KARACHI, Sept 5: Speakers at a ceremony on Sunday stressed that a nation could not progress in the true sense unless it took great care and preserved its heritage.

The launching ceremony of I.I. Chundrigar Road beautification programme was held at the State Bank of Pakistan's library building. The function was addressed among others by the governor of State Bank, Ishrat Hussain; City Nazim Naimatullah Khan; and Yasmeen Lari.

A large number of schoolchildren painted the picture of the bank's library building. The impressive building is among the rare structures constructed with the pink sand stone "Chhatar", which is found in Jodhpur, Rajasthan (India).

As a contemporary of the Sindh High Court, this British period imperial structure began its life as the State Bank of India in 1923 with a conservative architectural expression.

Having spurned both Anglo and Mughal, which was in vogue at that time in Karachi, as well as the international modern style, the bank opted for a neo classical expression incorporating a raised podium, simplified Doric columns and a deep pediment free entablature to crown its central portico.

The building was later taken over by the State Bank of Pakistan. The speakers expressed concern that a large number of the beautiful heritage buildings had fallen prey to the greed of the builders mafia, which had demolished these architectural gems and raised concrete monsters for profits.

They said that architects should take up the challenge and chalk out plans to make these great heritage structures fully function keeping in view the demands of modern times.

They urged the authorities concerned to impose ban on demolition of these heritage structures and take appropriate steps so that these could be used properly without compromising on their architectural designs.

Under the beautification programme, all old buildings along the I.I. Chundrigar Road would be restored to their old grandeur, they said, adding that it is the duty of the present generation to protect and preserve the heritage.

Later, certificates were distributed among the schoolchildren who had made the painting. A long mural, that the schoolchildren had prepared in the Lahore Fort, was also on display at the ceremony.