(Pressa Afrin)

I was born and brought up in this chaotic city. Its bustling streets, busy people and beautiful heritage have always fascinated me. Year after year, as I grew older, I noticed that Karachi was losing its beauty due to various reasons, mainly its architectural heritage. Whenever I travel on my way to my university in the heart of the old city, I can’t help but reflect on the stark contrast between the city’s glorious past and sad present.

Karachi is blessed with a vast treasure of architecture but unfortunately, a large part of this treasure has been wasted due to neglect and indifference. The magnificent buildings of Karachi reflect its historical grandeur. Karachi’s architectural landscape is a sight to behold, from new settlements and architectural styles to Indo-Islamic masterpieces. However, as the city embraced modernity, traces of these treasures began to fade. Decades of neglect and indifference have left Karachi’s architectural heritage untouchable
Forgiveness has hurt. These abandoned structures, once a symbol of pride and identity, have now lost their glory and are standing in a state of decay.

Among these lost treasures is the magnificent Friar’s Hall, a valuable architectural heritage. It was used as a library and town hall during the British rule and today, it is a reminder of the city’s glorious past. Another architectural heritage of the same period, Denso Hall and Linery is also a silent witness to the changing times, 1886. It was a magnificent building built in Saddar’s area, which now lies abandoned, and is slowly deteriorating.

The magnificent building of Empress Market, standing quietly in the dusty Saddar area, is now seen lamenting its dilapidated condition. Empress Market is still crowded with people, but the surrounding stalls and illegal shops have preserved its beauty. Thus, the pre-partition building on Outram Road was declared a heritage site in 1995, but after a few years, builders started demolishing it bit by bit. Today, all that remains of this architectural treasure are the front walls. Another landmark is the Meriwether Clock Tower. This too is being neglected by the administration

These are the buildings that show the new generation of Pakistan glimpses of the glorious history of Karachi. Many of these buildings are either open to private offices or have been converted into a commercial market. Today, the owners of historical heritage are more interested in selling them as their prices have increased a lot. On the other hand, the land mafia has also eyed such historical buildings so that they can make money by constructing modern buildings and plazas in their place.

To truly bring back Karachi’s architectural heritage, collective efforts are needed and government agencies, heritage conservationists, architects and the general public will have to come together to protect and restore these architectural wonders. Fortunately, there are still individuals and organizations who understand the importance of Karachi’s architectural heritage and are fighting to save it. Through various campaigns, they are creating awareness and awareness among the administration and public. And they are getting support from common man and authorities alike.
. There is a need for us to unite and take Karachi’s architectural heritage on the path of restoration and ensure that the fading whispers of the past continue to reverberate for generations to come.