Sindh govt seals remains of partially flattened heritage building in Karachi

Published November 1, 2023
The partly bulldozed Jamshed Katrak Chambers in Kharadar is fenced with a protective sheathing on Tuesday. —Fahim Siddiqi / White Star
The partly bulldozed Jamshed Katrak Chambers in Kharadar is fenced with a protective sheathing on Tuesday. —Fahim Siddiqi / White Star

KARACHI: The Sindh archaeology department has sealed a stunning pre-partition heritage building in Kharadar and issued a show-cause to the owner after the building was partially demolished a couple of days ago.

Jamshed Katrak Chambers built in 1932 was reportedly bought by a Zoroastrian businessman and philanthropist, Kavasji Katrak, who came to India in the early 1900s and settled in Rawalpindi before he moved to Karachi.

Later, he gave the building to one of his grandsons, Jamshed, who died in 2008.

The deputy director, heritage, Pirah Mangi, told Dawn on Tuesday that the building had been partially demolished late in the night two days ago and her team got it sealed through an assistant commissioner next morning halting any further demolishing.

She said that the department issued a show-cause notice to the owner who claimed to have obtained permission for demolition/construction work from the Sindh Building Control Authority.

The heritage officer said that there was also an issue of the plot number of the building and an inquiry was underway to ascertain the actual ownership of the building.

She said that a case would be registered after ascertaining facts under Section 18 of the Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act, 1994 for illegal demolishing of the building.

Ms Mangi said that the sealing order had been pasted on the wall of the Jamshed Katrak Chambers with a warning that if anyone trespassed on the subject premises or broke the seal, he or she would be prosecuted and punished under Section 18 of the heritage act.

Residents of the nearby building told Dawn that unknown people brought heavy machinery in the small hours of Sunday and started demolition.

Then hours later the field staff of the heritage department reached the spot along with police when almost half of the structure had already been demolished.

It may by noted that most of the heritage buildings are situated in district South of the metropolis and the builders’ mafias have demolished several protected buildings over the years.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2023

Opinion

Who bears the cost?

Who bears the cost?

This small window of low inflation should compel a rethink of how the authorities and employers understand the average household’s

Editorial

Internet restrictions
23 Dec, 2024

Internet restrictions

JUST how much longer does the government plan on throttling the internet is a question up in the air right now....
Bangladesh reset
23 Dec, 2024

Bangladesh reset

THE vibes were positive during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent meeting with Bangladesh interim leader Dr...
Leaving home
23 Dec, 2024

Leaving home

FROM asylum seekers to economic migrants, the continuing exodus from Pakistan shows mass disillusionment with the...
Military convictions
Updated 22 Dec, 2024

Military convictions

Pakistan’s democracy, still finding its feet, cannot afford such compromises on core democratic values.
Need for talks
22 Dec, 2024

Need for talks

FOR a long time now, the country has been in the grip of relentless political uncertainty, featuring the...
Vulnerable vaccinators
22 Dec, 2024

Vulnerable vaccinators

THE campaign to eradicate polio from Pakistan cannot succeed unless the safety of vaccinators and security personnel...