Governor State Bank of Pakistan Mr. Ashraf Mahmood Wathra inaugurated the Heritage Meeting Rooms building at SBP Headquarters I.I Chundrigar Road Karachi. The stone masonry building with gable shape steel truss type roofing partially covered with Manglore tiles and partially with Asbestos sheets exists behind the SBP Museum and Art Gallery since pre partition times. The covered area of this barrack shape building is about 6500 Sqft.
Expressing his thoughts, Governor SBP thanked the Sindh Heritage Committee for their valuable support in the restoration of this building and congratulated the SBP staff for completing the renovation work. ‘Preserving old buildings reminiscent of our past is a valuable service to the current and future generations of this country and SBP is proud in making its contribution,’ he remarked.
It may be recalled that keeping in view the location and historical background of the building, SBP Management in Oct 2014, decided to rehabilitate and use it for some appropriate purpose. Out of various proposals, the proposal of making of Conference Rooms/Committee Rooms was finalized.
Members of Sindh Heritage committee Mr. Arif Hassan, Mr. Hameed Haroon and Dr. Kaleemullah Lashari were also present on the occasion. Mr.Hameed Haroon appreciated the services of the Governor State Bank in safeguarding the national heritage of the country as this is the second heritage building which has been conserved by the State Bank and readopted for use. He also commented that only a few Government institutions are making conscious efforts for such purpose. The members of the Committee also lauded the efforts of State Bank and the Governor in this regard.