‘Renovation of alMarkaz-e-Islami to complete soon’

An artists’ corner will be set up there, says Karachi administrator

The renovation work of the alMarkaz-e-Islami, located near Ayesha Manzil, would be completed soon, said Karachi administrator Iftikhar Shallwani on Wednesday.

He visited the Islamic centre on the day and he announced that 10 computers with internet connections would be placed in its library to facilitate students.

The administrator stated that people living in Central district would be able to host educational, religious and cultural events after the construction an the auditorium at the centre.

He further said that an artists’ corner would also be set up at the facility, where calligraphers and painters would work on their creations. Moreover, he added, artists would be able to exhibit their work at the centre as majority of art galleries in the city remained inaccessible for budding artists.

“The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation will offer the opportunity to all the calligraphers and painters in the city to display their artwork here without any discrimination,” he assured.

He further stated that 41 pieces of marbles, with the verses of Surah-Al Rehman engraved on them by renowned artist Sadequain had been put on display in the library.

Parks director-general Taha Saleem, culture, sports and recreational senior director Syed Khursheed Shah and other officers were accompanying Shallwani on the occasion.

In 2017, the Supreme Court (SC) had directed the provincial government and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to restore to its original position a portion of the alMarkaz-e-Islami, which had been converted into a cinema.

The court had also directed action against persons who had turned the place into a cinema, in violation of the rules.

The Islamic cultural centre was planned during the tenure of then Jamaat-e-Islami mayor Abdul Sattar Afghani. Spreading over six acres of land, the building, named the alMarkaz-e-Islami, was planned in Federal B Area to comprise hostels, a library, picture gallery, research hall for 100 people and an auditorium for around 350 people. Later, during the tenure of the party’s Naimatullah Khan, it was planned that a Quran-o-Sunnat Academy would be set up there.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2020.