Most museums in world closed, some may never reopen.

Byline: Amin Ahmed

ISLAMABAD -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) says that 90 per cent of the world's museums have closed their doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic and more than 10pc of them may never reopen.

It is clear that these temporary closures have had serious economic and social consequences that may affect museums in the long term, says a report released by Unesco on Thursday on 'Museums around the world in the face of Covid-19'.

In its conclusion, the report says the shutdown of cultural tourism endangers the financial stability of a great many institutions; since it constitutes one of the main resources on which museums rely on to ensure their operation and economic survival.

Pakistan has 46 museums, out of which 37 have been closed due to coronavirus, representing over 84pc closure. Western Europe has 61,634 museums, out of which almost 95pc have been closed. This is followed by the Asia and the Pacific region which has 12,195 museums and almost 60pc of them have been closed.

Out of Pakistan's 46 museums, 37 have been shut, representing over 84pc closure

Almost all the museums in Eastern Europe (11,465) and Latin America and the Caribbean (7,810) have been closed. In Arab states all the 473 museums are completely closed, whereas in Africa, 738 museums out of 841 are open.

The main players affected by this loss are museum professionals, especially the self-employed, three out of five of whom have lost their jobs and are in urgent need of support...