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Karachi hosts a range of architectural and historical monuments. The city’s metropolis is a vast expanse of multi-coloured gardens adjacent to the Marriott Hotel, on top of which stands proudly the exquisite structure of Frere Hall, which dominates the distant horizon.
This 150-year-old building serves a deeper historical purpose of travelling with people, their culture and practices over the decades. Hitch A Hike Provide Pakistan Tour Packages at cheap rates with all facilities throughout the tour.
You can visit this historic monument in the city of lights Karachi. In recent years, the Hall has also organized book fairs to promote readership among younger generations.
While The Frere Hall was closed several times between 2003 and 2011 due to terrorist attacks on the nearby US consulate, it was opened permanently to the public in 2012. Since then, it has continued to attract frequent visitors eager to learn more about its rich past.
This national monument was built around 1865 under the supervision of Sindh’s second chief commissioner, Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere. Once used as a library for British Indian soldiers, the premises were eventually transformed into a monumental tribute to the commissioner of the people of Sindh.
Known for his hard work and honesty, Frere was considered an icon by the local population. Among the 13 different options being considered for the project, Lieutenant-Colonel Clair Wilson’s architectural design stood out, giving the hall its characteristic Gothic and Venetian style.
The original structure of the structure also housed the National Museum of Pakistan until the early 1970s, when the government decided to move the museum to a nearby location on Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road. The two gardens of the original building, then known as King’s and Queen’s Lawns, also included statues of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII, which were later removed. The lawns were later renamed Bagh-e-Jinnah.
The Frere Hall layout is the perfect blend of British and local building tastes, incorporating features such as multiple warhead arches, ribbed vaults and butt arches. The intricate wall sculptures and beautifully articulated mosaics can be seen on many supports and pillars that support the building. Boasting an immaculate mix of sandstone, white, grey, red and peach colours, Frere Hall is extremely difficult for passers-by to miss.
The rows on the ground floor and first floor are made of dark grey sandstone and red sandstone, respectively, while the columns of the upper veranda are made of white limestone with a traditional oolite appearance. These materials have been imported from nearby towns and districts such as Bholari and Jungshahi, the latter being renowned for their sandstone and limestone varieties. The most remarkable under-constructions of the Frere Room are Muntz’s octagonal tower and metallic-coated spirelet, which give the building its traditional Venetian look.
The Liaquat National Library also houses the Frere Hall, which houses nearly 70,000 books on the ground floor of the building. These books cover a variety of topics, from geography to science to history, religion, social sciences, the arts and literature. The collection also includes rare manuscripts, technical reports, journals and a remarkable collection of atlases.
Perhaps the most impressive collection is that of the old newspapers Dawn and Jang, which, according to library director Mohammad Ali, date back to 1952. The library itself is almost as old, he proudly exclaims. Although the condition of the library has deteriorated over time, particularly since the reopening of the Frere Hall, work has been undertaken by the relevant authorities to restore its original state.
While the Liaquat National Library attracts a fair share of visitors, the Sfficientain Art Gallery on the first floor receives the most visitors. Named in honour of prolific Pakistani artist Syed Spreadain Ahmed Naqvi, the gallery houses an important collection of some of his best works. Many of the paintings and calligraphy on display at the gallery combine an eclectic mix of Western and local artistic appreciations, one of the reasons Sufficient’s work is so renowned.
The gallery manager, Mansoor Ahmed, sums up the Gothic element of this building as part of “a well-ventilated design without artificial lighting”. The ceiling of the gallery houses the last room created by Sufficient and is the only “artificial” element presented in a building that has otherwise been preserved in its original condition over the past 150 years.
Frere Hall speaks volumes about a totally different time, place, culture and society. One cannot help but be surprised to find that the stone-carved walls, intricate mosaics, railings and consoles of this glorious structure existed almost two centuries ago and conveyed the ancient norms, values and traditions of society through space and time.
In this mind-blowing context, this monument is identified as a distinct crossroads between Karachi’s past and present. So, contact Hitch A Hike to visit not only this wonderful place but all historical places across the country.
