Mayor wants private entities, individuals to collaborate with city government for Karachi’s uplift

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is ready to approve a policy to enable the private sector’s involvement in uplifting the facade of heritage buildings.

Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab made the announcement to this effect on Sunday while speaking at a session titled ‘Bunder Road Se Keamari, Confluence of Cultures’ at the Khalikdina Hall.

The event was organised by The Reading Room Karachi, which is a collaboration between Numaish–Karachi and the KMC. This project is funded by the British Council’s cultural protection fund in partnership with the UK government’s culture, media and sport department.

Wahab said he had seen good and bad times in the city. “Unfortunately, my generation has seen more of a bad time and less good time,” he remarked, adding that the KMC and the city administration were trying to connect with individuals who knew and understood the history of the city to make things better.

He said public-private partnership was the right way forward for a city like Karachi, where the municipal bodies had been undermined over the years. He recalled that the first mayor of Karachi, Jamshed Nusserwanjee, was the one who brought electricity to Karachi. “That was the sort of power that the municipality enjoyed 120 years ago,” he said lamenting that with the passage of time, things deteriorated and municipal powers were snatched.

He said he was glad to meet individuals regarding the restoration of the Khalikdina Hall. He said they did not come to say terrible things were happening; instead, they devised a plan and wanted to work with the municipality “and make things happen and create a success story in the city.”

Wahab said the idea was to amplify the glorious history of Karachi. He made an open offer to all the well-wishers of Karachi to leave criticism and work with the government. “Let’s create that relationship, let's create that synergy where governments work as facilitators and enablers. You bring your knowledge, vision and expertise, and then we can make things happen in the city,” he said.

After Khalikdina Hall and Frere Hall, the mayor said, the Denso Hall would be opened for the public in a few days. “We are trying to establish a proper digital library there. Sadequain’s hidden art has been recovered, which will be displayed [at the Denso Hall] with the KMC City Council’s approval,” he said.

He assured that participants that as the mayor, he was ready to develop a policy approved by the KMC City Council wherein the private sector could be involved for uplifting the facade of the heritage buildings.

“I am ready to engage in that. We can pass the law through our KMC City Council,” he said, adding that this would enable private partners wanting to serve the city to use corporate social responsibility funds for the purpose.