F-9 Park club to be converted into cultural centre
Nayyar Ali Dada, the principal architect of the project, confirmed the development
ISLAMABAD:
The under-construction Citizens Club at Fatima Jinnah Park will be converted into a cultural centre.
The city managers and architect of the project agreed to this new arrangement at a meeting held at the Capital Development Authority (CDA) headquarters on Tuesday to discuss the fate of the club’s building in light of the Supreme Court (SC) direction.
Margalla Hills National Park: CDA to launch cleanliness drive
In 2010, structure of the club, over 20-acres of land, was near completion when the SC declared the facility illegal, as according to the apex court judges it would only serve “elite of society with a commercial perspective.”
The SC, however, had allowed CDA to use the building for some “public welfare project” rather abandoning it given the huge amount spent on it at the time when it was declared illegal.
Nayyar Ali Dada, the principal architect of the project, confirmed the development. He said that it had been decided to complete the remaining work of the building by the end of this year.
“Additionally, an amount of around Rs800 million will be required to completely finish the task under new arrangements,” Dada said. The centre would house auditoriums, museums, library and sporting facilities.
“Original design of the project will remain intact. Only utility of already constructed facility will be changed,” he said adding decision about how to manage and run the facility would be taken at a later stage.
He said work on the project remained suspended for almost six years since the SC judgment about the project but now it would be resumed.
Fatima Jinnah Park to have its own Ferris wheel
The total cost of the project was Rs1.3 billion and so far around Rs1 billion has been spent on it. Suspension of construction work for six years resulted in cost escalation of Rs500 million.
Few days ago, state minister for Capital Administration and Development Division also visited the building and directed the officials to make it functional, said an official privy to the developments.
The visit was part of the idea to convert the building into a medical university. Even, architect of the project had also endorsed and briefed the secretary to President of Pakistan over the issue of establishment of a university.
However, CDA took notice of the issue and sought an explanation from the architect. Dada tendered an apology.
The civic agency spokesperson Ramzan Sajid, when contacted, said the establishment of a national centre or cultural centre at the building was under consideration but it had not been finalised yet.
“The CDA will soon send this proposal to the Centre for its opinion on the issue,” Sajid said. He said around Rs600-800m were required to complete the building.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2016.
The under-construction Citizens Club at Fatima Jinnah Park will be converted into a cultural centre.
The city managers and architect of the project agreed to this new arrangement at a meeting held at the Capital Development Authority (CDA) headquarters on Tuesday to discuss the fate of the club’s building in light of the Supreme Court (SC) direction.
Margalla Hills National Park: CDA to launch cleanliness drive
In 2010, structure of the club, over 20-acres of land, was near completion when the SC declared the facility illegal, as according to the apex court judges it would only serve “elite of society with a commercial perspective.”
The SC, however, had allowed CDA to use the building for some “public welfare project” rather abandoning it given the huge amount spent on it at the time when it was declared illegal.
Nayyar Ali Dada, the principal architect of the project, confirmed the development. He said that it had been decided to complete the remaining work of the building by the end of this year.
“Additionally, an amount of around Rs800 million will be required to completely finish the task under new arrangements,” Dada said. The centre would house auditoriums, museums, library and sporting facilities.
“Original design of the project will remain intact. Only utility of already constructed facility will be changed,” he said adding decision about how to manage and run the facility would be taken at a later stage.
He said work on the project remained suspended for almost six years since the SC judgment about the project but now it would be resumed.
Fatima Jinnah Park to have its own Ferris wheel
The total cost of the project was Rs1.3 billion and so far around Rs1 billion has been spent on it. Suspension of construction work for six years resulted in cost escalation of Rs500 million.
Few days ago, state minister for Capital Administration and Development Division also visited the building and directed the officials to make it functional, said an official privy to the developments.
The visit was part of the idea to convert the building into a medical university. Even, architect of the project had also endorsed and briefed the secretary to President of Pakistan over the issue of establishment of a university.
However, CDA took notice of the issue and sought an explanation from the architect. Dada tendered an apology.
The civic agency spokesperson Ramzan Sajid, when contacted, said the establishment of a national centre or cultural centre at the building was under consideration but it had not been finalised yet.
“The CDA will soon send this proposal to the Centre for its opinion on the issue,” Sajid said. He said around Rs600-800m were required to complete the building.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2016.