April 8, 2006	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 9, 1427

KARACHI, April 7: Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil has said that collaborative efforts based on partnership between public and private sectors are needed to preserve historical heritage in the city.

She was speaking as chief guest at a ceremony held on the occasion of cleaning of old KMC Building as part of city government’s campaign for preservation of historic buildings on Friday.

Among others, Sindh Finance Adviser M.A. Jalil, Deputy Governor of State Bank of Pakistan, Mansoor Ahmed Khan, Italian Consul-General Bruno Pasquino, Indonesian Consul-General Henny Mulliyani, British Deputy Chief of Mission, Ron Rimmex, noted industrialists, town and union council nazims, councillors, city notables, students of various educational institutions and people belonging to different walks of life were present on the occasion.

The naib nazim said that historical buildings were the reflection of our glorious past and should be protected to keep our past alive.

She said, “Everywhere in the world, the nations keep their monumental and historical assets intact so that their history could not be forgotten by their successive generations.” She said that the city government of Karachi was doing the same to protect monumental buildings and historical assets in the city.

Nasreen Jalil said that cultural, literary and pedantic activities were going on in the city and it was the clear sign of city’s liveliness.

About the Karachi zoo building, she said that its condition was pathetic and need to be modernized in order to keep intact its historical importance.

She said that Denso Hall, Clifton Bridge and Khaliq Dina Hall would be cleaned and washed during the city government’s campaign for preservation of historical buildings. She said that cleanliness and related work would be supervised by the President of Heritage Foundation Pakistan, Yasmin Lari, who voluntarily agreed to work with the city government.

Nasreen Jalil said that Karachi was city of all of us and protection of its historic heritage was our collective responsibility. She said that it was for this reason that city government organized the programme of preserving historical buildings and developing awareness about the same.

She said that out of 600 historic buildings, the city government is taking care of 44 of them. “The people of this city have to pay back their debt to this city and we can turn out as civilized people by observing the laws”.

The naib nazim said that Haq Parast leadership was implementing a number of important schemes with future planning for development of this city. This was evident from round-the-clock work going on roads, bridges, under-passes etc which on completion would help ease the traffic problem, she said.

Talking to journalists, Chief of Mission British Deputy High Commission Ron Rimmex appreciated the efforts of city government for preservation of historic buildings of Karachi. He said that the campaign for preservation of historical buildings must continue. He also talked to school children and showed his love for them.

Italian Consul-General Bruno Pasquino assured of cooperation in the city’s cultural activities and development efforts. She said that Milan Municipal Corporation was cooperating in the provision of buses and trucks in Kabul and garbage recycling. She said a cultural delegation was also coming here from Italy which would the examine possibility of cooperation in Karachi.

Later, Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil along with the citizens, foreign guests, diplomats and famous TV artists washed the boundary walls of the KMC building.

Shahzad Roy sung a song representing Karachi’s culture and its heritage. People from different walks of life also participated in the campaign meant to maintain the original character of the historic structures. Students from different schools of the city displayed sketches of historical buildings of Karachi made by them at different stalls on the occasion. –PPI/APP