ISLAMABAD, April 13: The National Art Gallery complex, promised as a gift to the people in 1997, was destined to be a repository of the works of art and a symbol of national creative expression.

The promise was made by the then prime minister’s special assistant Shahnaz Wazir Ali and again renewed by former culture minister S.K. Tressler, who made an earnest bid to have the building completed within two years.

But now, after 15 years — the complex had initially been planned in 1988 — only a bare structure is visible, and work on the project has been at a standstill since January this year.

Many reasons have been cited for the stoppage of work, including lack of funds as well as a dispute with the CDA, saddled with the deposit work to complete the assignment on time by the contractor, Arshad Traders.

Former PNCA Director-General Ghulam Rasul said the PNCA had allowed the funds to remain unutilized and, in fact, returned them to the government. However, culture division deputy secretary Enamul Haque dismissed the allegation. “The fact is that no amount had been allocated for the project in the annual development programme as the PNCA had reported no physical progress.”

PNCA project director Iqbal Ahmad Khan said his organization was keen to see the completion of the building as soon as possible and had provided adequate fund for the project.

The PNCA director, (administration and finance), Mr Khalid, also furnished a resume of fund receipt and disbursement. Out of Rs88 million allocated, the PNCA had paid Rs72 million to the CDA, he said, adding that a sum of Rs15 million was still available with the PNCA and Rs60 million had been promised for the project during the next year.

He said work on the project was at a standstill because the contractor had been demanding an additional amount of Rs12 million as an escalation cost. The demand had been referred by culture ministry to the finance division, which was reluctant to provide the amount unless a revised PC-I form, inclusive of the new cost, was submitted and got approved.

At that, the complex had been subject to revisions a number of times, inclusive of its siting and cost factor. Originally, the building was planned with an estimated cost of Rs100 million in the vicinity where now stands the prime minister’s secretariat, to be completed in five years. The siting was changed to the present location behind the old Awami Markaz which nonetheless is still close to the main constitution boulevard.

Ms Shahnaz Wazir Ali had performed the ground-breaking ceremony of the project on Feb 26, 1996, after approval of the new cost of Rs249 million by ECNEC, on the basis of the lowest tendered estimate.

Architect Naeem Pasha, who has designed the complex, told Dawn about his part of arrangements. He was to supervise the building in terms of its architectural contents, and whether the specifications were being adhered to or not as well as for solving problems concerning the design.

In his opinion, the construction has suffered ‘because the government assigns little priority to places of culture and heritage.’—Jonaid Iqbal