Denso Hall Facade Cleaning Festival from April 14

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The historic Denso Hall Facade Cleaning Festival would be organized jointly by the Heritage Foundation Pakistan and Rotary Club Karachi New Central from April 14.

A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Commissioner Karachi, Itfikhar Shallwani, on April 1.

The founder of the Heritage Foundation and a renowned architect, Yasmeen Lari, briefed about the campaign which she described to be an effort to bring back the glory of Karachi. 

As a first step, the Heritage Foundation, is embarking on scientific cleaning of facades of Karachi’s historic buildings, beginning with the historic Denso Hall (1886) and then facades of all buildings located on Marriott Road will be taken up one at a time every Sunday as a voluntary movement for safeguarding Karachi’s heritage, and creating livelihood opportunities through pedestrianizing Marriott Road. 

The Rotary Club Karachi New Central has partnered in this noble venture and the government has ganted it its blessings. Architect Yasmeen Lari made a detailed presentation on the method for gentle scientific cleaning of Karachi’s beautiful buff coloured stone to heritage volunteers. 

It provides an opportunity to the Karachiites to participate in taking care of our heritage, Yasmin said, reminding that on various occasions Karavan Karachi’s streetfest activities were successfully carried out every Sunday, over seven months in 2001, from music to street theater to sketching. During this facade cleaning festival such activities will also be revived. 

On the occasion, the Commissioner Karachi stated that the Sindh government was making all out efforts for city's development and beatification and those from civil society who want to contribute would be considered a great support and encouraged by providing all possible support in this respect. 

He was of the opinion that the Façade Cleaning Festival would help the government to carry out its programme to bring back the city's past glory. He hoped the programme would be helpful to create greater public awareness regarding various environmental aspects and also define the way forward through cooperation of government agencies and civil society to make Karachi not only the cheapest city but among the most livable cities . 

Shallwani directed the officials of KMC, DMCs, and Traffic Police and other concerned agencies to extend all possible support with regard to the cleanliness and beautification work conceptualized by the Heritage Foundation’s programme Karvan Karachi for rehabilitation work of historic buildings and streets. 

The Commissioner was informed that it would be a scientific cleaning of facades of historic buildings and cleaning and greening of streets as a voluntary civil society movement which will show the enthusiasm of the Karachiites to begin taking care of their city's environment. 

The administration will provide security and traffic arrangements for the convenience of the general public for regular Sunday Karavan Karachi street festivals which will showcase Karachi's diverse cultural heritage and provide entertainment for families including youth and children.