.
Dr. Soomro said the addition of Baluchitherium and blue whale displays at are an achievement of the PMNH scientists.
PMNH Senior Operational Manager Akhtar Javed also spoke on statutory functions of the museum and contributions to natural history research and biodiversity conservation as well as public education.
Baluchitherium is an extinct rhinoceros and the largest land mammal that ever lived on the earth about 30 million years ago. It is called Baluchitherium: "Baluchi" for Balochistan; "therium" for Beast.
It literally means the "beast of Balochistan" and was named so because it was first discovered in the Bugti Hills (ranging in age from 30 million years to 20 million years ago) Balochistan.
The average height of an adult Baluchitherium is estimated to have been 18 ft high at the shoulder, and approximate weight is two ton (2,000 Kilograms).
Fossils of this giant land mammal, Baluchitherium, were first discovered in the Bugti Hills in 1908, and included only a few foot bones.
However, the major discovery was made in 2000, when the joint team of paleontologists from University of Montpellier, France and the Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Islamabad found almost complete skeleton of Baluchitherium from Chitarwata Formation, north of Sui in the Bugti Hills after a search of almost 3 years.
This discovery of largest land mammal has greatly increased the geological significance of our country for research in the field of paleontology and has made Pakistan known to geoscientists and biologists all over the world.
Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2012
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