KARACHI, Jan 9: In an attempt to create a sense of responsibility among Karachiites for protection of the fast depleting and diminishing landmarks of the metropolis , some 100 young students of the city took upon themselves to clean the 19th century Wallace Bridge, and rejuvenate the originally buff coloured site made of sandstone.

The activity, held under the PSO Karavan 'Mera Pakistan' programme, has been organized every month in various parts of the country since 2001, with the motive to develop a sense of pride, belongingness and a culture of sharing among them.

Students of Woodland Secondary School, Shah Wilayat Public School, Bay View Academy, Karachi Port Trust Boys and Girls Secondary School, and Pakistan Railways Boys Secondary School participated in the activity.

This time the activity was organized at the Wallace Bridge, I.I. Chundrigar Road, around the railway quarters built in the 1880s, representing the arrival of the railway and the consequent prosperity to Karachi.

What made the entire event more interesting was the fact that not only were the Karavan Virsa volunteers that consisted of students, taught on how to carefully realize the responsibility of cleaning a heritage, but many of the passers-by including women and children too expressed their curiosity and keenness to be involved in similar pursuits. What they needed was guidance and a proper platform.

The kids who took upon themselves to clean the bridge ensured that they cleaned as gently as possible with clean water and a mild detergent, suitable for historic structures. After removing of layers of dust, the railings and walls of the bridge were scrubbed with bristle brushes to remove dirt, whitewash or other paint.

As observed during an experiment carried out earlier to determine the cleaning procedure, the removal of graffiti did emerge as a significant challenge.

Yasmeen Lari, the chairperson of the Karavan initiative, in her introductory remarks on the occasion, reminded that while no less than seven world heritage sites were located in Pakistan, the metropolitan held a treasure of 600 buildings identified as national heritage, which needed to be safeguarded so as to protect the historical identity of the port city.

Appreciative of the support extended by the Divisional Superintendent of the Pakistan Railways - Karachi, Junaid Qureshi, for his cooperation, Ms Lari announced that the children of Karachi would undertake a similar exercise next week at the City Railway Station.

"Students will paint a mural on the boundary wall of the Karachi City Railway Station and give it a clean and fresh look," she said, thanking officers and the staff of the PR for their presence and participation in the cleaning of bridge, which is under the PR control. - APP