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History experts are demanding responsibility after a famous old building was reportedly changed without permission.
By Mahnoor | 15-06-2026
KARACHI: The foundation stone is a vital part of any historic building and should never be moved or changed. However, because of poor management by the Sindh Assembly staff, the original stone of the 86-year-old building has been covered up during construction. This makes the writing on it impossible to see.
The two-story Sindh Assembly building is a famous historic landmark from the British era. Its foundation stone was placed on March 11, 1940, by Sir Lancelot Graham, the British Governor of Sindh, and the building officially opened in March 1943.
The assembly building is very important to Pakistan’s history because it was the first group to vote in favor of creating the country. The provincial government also protects it as a historical site.
Abdul Fattah Shaikh, a top official in the Sindh Culture Department, stated that the building has been officially recognized as a protected heritage site since 2017.
Ironically, the Sindh Assembly passed the very law meant to protect these sites. The Sindh Cultural Heritage Act of 1994 labels many important historic buildings in the province as protected sites, making it illegal to change their inside or outside.
Under this law, any necessary construction or changes must first be approved by a technical committee from the Culture Department. However, reports suggest the Sindh Assembly administration started construction work on the building without getting this required permission.
A brick path was built in front of the assembly building, covering up its foundation stone. The Express Tribune asked the Sindh Assembly Secretary why the project started without permission from the Culture Department’s technical committee, but they did not reply.
Famous architect Yasmeen Lari explained that all parts of a protected historic building must be kept safe. She noted that a foundation stone is just as important as the building itself because it shows when it was built and who built it.
“Even a simple stone from an old building can be very important because it tells us about the past. Developed nations work hard to protect all their history and culture. Sadly, we do not value our own heritage enough,” Lari said regretfully.
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