January 05, 2009	Monday	Muharram 07, 1430

KARACHI, Jan 4: The New Sindh Secretariat complex design, with minor alterations, is ready to be included in the new financial year’s annual development programme. This was stated by Syed Sardar Ahmad, a provincial minister and one of the three members of a committee set up last October after objections were raised by ministers when a presentation was given of the secretariat towers’ proposed design.

During the presentation, some of the ministers were critical about its façade, which was not in line with the Victorian architecture of the historic Sindh Assembly Building and the Sindh High Court Building.

The proposed secretariat towers have been planned on the site of old barracks, located on the right and left side of the Sindh High Court Building. Currently, several government offices, including the finance, education, archaeology, local government and information offices, are located in this area.

A presentation was also given to President Asif Ali Zardari during a visit to Karachi. At the time, he suggested that open space be left around the towers to be used for plants. He said such a move would help check pollution, and would also add to the aesthetic beauty of the building, according to provincial information minister Shazia Marri.

When asked if the design had been finalised after input from the cabinet, she said the project was almost ready for presentation.

Minister Sardar Ahmed told Dawn that his committee was entrusted with bringing the façade of the office towers in line with that of other historic buildings in the vicinity. He said the task had been accomplished, and that the design now had to be presented to the cabinet for approval.

He said that the structural design of the building had been modelled to suit the required seismic design code.

The need for a new secretariat complex has been felt as currently offices are scattered across the area, in secretariat buildings, Tughluq House and several barracks.