Permanent art gallery to be assigned for Atiya Begum's works

The halls, galleries of Aiwan-e-Riffat will be made usable, says mayor

KARACHI: Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar has directed the establishment of a permanent art gallery in Aiwan-e-Riffat for the exhibition of antiques of Atiya Begum, in order to ensure that the citizens of Karachi take advantage of this historical heritage.

Karachi Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Syed Saifur Rehman, during a visit to Aiwan-e-Riffat with the director of General Technical Services and other officers on Sunday, said that there was a capacity of a hall and two galleries in the Aiwan-e-Riffat complex, which is currently under construction. Important steps should be taken to make them usable, said Rehman.



One of the galleries should be permanently assigned for the exhibition of the antiques of Atiya Begum, according to Rehman, while the second one should be used for the exhibition of works by different artists. The hall should be used to host different programmes.

Karachi mayor, approving this project, ordered a committee to be formed that would provide regular updates on the matter. Akhtar also said that the auditorium under construction will be one of the city's largest. "Most of the work on it has been completed. Ideas should be pitched in for its utilisation," he said.



Akhtar also surveyed the antiques of Atiya Begum, present in Aiwan-e-Riffat, and ordered that until there was no permanent gallery assigned for them, they should be put under extreme security and observation. "The project will be completed on priority basis," said Akhtar.

Culture, Sports and Recreation Senior Director Muhammad Rehan Khan gave a detailed briefing to the mayor and metropolitan commissioner about the project and informed them that the antiques were still preserved.