**Lok Virsa Unveils Meo Community Cultural Diorama at Heritage Museum**
The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) has launched a new cultural diorama dedicated to the Meo community at the Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology—Heritage Museum in Islamabad. The exhibition highlights the unique history, culture, and traditions of the Meo community, underscoring Pakistan’s rich and diverse cultural landscape. The display was officially inaugurated by Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi.
During the inauguration ceremony, Minister Khichi emphasized the significance of the Meo community’s contributions to Pakistan’s cultural fabric. He applauded their resilience and dynamic heritage, describing the diorama as an important initiative to celebrate and preserve the community’s legacy. The minister also commended Lok Virsa’s ongoing efforts to promote the voices of underrepresented communities through creative and inclusive platforms, reaffirming the government’s commitment to cultural inclusion and national unity.
The event was attended by notable figures including Ms. Farah Naz Akbar, Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. Asad Rehman Gilani, Secretary, as well as a large number of representatives from the Meo community. The display serves as a model for community engagement, having been sponsored by the community itself.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Muhammad Waqas Saleem, Executive Director of Lok Virsa, shared that the new diorama is part of Lok Virsa’s broader commitment to inclusivity in cultural representation. He highlighted the importance of recognizing and taking pride in the histories and identities of all communities across Pakistan, noting that the Meo display aims to bring these narratives to the forefront of the national conversation.
The Meo community, with centuries-old roots, primarily resides in southern Punjab and Sindh. Renowned for their distinctive folk traditions, vibrant attire, agricultural lifestyle, and traditional music, the Meos’ living heritage is deeply woven into the sociocultural tapestry of the region.
This initiative supports Lok Virsa’s wider vision of “Community Development through Culture,” which seeks to empower marginalized and underrepresented groups by showcasing their traditions in public platforms such as museums and cultural festivals.
The Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology serves as a leading institution for presenting ethnological displays representing all major communities and provinces of Pakistan, playing a crucial role in fostering national integration, cultural harmony, and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage.
