LAHORE: The Alhamra Cultural Complex at Gaddafi Stadium is having multiple issues, thanks to indifference of the Lahore Arts Council (LAC) which manages it.

“It not only lacks the required number of security personnel but most CCTV cameras are out of order,” sources told Dawn.

There are many complaints about the complex, the foremost of which is that no executive director gives time to it and they prefer to sit at the Alhamra Art Center, The Mall, say sources. The practice, they say, has been going on for the last many years. They say it had been discussed in the past that the executive director should sit here at least three days a week but all EDs, except Athar Ali Khan who for a brief period of time had his sub office here, turned a deaf ear to it.

A foolproof security is needed at the complex which has an art museum having precious works of maestros. Other facilities also need to be manned by security personnel.

The Alhamra Academy of Performing Arts holds visual and performing art classes at the cultural complex but the rooms are in bad shape. The classes located at Alhamra on The Mall had recently been renovated and decorated, say sources.

They say the institution is being neglected as major events are held at the Alhamra Art Center, The Mall and the Gaddafi venue despite having an extremely beautiful and capacious place, an Open Air Theater and two halls is not much used.

Lahore Arts Council Executive Director Zulfiqar Ali Zulfi told Dawn that the complex had 12 CCTV cameras and none of them was out of order but the place where the system (of cameras) had been kept was not have an air-conditioning system. He said the AC would be installed soon.

He said he did have a sub office at the Alhamra Cultural Complex and visited it from time to time. As for the classes meant for performing art lessons, he said they would be renovated soon.

The council was taking measures to upgrade security at the complex and he had already held a meeting on Tuesday to address all these issues, said Mr Zulfi.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2022