KARACHI: An inspirational and upbeat seminar on ‘Do you know your city?’ – Dialogue II organised by ADA (Architecture Design Art) in collaboration with Grohe and in partnership with KMC, concluded here at the historic Frere Hall on Friday. The event was well-attended by media, representatives of art and architecture and Karachi’s socialiites.
The evening opened, as is ADA’s custompromptly with high tea. A welcome address by Maria Aslam, founder and chief editor of the premier magazine ADA- Architecture Design Art kick-started the evening. She dedicated the seminar to the two renowned Parveens of the city who were dearly loved by Karachiites and whose presence is missed even today – the late poetess Parveen Shakir and the late social activist Parveen Rehman.
The first speaker of the evening was Hilal e Imtiaz recipient architect, planner, activist, social researcher, and writer Arif Hasan. He was followed by head of department Visual Arts, University of Karachi,sculptor Durriya Kazi. Next to take centre stage was social and environmental activist Roland D’ Souza of Shehri fame, a professional engineer and principal electrical consultant at Fahim, Nanji & deSouza Pvt. Ltd (FND). Azhar Zaidi, the country head of Grohe Pakistanwho is steering Grohe towards responsive environmental upgradation and is working specifically towards smarter consumption of the fast depleting water resource of our citytook the mike next. Shahid Abdullah, the principal and founding partner of Arshad Shahid Abdulla (Pvt.) Ltdthen came up to speak.The last speaker of the day was director and architect of ARCHWORKS Karachi a design studio involved in small to medium-sized projects of private developments all over Pakistan,and hostess of the evening Maria Aslam.
The seminar threw light on how Karachi in spite of all its myriad problems is truly owned by its residents, a fact that also manifests its elfin the form of public-private partnerships visible everywhere in the city. These partnerships are responsible for all the positive activities and developments in Karachi today, be they in the form of communal developments, art, tree plantations or open schools. The seminar also brought to the fore the history of Karachi, its rich culture and multi-ethnic populace.Karachi was once described as the Star of the East, promising to be a gateway to the rest of the world. It was the hub of South Asia and promised a bright and brilliant future. The speakers highlighted the positive role this great city has played in the past, arriving at the happy — and perhaps surprising to many — conclusion that it has lived up to its promised legacy.
This evening was the second of a series of events by ADA — that has now completed ten years of its existence and has ventured into ADA Events — that are inclusive of our environment, culture and society,and which are inextricably connected to architecture, design and art.
The PR of the event was handled by STARLINKS PR and Events. News Desk
