KARACHI, Nov 1: The city government has started construction of a landmark model called "The Gateway to Karachi" on Superhighway. The model has been prepared and conceived by veteran artist Ahmed Saeed Nagi.

Mr Nagi told Dawn on Monday that the landmark model would be constructed at a place 16.3 kilometres away from Sohrab Goth on Superhighway.

"I wrote a letter to the Sindh governor on Aug 13, asking him to consider the design of the model 'Gateway to Karachi' prepared by me. The government readily agreed to follow my model and I have received a letter from the city government which says that construction work on the project has started," he explained.

Mr Nagi said that the dimensions of the model would be: main gate 32X51 feet, base of arch 6X10 feet, platform/base 120 feet, four steps 6 feet, four fountains 12X4 feet. He added that there was a provision of four floodlights for the gateway model.

The veteran artist said that the model could be inscribed with the following Quranic verse: Man dakhal kana amana.

Mr Nagi, who was born in Amritsar in 1916, painted the first portrait of the Quaid-i-Azam from life. He has decorated the VIP lounges of airports in Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, Swat, Quetta and Gilgit. He has also designed and decorated the establishments of the armed forces.

A recipient of the President's Pride of Performance Award, Mr Nagi said he had not been paid by the city government for the preparation of the design. He added that the city government should pay him for his work.