KARACHI: Mayor Waseem Akhtar on Friday said that protection and improvement of Karachi’s historical buildings, sports grounds, parks and other assets is our responsibility. He sought the help of citizens for the maintenance of the historic building of Frere Hall.
These views were expressed while signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Guardian Board (GB) at Frere Hall.
He explained that a 19-member GB comprising ordinary citizens who value the importance of historic sites has already been set up.
He said all rules described by the Sindh government, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and Heritage Department were kept in mind before signing of a MoU regarding Frere Hall maintenance.
The MoU will be put up before the KMC Council for consideration and only after its approval will the work begin.
GB Chairman Shahid Feroz, Jamil Yousuf, Amin Hashwani, Arshad Tayebali, Durria Kazi, Saleem Khan, Komal Pervez, KMC Municipal Commissioner Dr Asghar Abbas, Senior Director Coordination Masood Alam, Scenario Director Law Azra Muqeem, KMC Director Culture Shams Masoodi, Director Culture and Sports Khurshid Shah and other officers were also present on the occasion.
Wasim Akhtar and Shahid Feroz signed the documents on behalf of the KMC and GB respectively.
The project area of this MoU shall include the Frere Hall Building including Sadequain Art Gallery, Liaquat Hall Library and Bagh-e-Jinnah Gardens.
The GB shall include the Karachi mayor as Patron in Chief and Shahid Feroz as its chairman.
Karachi mayor said neither this is a Non-Government Organisation nor the Frere Hall being handed over to anyone. I had requested these well-known people to join hands with me for maintenance and improvement of Frere Hall Sadequain Library and Liaquat Hall Library, Akhtar clarified.
He said the GB will try its best to preserve the heritage of the building and promote cultural and art activities on the premises.
The income received from here will be spent on the betterment of this project and a certified chartered accountant company will conduct its audit on annual basis, the mayor concluded.
