During the recent Monsoon heavy downpour and thunderstorms most of Karachi’s main roads and streets got flooded with rain water. Denso Hall Rahguzar walking street however was prevented from such a catastrophic situation thanks to:
1- Four dense urban forests; 2 - Nine aquifer wells and 3 - terracotta covered porous pavements, as can bee seen from the photographs below.
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Ar. Yasmeen Lari has been featured as a guest speaker with David Ireland, CEO of World Habitat and other leading personalities on the episode titled ‘Scaling Up: Local Solutions to End Global Homelessness’ of the podcast World Affairs to discuss the global housing crisis – its roots, its demands, and how it can be resolved.
The episode can be accessed here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-affairs/id101215657?i=1000569510421
Topics: podcast, global housing crisis, climate change
News article on rehabilitation of historic Kharadar Chowk into an urban forest with community space by Heritage Foundation of Pakistan with the collaboration of Sindh Police, District Administration, KMC, KWSB, DMC, AC Arambagh.
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Gender Ecologies is a programme exploring the intersections of gender, climate, sustainability and heritage through community and built environments.
From 21-26 May 2022, British Council, Heritage Foundation Pakistan, INTBAU and BRAC University are bringing together a group of female students from
Bangladesh, Pakistan and the UK to build two low-tech, low-carbon structures on Granary Square, King’s Cross which
will highlight the central role of women in the climate revolution.
The installations will coincide with the British Council’s Pakistan-UK Season, which celebrates the important links between the two countries. A Pakistani chulah, earthen cooker, will be built by Pakistani artisans and students, alongside a few days of events.
The builds will be complemented by an interactive programme of talks, live music, poetry and food from 23 to 26 May 2022.
Link: https://www.britishcouncil.pk/programmes/arts/gender-ecologies
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Kharadar Chowk has an interesting history, which the old police post there is also a part of. Built sometime in the early 20th Century, in 1905 or 1907, this 24’x36’ sandstone structure with the sloping dark green wooden roof covering just 65 square yards can also be spotted in a 1926 British map.
Link: https://www.dawn.com/news/1688823
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To celebrate Earth Day Dezeen have compiled a list of 50 people who are pushing the boundaries of sustainable architecture and design.
Architects and designers have a key role to play in reducing carbon emissions, pollution and waste while protecting biodiversity.
Here are 50 individuals and studios who are doing pioneering work, ranging from architects exploring timber construction to designers thinking radically about circularity and scientists developing new low-carbon materials.
Link: https://www.dezeen.com/2022/04/22/earth-day-sustainable-architects-designers/
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A meeting was held at 3:30 pm on 20th April at the office of DIG South. The meeting was convened to develop collaborative efforts between Karachi Administration, Sindh Police and civil society Heritage Foundation of Pakistan for the purpose of heritage safeguarding and regeneration of Karachi’s historic core along Heritage Foundation’s Red Trail.
Those attended included DC South and his senior officers, DIG Traffic and other senior police officers, Director, Antiquities department and CEO Heritage Foundation and her team. The meeting was chaired by DIG South.
1. HF presented a catalogue of 54 heritage structures that were threatened by demolition. After a great deal of discussion, it was decided to identify 5 such structures and joint vigorous action will be taken by administration and the police. Heritage department will file an FIR against it. Eminent lawyers should be requested to take the case up in the courts. In the meantime, instructions were given to both the relevant civil and police officers to report any imminent threat to heritage structures.
Follow up action: HF to identify 5 heritage structures and report to Director, Antiquities Department who will lodge an FIR immediately. Reporting in two weeks.
2. Kharadar Chowki restoration was presented to demonstrate how with comparatively limited effort and resources, heritage structures could be rehabilitated.
Follow up Action: Expedite the work in order to complete the project as expeditiously as possible.
3. Kharadar Chowk revitalization was presented and the following was decided.
DIG Traffic agreed to take up the review of the street pattern to achieve the following:
a. One-way routes to be determined
b. Parking of motorbikes to be rationalized.
He agreed that a review would be carried out to determine the extent of forest area in front of the Police Chowki.
DC South agreed to assist in removal of encroachments and suggested that plantation should be taken up in an area that was free from encroachment as a start.
Follow up Action: Study of the chowk and recommendations by Traffic Police and removal of encroachments. Reporting in two weeks.
4. Greening of Police Quarters
The greening of the streets of Police Quarters was presented by HF. DIG South instructed that streetwise committees should be formed to take up the case. II the meantime, through assistance from DMCs the encroachment on the streets should be taken up for removal.
Follow up Action: Formation of street committees and removal of encroachments from streets. Reporting in two weeks.
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Paint removal and scientific cleaning of Rahguzar side of Denso hall was carried out. Thick layers of paint were carefully removed using soft plastic brush and organic retha soap procured from Makli village community.
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On Sundays, the life in Rahguzar is beginning to pick up after the introduction of traditional street breakfast set up at the paved area entered from Murad Khan Road.
Yasmeen Lari is also starting to gather friends at the venue who represent different walks of life.
On Sunday 6 March several socialites attended the breakfast served on the street. Among the guests there was a diversity which ranged from Senator Nasreen Jalil and diplomats German Consul General Holger Ziegler and Madame Ziegler to banker Shehzad Naqvi and his wife, and writer Dr.Saad Shajqat and his sister Sumaira, wife of famous Architect Murad Jamil, as well as children’s writer Shaha Jamshed, along with top bureaucrats Iftikhar Shallwani and DC Irshad Sodar, HF board member Shanaz Ramzi and her friend, as well as British Council partners Parvider Marwaha visiting from London, Michael and Ahsan from Karachi who mingled freely with Dani and her husband. Dani is the extraordinary creative artisan who can not only weild a saw and a drill but also make beautifully ornamented earthen Pakistan Chulah stove. Dani, along with the other chulah icon Champa will both go to London in Late May to build her unique designer stove in Granary Square near Kings Cross.
on 5th March Dani had received the Idol Award from Ladies Fund at the lawns of Governor House. Yasmeen Lari had introduced her to Ms. Samina Alvi, wife of President of Pakistan, who appreciated the work of Dani as she had the INTBAU Pakistan International Conference held at Zero Carbon Campus in 2018. On the occasion David Ireland, executive director had presented the World Habitat Award for the earthen Pakistan Chulah to president of Pakistan, who presented to Yasmeen Lari in recognition of Heritage Foundation contribution, who immediately passed it on to the chulah icon Champa as a sign of recognition of the amazing work that thousands of rural housewives had carried out due to Champa and husband Kanji’s efforts in furthering the cause of safe stove building and hygienic food preparation.
On the occasion a smart police band also played to the much amusement and entertainment of the people in surrounding areas and passersby. It is hoped that Sindh police will make it into a regular Sunday feature of the Rahguzar.
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Michael, Laila Jamil and Ahsan visited the Denso Hall Rahguzar and took the round of the street. During discussion the bamboo LOG built by female students from University of Lahore, DUET and NED in Karachi. This activity was part of the workshop conducted by Heritage Foundation and Zero Carbon Eco Centre to train students in Pakistan and Bangladesh as part of the joint British Council-Heritage Foundation effort to spread the lessons of Lari’s zero carbon video tutorials on YouTube to various countries.
Scott and his colleagues were served tea at Mai Karachi Baithak on the Rahguzar when he was apprised of the activities of Pakistan/UK season which would be launched in the evening at the British Deputy High Commissioner’s House.
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