Audiences who braved the weather and arrived to watch PNCA’s latest offering, the stage play ‘The Odd Couple’ discovered that they were unable to quench their thirst or satiate their hunger as the room marked ‘Cafeteria’ was locked. Pakistan Today has learned that the management of PNCA has been ignoring this issue for over a year and continues to look the other way.
PNCA is a hub of cultural activities in Islamabad. An average of 70 to 100 people (including delegations) visit daily to enjoy the artwork displayed in PNCA’s 14 galleries. During stage plays and shows, halls are jam packed with as many as 700 people. However, visitors are not the only ones deprived of the means of refreshment as PNCA’s 300 staffers also continue to suffer as well since they have to travel outside the premise for ‘something as simple as a cup of tea’.
Talking to Pakistan Today, some of the audience at the play ‘The Odd Couple’ complained angrily, “There is no nearby market around PNCA building and if the cafeteria issue cannot be resolved, why does PNCA arrange such events” asked Osama Pervaiz, a viewer. “The old cafeteria was a source of refreshments in the heat. Also, watching theatre without the conventional pop corns, potato chips and cold drinks is like jogging without proper shoes,” commented a lady who was visibly perturbed as she failed to find a cold drink anywhere around the auditorium. Documents reveal that PNCA has advertised tenders for pre-qualification regarding the cafeteria four times. The first advertisement was printed in the national dailies in July 2010, followed by repeat advertisements on September 17, 2010, and February 12, 2011 and May 25, 2011. Various contractors responded to these advertisements but the cafeteria remains firmly closed and displays no signs of reopening soon.
Sources have revealed that the Deputy Director Admin, has interests in awarding the contract to a firm whose owner is closely linked to him; “Therefore this delay is lingering on while high-ups of the art council became deaf and dumb on this particular issue”. Whenever hi-tea parties are arranged officially or privately at PNCA, the admin deputy director ensures that his favored ‘The Orange Caterers’ is contracted. The official also informed that the Senate Standing Committee on Tourism & Culture has taken notice of this issue several times in the past, but nothing has come of it. He further added, “We heard that after the last tender, a company was assigned to run the café but so far it has not taken charge”. When attempts were made to contact PNCA Director General Tauqir Nasir, his cell phone was found powered off. PNCA Director Performing Arts Division, Hassan Abbas Raza, however, told Pakistan Today that “The PNCA management is aware of the issue and the contract has given to a party named SK Foods and within a couple of days, the cafeteria will be opened for the public.” He added that the process was carried out through a proper channel.
