Parrying the burden of friendship

Because of high maintenance costs, the symbolic Pak-China Friendship Centre is losing its utility.

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is reluctant to take possession of the newly constructed Pak-China Friendship Centre. Top officials of the civic body told The Express Tribune that maintenance of the “huge centre was a difficult task.”

Presented as a gift by the Chinese government to the people of Pakistan, Pak-China Friendship Centre was constructed with a cost of Rs3 billion at Shakarparian, Islamabad. CDA had allocated 12 acres land back in 2005 for the centre, which took 22 months to be completed.

At present, the centre is under the control of Ministry of Culture. But it has been finding it hard to bear the maintenance costs. Owing to these problems the symbolic centre of friendship is fast losing its utility.

Official sources said that the government had decided to take the control of maintenance, repair and management of the centre after a request by the Chinese government. It then sent all documents to Ministry of Culture for a temporary takeover, but the ministry has been unable to bear the cost.

On the other hand, CDA is not willing to take control of the centre either. “We heard that the control is being given to us,” a senior official said, adding, “The government is impressed by the way CDA operated the Convention Centre therefore the control of the new centre was being given to CDA.”

However, the official said that in the presence of Pakistan National Council of the Arts and Lok Virsa it was difficult for CDA to arrange a different set of interesting cultural shows and exhibitions. He added,  “I do not see any other option but to give it to a non-government-organisation (NGO) or some other party to make it function better.”

CDA Chairperson Imtiaz Inayat Elahi told The Express Tribune, “It is difficult for our staff to operate such places.” He added that all over the world, such places are being run by trusts and NGOs.

To a query, Elahi said that CDA was not reluctant to take the possession of the centre, but the ministry will continue to bear the maintenance expenses for the time being.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2011.