Karachi:
For more than 35 years, art lovers in Karachi and in the world have waited for the completion of the Faizi Rahmeen art gallery, a formerly ambitious cultural project which remains unfinished in the heart of the largest city in Pakistan.
Depending on the details, the Faizi Rahmeen art gallery, located on Mr. Kiyani Road in Karachi, has been incomplete for the past three decades. The project was launched during the mandate of the former mayor of MQM, Dr Farooq Sattar, and in 1992, the construction of a three -story ground structure was completed. At the time, the estimated cost amounted to 80 million rupees.
The work progressed quickly until the launch of “cleaning of operations” against the MQM, which led to the dissolution of the system of elected local authorities and stopped the project. In the next governance era led by the administration, no other attention was paid to the completion of the gallery.
A brief renewal occurred in 2007, but the work remained limited to the installation of glass panels and floor tiles. Even now, the main civil work in the building is only about 70%. A scene and a room with seats for 1,800 people have been built, but the plastering and finishing work remain unfinished. Key elements such as electrical and mechanical systems, a rotating step and a professional audio system are still pending.
It should be noted that the Department of Culture, Leisure and Sports of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), affiliated with Karachi Arts Council, the office is on the site. This office was once the residence of the renowned author Atiya Begum and her husband, the famous artist Faizi Rahmeen.
This legendary couple, devoted to the promotion of literature, art and music, has migrated to Karachi from India at the request of Quaid-Ezam Muhammad Ali Jinnah at the time of the Foundation of Pakistan. Following his instructions, this plot of land was allocated to them. Atiya’s home in Indiya has been appointed Awan-E-Riffat, and the Karachi residence has kept the same name, which continues to date.
Before his death, Atiya Begum gave his house, the open intrigue adjacent, precious paintings, clothes, rare books and other artifacts at KMC with confidence with the explicit intention that an art gallery is established on the site. KMC then set up its culture, sports and leisure office in Awan-E-Riffat, as well as a small library housing the collection of books by Faizi Rahmeen and some paintings on display. The Faizi Rahmeen art gallery is supposed to be built on the same plot configured by Atiya Begum.
A superior officer of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), speaking under the cover of anonymity, revealed that the Faizi Rahmeen art gallery had remained incomplete due to a lack of political priority given to the arts, culture or recreational activities for citizens.
“People in power are mainly focused on the construction of roads, bridges and sub-gliaments; very visible projects and offer clear political gains by stimulating voting banks. As well as road infrastructure is essential for the economy and transport, cultural and sports activities are vital for intellectual and physical development. The official.
Meanwhile, Syed Mehdi Maluf Zaidi, principal director of culture, sports and leisure at KMC, confirmed that the gallery project has been blocked for more than three decades. “We now need an estimated amount of 1 billion rupees to complete the project. Our team is preparing to submit the PC-1 proposal to the main approval. In the meantime, we plan to organize an exhibition presenting the paintings, clothing and rare artefacts of Zaidi.
