00:09Karachi is a city that never sleeps
00:12The streets here are always alive
00:15But have we ever noticed those dilapidated buildings?
00:18who are breathing their last on the roadside
00:22In today's explainer, we'll explore Karachi's vibrant street culture and its dying historical heritage.
00:29strange and poor
00:30But let's try to understand this very interesting combination.
00:33Now imagine a big city that is rapidly moving towards stubbornness.
00:38How does it maintain a balance between its amazing street culture and those old historical buildings?
00:44This is the fundamental question that will form the foundation of our entire discussion today.
00:48Because, believe me, carrying progress and date together is not an easy task at all.
00:53So let's start with Karachi's busy roads and its growing urban problems.
01:00If we look closely at these large urban pressures, Surte Hall appears quite complex.
01:05On the one hand, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) is considering plans for housing for the Mamdani people.
01:12Still working
01:13But look at the other side, there is such a severe shortage of water that recently a judicial commission could not
01:19Restrictions had to be imposed on the construction of tall buildings
01:21This is clear evidence of the immense pressure the city's infrastructure is currently under.
01:27Is
01:27And then look at this 94.53 percent Himsa
01:30Yes, this surprising decline in housing finance growth at the end of 2016.
01:36The real estate sector's Mashi Baharan is absolutely swayed
01:39New tax laws and the uncertain market situation
01:43The middle class has been kept away from taking loans to build houses.
01:47Well, despite all these physical obstacles, efforts are definitely being made to improve the city.
01:52For example, 400 roads in Kurangi were repaired at a cost of Rs 25 lakh.
01:56The plan is to convert them into model streets so that some relief can be provided from garbage and broken roads.
02:01Now let's move away from these big issues and go into the heart of old Karachi.
02:05i.e. towards Ranchor Line
02:07The streets here are truly alive with their famous and cheap restaurants.
02:11You will get Rehmat Bhai's spicy chole chaat for just 30 cents, that is, at a very cheap price.
02:17And what can I say about the magic of tamarind and mint chutney in it.
02:21Then there are those soft khoya gulab jamuns that melt as soon as you put them in your mouth.
02:26And yes, that famous Lemon Ginger Masala Limca of Ghausia for Rs 90
02:30Once you taste it, it is really difficult to forget it.
02:34After all, this is the real identity of this lucky person.
02:37One thing that strikes me the most about this
02:40It is the cultural heritage of these areas which cannot be touched.
02:44But it can definitely be felt
02:46This shopkeeper is using his 55-year-old family tradition.
02:50The passion with which you are saving
02:52He gives this road a lively and dynamic energy.
02:55which is not available anywhere else
02:56It's just a little food
02:58This is a complete tradition passed down from generation to generation.
03:00But right behind this vibrant street culture
03:04Our history tells a different story.
03:06What is at stake?
03:09To understand this, we need to take a look at the glorious historical timeline of Karachi.
03:14The city started from Koro Kola during the time of Sakandar Azam.
03:17Karachi during the British period
03:20And finally in 1947 it became the first Darul Hukoomat of Pakistan.
03:24Just think, centuries of history are buried in the soil of this city.
03:28And the most important point here is this number.
03:311000
03:321000
03:33There are approximately 1000 such historical buildings in Karachi.
03:38Which has been declared a protected heritage under the Preservation Act of 1994
03:43But the truth is that these buildings are currently in grave danger.
03:47And there is a great lack of practical measures that are required to save them.
03:52A very strong contrast is seen here.
03:55On one side is a wonderful array of aromatic food and cheerful shopkeepers.
04:01And right behind them stand the historical monuments of the British era, now turning into ruins.
04:06Plants have grown on their walls, naked stars are hanging and the historical windows are closed with cement.
04:12Has been given
04:13This scene is quite disturbing in itself.
04:15Now it is also worth noting here that public species are often victims of various conflicts.
04:21Like the ongoing dispute between KMC and Sindh Government over using the Frere Hall for a food festival.
04:26legal dispute
04:27Or defacing the beautiful portraits of artists on the walls of the Karachi Press Club with political wall chalking.
04:33There were even legal battles to remove Hotel Metropole from the list of protected heritage sites.
04:38All this justifies how complicated the matter of Sakafti Maqamat has become.
04:43Let us now understand this issue a little more closely and talk about one such historical building.
04:49of
04:49This is Hari Bhai Praje's Karia High School
04:52It was renovated in 1926 by a Hindu prominent figure.
04:56The building is a beautifully executed combination of streamlined modern, late Art Deco and Anglo-Saxon style architecture.
05:04Later it was also used as the doctors' mess of the Civil Hospital.
05:07But by 2017 it was left completely deserted.
05:10This building is a perfect example of the arrival of world-class construction in Karachi in the 1920s.
05:16The features of this building are amazing.
05:19Those rounded and stubborn corners, the exquisite finishing of the color crete, the sun ray-like design of the stones, the arches
05:27But the Chivarron patterns and those magnificent stone porches
05:30These things give an idea of how forward-thinking the architects of that era were.
05:35How beautifully he used modern materials like reinforced concrete with local style.
05:41But before saving any such masterpiece, it is very important to document it completely.
05:48And for this purpose, a research firm named Studio Perspective has made basic preparations to protect this building.
05:54started
05:55He had to go through these four extreme stages
05:58From searching old archives to physical measurements, then making digital drawings on AutoCAD and finally
06:06taking detailed pictures in
06:08All this was absolutely necessary to prepare a complete map of the damage to this property.
06:12Now the biggest challenge here was that 3D scanning technology was not available.
06:18So the researchers literally had to measure the excrement with their own hands.
06:22He used very basic materials like water pipes, plumbing fixtures, and ordinary measuring tapes.
06:28This process was long and demanding, but this dedication helped me understand the intricacies of the building.
06:35played a very important role
06:36Once this information was collected, the next step was to preserve it for the future.
06:41Now, with the help of these documents, we can determine that the mistakes of the past several decades have been rectified.
06:47How to do it after all
06:48The intention is absolutely right to restore the roots of the plants using mild chemicals without harming the historical essence of the building.
06:56will be eliminated
06:57The oil paint will be removed from the wood and it will be brought back to its original condition and water leaks will be sealed permanently.
07:03will be stopped for
07:04This is a very targeted and safe recovery plan.
07:08This practice is called adaptive reuse.
07:11That is, instead of constructing new buildings, adapting existing historical structures for new purposes.
07:17This is a great and affordable solution for Karachi.
07:20And the best part is that we can see this plan in historical buildings like State Bank Museum and Mota Palace.
07:26have already seen the success of
07:27So finally let's end this article on one question.
07:31Just think about it the next time you're enjoying those wonderful flavors from Ranchod Line
07:37If the historic walls that surrounded these streets fell forever
07:41So will the form of this vibrant community remain?
07:44If our history is lost in the dust
07:46So can the city's cultural identity truly survive?
Comments