Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar on Friday constituted a 12-member technical advisory group to look after the renovation work of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's (KMC) historical buildings. The group will come up with recommendations as how to restore, renovate and utilise the iconic Empress Market and other buildings in the metropolis. The renovation work would kick off in the second phase of ongoing anti-encroachment operation, said a KMC statement.

The group comprised of Metropolitan Commissioner Syed Saifur Rehman, Director General Culture and Tourism Sindh, Dean of Architecture and Planning department NED University Dr Noman Ahmad, architect Marvi Mazhar, Aqeel Bilgrami, Komal Pervez, Mehboob Khan, Syed Yawar Abbas Gilani, Shahid Abdullah, Rameez Baigh, and Noor Jahan Bilgrami.

It is relevant to mention here that a KMC's anti-encroachment cell on directives of the Supreme Court has removed encroachments at various city neighbourhoods particularly inside and around the historical buildings. The Mayor said that renovation and rehabilitation work on various buildings would start in the 2nd phase of anti-encroachment drive.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2018