KARACHI, Aug 20: The Sindh governor has yet to release Rs5 million for the Koocha-i-Saqafat project, which was promised two months back. Sources told Dawn on Saturday that the Arts Council is facing facing shortage of funds for the Koocha-i-Saqafat, which had gained considerable popularity since its start on May 8.

Sindh governor Dr Ishratul Ibad had announced on May 29 that a grant of Rs5 million would be released for the Koocha-i-Saqafat project at the earliest.

“The Arts Council has to spend over Rs50,000 every Sunday on the Koocha-i-Saqafat project.

Erecting a marquee on a weekly basis requires a lot of money. Last week, we cut costs by not putting up the marquee and we plan to do the same tomorrow,” the sources said, adding visitors might be inconvenienced because of the heat and sunlight.

The sources said the Arts Council planned to set up a permanent shed along M.R. Kayani Road. They added that the shed would obviate the need for erecting a marquee every week.

They said that it was originally planned that the Aiwan-i-Riffat project would also be completed as part of Koocha-i-Saqafat.

“But bureaucratic hurdles are mainly responsible for the delay in the construction of the project, which is in limbo for years,” he said.

Funds earmarked for the construction of the Aiwan-i-Riffat project have lapsed for eight consecutive years. The former city government allocated Rs15 million for the construction of the project, which houses Fyzee Rahamin Art Gallery, this year. The unutilized funds lapsed on June 30, the last day of the financial year.

The sources said that the government agency tasked to complete the construction of the Aiwan-i-Riffat project had refused to do so.