KARACHI: Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Thursday announced uplift of the19th century Denso Hall vowing to restore all protected heritage buildings in the city.

During a visit to the Denso Hall with officials of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and Sindh government officials, he also inquired about the required facility and assistance to turn the colonial era building into the public space.

“In the past, we witnessed some efforts to uplift and restore this building, but unfortunately it still needed a comprehensive plan and its execution,” he said.

“I believe there should be a community hall, library and a museum in this building. Since it’s quite congested commercial area, we would also try to set up a firefighting facility within this vicinity. A proper plan would be put in place before its execution”.

Completed in 1886, Denso Hall was built as the first public library in Karachi to serve the native population. Located at a triangular corner formed by Mohammad Ali Jinnah Road, Murad Khan Road and Marriott Road in the old city area, the building is surrounded by several commercial centres. First in 2010, an attempt was made to restore Denso Hall as a heritage site, but the idea could not work. After nine years, in 2019, the hall’s facade, along with other heritage structures on Marriott Road, were cleaned but the uplift project failed to get completed.

The Mayor Karachi vowed that the Denso Hall uplift would be first exercise of the project under which the heritage buildings of the city would be restored.

“Apart from utilising the required financing and available resources, I would also appeal to Karachiites to support the KMC in this effort. We would identify all such heritage sites and take them up one by one for restoration and uplift,” added Mayor Wahab.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2023