The Laar Museum and Molvi Haji Ahmed Mallah Library is a historic building located on the main Karachi road opposite the deputy commissioner's office in Badin, Sindh, Pakistan.[1] [2] [3]
The two-story building was established in 1980 through the efforts of Shaikh Muhammad Soomar, a historian, poet, and anthropologist known for his work in preserving artifacts from the lower Sindh regions, such as Badin, Tando Muhammad Khan, and Thatta.[1] [4] [5] The museum received financial support from former Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo, who donated Rs 0.5 million, and former Governor of Sindh Kamaluddin Azfar, who contributed Rs 1 million to support Shaikh Soomar's preservation efforts.[1]
The museum once housed a diverse collection of artifacts significant to Sindh's cultural heritage, including pottery from the Indus Valley Civilization, hand-written Quranic manuscripts in Persian, Arabic, and Sindhi, and historical photographs of various locations.[1] However, the collection was compromised when the museum space was used to store relief goods during a flood, resulting in the displacement and damage of many items.[1]
The building features an exterior with expansive green lawns and grand marble steps, decorated with milk white tiles showcasing intricate navy blue floral designs.[1] In contrast, the interior of the museum is in a state of neglect, with artifacts covered in dust and cobwebs.[1]