Monumental conservation in Karachi, lessons for India

New Delhi, Mar 21 (UNI) From a mere 'ridge' in 325 BC to the present day 'high density multi-class city', Karachi city of Pakistan has come a long way.

Tracing the journey of the city, Karachi-based eminent architect-planner Arif Hasan, in his talk at the India Habitat Centre here yesterday, focused on Karachi's history, the evolution of the City and the current work on Heritage Conservation.

The eminent architect, who is in India on the invitation of Centre for Policy Research, is the founder Chairman of the Urban Resource Centre, Karachi since its inception and is involved with Orangi Pilot Project.

Mr Hasan highlighted on how the city evolved and the problems it faced. "Partition of India and Pakistan changed Karachi completely. The expansion of the markets engulfed the old city," Mr Hasan said. "Sadar bazaar is replete with remnants of the rich architectural heritage and history of the city. These architectural legacies, together with the endangered intangible culture of the city need conservation. The splendid cinemas of Sadar Bazaar have vanished, not a single music and dance school is left and most importantly the city lost its history," he added.

"The various master plans for the city were scrapped for one reason or the other. Karachi Master Plan 1975-1985 did not take place because of the change of government and Karachi Master Plan 2000 could not be implemented mainly because of growing unemployment amongst the youth and also because of the strange ways a government functions," Mr Hasan said.

Highlighting on the plan for the revitalisation and rehabilitation of the city, the architect-planner said recognising the importance of preserving historic city centers and ensembles of cultural property within the context of urban life, architects, city planners, and conservation professionals have sought to protect such sites while respecting the economic and social realities of those who live and work in these environments.

When asked whether they adhere to the principles laid down by UNESCO, Mr Hasan told UNI, "We do not follow the UNESCO principles for Conservation (at least in Karachi) rather we do not intend to follow them because if we do, there would be no conservation at all." More over we cannot afford them and if we do follow them there would be serious social repercussions," he added.

According to a recent report many Pakistani archaeological sites are crumbling because of a tussle between the federal and the provincial government over who should look after them. When asked as to what he thinks holds in future regarding the tussle between the officials, Mr Hasan told UNI, "The Provincial government would like to take care of the responsibility of the conservation and preservation, and why not. Yes the tussle is there but it will eventually be settled." With Delhi facing similar problems with the Master Plan 2021 and an ever increasing need to protect the countless derelict monuments of the city, solutions can be found from the experiences of conservation process in other cities.

Karachi and Delhi are similar in their problems with the exception that Delhi has a sizeable number of monuments to protect and conserve in contrast to Karachi.Assessment of the complexity of local, national, and international arrangements governing the management and conservation of cultural property within the urban environment are needed.

However, such arrangements require the will and political commitment of governments, beginning at the local level, with close cooperation between residents, non-governmental organizations, and municipal authorities, as well as agreements and formal and informal institutional arrangements between the public and private sectors.

UNI