Karachi: Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar has said protection and improvement of Karachi’s buildings, sports grounds, parks and other assets is our responsibility. He sought help of citizens to maintain the historic building of Frere Hall.
He said in this regard a Guardian Board has already been set up, comprised of the citizens who love the megacity.
He said all rules pertaining to Sindh government, KMC and Heritage departments have been followed before signing of a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Frere Hall.
A 19-member Guardians Board has been formed for the maintenance and administration of the heritage building. The MoU will be put up in the KMC Council for consideration and after its approval work will begin.
He was speaking at a ceremony held in the Frere Hall on Friday for signing of the MoU for Guardians Board.
Chairman of the Guardian Board Shahid Feroz and other members Jamil Yousuf, Amin Hashwani, Arshad Tayebali, Durria Kazi, Saleem Khan, Komal Pervez, municipal commissioner KMC Dr. Asghar Abbas, senior director coordination Masood Alam, senior director law Azra Muqeem, director culture KMC Shams Masoodi, director culture and sports Khurshid Shah and other officers were also present.
Wasim Akhtar and Chairman of the Guardians Board Shahid Feroz signed the documents on behalf of the KMC and the Board.
The project area of this MoU shall include the Frere Hall Building including Sadequain Art Gallery and Liaquat Hall Library and Bagh-e-Jinnah Gardens.
The Guardian Board shall include the Mayor Karachi as Patron in Chief and Shahid Feroz as its Chairman whereas other members include Amin Hashwani, Arshad Tayebali, Asif Fancy, Durriya Kazi, Ghazi Salahuddin, Jameel Yousuf, Komal Pervez, Mohammad Saleem Khan, Pervez Said, Syed Mohammad Tariq Huda, Shahid Abdullah, Yawar Abbas Jilani, Municipal Commissioner, KMC, Chairman Culture Committee of KMC Council, Chairman Parks & Horticulture Committee of the KMC Council, Director General Parks & Horticulture, KMC and Director Culture KMC.
Akhtar said neither this is an NGO 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.
He said the Guardian Board will ensure preserving the heritage building and promote cultural and art activities in the premises.
The income received from here will be spent on the betterment of this project and a chartered accountant company will conduct its audit on annual basis.