Frere Hall gate.

ARCHITECT Marvi Mazhar, through social media, informed the people of Karachi that a gate had been designed and was under construction for the Frere Hall Gardens. She also pointed out through photographs and sketches that the gate would obstruct the view to perhaps the most important landmark, after the Empress Market, of Karachi, which, along with its gardens, is listed as heritage under the Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act, 1994. The Sindh High Court a couple of days later declared the gate illegal and ordered its demolition. The KMC has responded.

A gate for Frere Hall was also discussed about 10 years ago. But then, it is possible that it will resurface 10 years later unless a change in the culture of our local government takes place and unless our architectural community embraces professional ethics.

Many reasons have been given for the building of the gate. One was that a fee could be collected from visitors for the maintenance of the park. Another reason was that vandalism could be controlled: drug addicts take away parts of the park furniture which they sell to purchase drugs. Yet another reason was that by imposing a fee, you get rid of the 'riff-raff' that degrades the social ambience and is responsible for the harassment of women. And also that hawkers licensing and entry into the park would be easier to manage.

There are answers to these reasons. There are other ways to generate funds for maintenance than a fee or the support of philanthropists for the purpose. It needs a serious discussion which can perhaps benefit all parks in Karachi and make them entrance fee-free as they should be. In many countries of the world, there is park vandalism and it is contained by developing vandal-proof park furniture. We can also do this. Better surveyance is possible but not if maintenance contractors pay their chowkidars Rs1,200 a month. After all, during the time that entry to the park was banned for the security of the American consulate, there was no vandalism. Regarding the 'riff-raff', it seems that those who cannot pay an entrance fee are not considered Pakistanis. As far as hawkers are concerned, anyone who knows how the street economy functions, also knows that they are quite capable of organising themselves, maintaining accounts and membership registers, and they can do the same in a park provided they are consulted and made a part of the process of maintenance and operation.

For 150 years, this historical building had...