Preserving heritage

Recently, netizens of the city were irked by a gate that was under construction at the entrance of Frere Hall gardens

If you have had the chance to commute via Abdullah Haroon road in Karachi, you have probably witnessed a magnificent cultural monument standing upright opposite the old US embassy building, surrounded by a lush and vast garden. This is Karachi’s famous Frere Hall. Originally intended to serve as a town hall after its completion in 1865, it now serves as a cultural hub, an exhibition and recreational space, and a library. It is an emblem of diversity and inclusion.

Recently, netizens of the city were irked by a gate that was under construction at the entrance of the Frere Hall gardens. KMC came under fire not only because of the illegal construction but also for planning to introduce an entrance fee. Activists, architects and planners contend that this is an attempt by the state to privatise and gentrify the site, while the corporation has asserted that gates were being added as part of a beautification project — an absurd idea in itself. A gate will not just interrupt the view of onlookers, thereby distorting the aesthetic beauty of the city, but it will also create a literal and metaphorical boundary between the space and the people.

The situation highlights three key issues that Karachi has long been dealing with: failure to preserve cultural heritage sites; restriction of the right to space for citizens; and creation of gated spaces reserved for certain segments of the population. Such sites are an essential part of our rich history and culture. They must remain open to the common man and preserved as much as possible in its original form.

Sanity eventually prevailed and the SHC has ordered the demolition of the illegally constructed gate. While we acknowledge that problems such as littering and vandalism also do persist, creating gates are not a viable solution. Instead, stakeholders need to sit together and collectively chart out plans to ameliorate these issues.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2022.

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