Written by: Farheen Abdullah
Posted on: May 10, 2019 | 
| 中文
Students of Karachi busily engaged in facade cleaning
In light of the directives issued by the Supreme Court to revive the glory of Karachi, Heritage Foundation of Pakistan has embarked on a scientific cleaning of the facades of Karachi’s historic buildings. Rotary Club New Central, The Dawood Foundation, StarLinks and Visual World have collaborated with Heritage Foundation for this initiative. The civil society movement has been further facilitated by Commissioner Karachi and Karachi Administration.
Since the year 2000, Heritage Foundation of Pakistan’s outreach arm, Karavan Pakistan has involved communities and youth in heritage safeguarding activities. Some of their recent initiatives include the conservation of the endangered 19th century Sethi Houses in Peshawar for the KPK Government, the first phase of conservation of Denso Hall in Karachi supported by KESC, and saving records of Karachi Municipality dating back to 1874 and the Karachi eLibrary, in partnership with the Consulate General of Germany.
With a cleaning initiative, Heritage Foundation of Pakistan has revived Karavan Karachi after nearly two decades. Beginning with the historic Denso Hall, facades of all buildings located on Marriott Road (near M.A. Jinnah Road) are being taken up one at a time every Sunday. Located in the heart of Old Karachi, Denso Hall was designed by James Strachan, the Municipality Engineer, and was built in the Indo-Gothic style using buff coloured Gizri stone in 1886. During the British period, it was among the first buildings allocated to local citizens for use as a reading room and hall. On the opposite side of the road are several historic buildings built by the old merchant princes, serving as a reminder of Karachi’s reputation as the largest wheat exporter of the British Empire. Over time, these historic landmarks have become part of Karachi’s downtown, and rapid development of the metropolis has resulted in destruction and deterioration of these architectural assets.
The activity organised by Heritage Foundation for the preservation of these heritage sites has been combined with Karavan Karachi street festival, which is designed to develop a sense of ownership amongst the local citizens, and to demonstrate to future generations how important our heritage is. The first session of the series was held on Sunday, 14th April, where Architect and CEO of Heritage Foundation of Pakistan, Yasmeen Lari, demonstrated the method for gentle scientific cleaning of the beautiful buff-coloured stone to volunteers. Since then, each Sunday has provided an opportunity to all Karachiites to participate in the activity, and has been attended by reporters, celebrities, students, and families.
The cleaning process has been taking place in a festive atmosphere, with the street decorated with colourful Karavan Karachi and The Dawood Foundation banners, school bands performing on the street, handicraft stalls set up, and activities taking place on the stage. “After all 14 heritage facades located on the street have been scrubbed clean, heritage plaques will be installed on each structure. The street will be notified as part of Karachi’s historic trail and will be pedestrianized,” said Yasmeen Lari while telling us her hopes for the project. “Paved with terracotta cobbles, it will carry trees and plantation with street furniture and well-designed signage. It is expected that it will become a showcase of all that is good about our amazing metropolis and its residents!”
While the activities have been paused for the month of Ramzan, they will commence from 9th June, with the same enthusiasm. Karachiites, especially students, who wish to volunteer for the cause, can register themselves by contacting Heritage Foundation of Pakistan. With the right team, resources, and commitment, we can all try and turn Yasmeen Lari’s dream into a reality.
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