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KMC to provide its spaces for literary, cultural events for free

Our Correspondent
Monday, Jan 13, 2025

Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab has announced that educational, literary and cultural programmes would be organised at the buildings, parks and open spaces owned by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). He said KMC would provide these spaces free of charge, and also provide complete support to facilitate such initiatives.

The mayor said spaces such as Baradari (the Polo Ground), the Frere Hall, the Khaliq Dina Hall, the Denso Hall, the KMC Building City Council Hall, the Bagh Ibne Qasim, the Kidney Hill Park, the Aziz Bhatti Park and other KMC-administered locations are available for hosting these activities.

Wahab announced that the KMC would organise weekly discussions on the city’s development and cultural heritage. He said that these sessions would feature prominent intellectuals, writers, critics and other distinguished individuals who would share their insights on the city’s future.

He also said that their valuable input would contribute to devising strategies to improve and beautify the city. He highlighted the need to revive the city’s cultural vibrancy by

opening historical KMC buildings and public spaces that have long been inaccessible.

He explained that these spaces can serve as hubs for seminars, conferences, art exhibitions, musical performances and poetry recitals. Artists, singers and musicians will have opportunities to showcase their talents, while researchers and writers can engage in dialogues about the city’s past, present and future, he added.

He pointed out that such efforts are aimed at restoring the city’s legacy as a centre for intellectual, literary and cultural activities. He expressed regret over the gradual erosion of the city’s distinctive identity as a hub of knowledge and culture, and stressed the need to reclaim this lost heritage.

The mayor said that in order to organise educational and literary events at KMC spaces, interested individuals can contact the senior director of media management at the KMC’s office on the first floor of the KMC Building on MA Jinnah Road. He assured the KMC’s full cooperation in supporting such initiatives.

Earlier, Wahab had said that cultural and heritage activities in Karachi would be promoted alongside improving the city’s infrastructure and development projects. In addition to fulfilling municipal duties, historical buildings and sites in Karachi would be restored, he maintained.

He emphasised that Karachi belongs to all of us, and its citizens would continue to serve it. He added that development projects are under way in all seven districts of Karachi, and 2025 would be a milestone year for the city’s development.

He stressed that the KMC has the necessary funds for all development projects. “Unlike in the past, we won’t complain about lack of powers or funds. Instead, we’ll fulfil the promises made to the people, and the Pakistan Peoples Party [PPP] won’t disappoint the citizens who elected us.”

He also said that the ongoing development work would demonstrate the city’s progress. The PPP focuses on projects that benefit the public, he added. The mayor said that under PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto’s leadership, Karachi’s journey of improvement and development would continue.