A sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on National Heritage and Culture has directed relevant authorities to take coordinated measures to address administrative, developmental, and security issues at the Mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam and its peripheral areas. The committee expressed hope that the national monument would soon be reopened to the public.
Meeting Details and Attendees
The meeting, chaired by Sub-Committee Convener Senator Waqar Mehdi, was attended by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, and online by Senator Sarmad Ali. Key officials present included Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi, the Resident Engineer of the Quaid-e-Azam Mazar Management Board (QMMB), the Additional Inspector General of Police Karachi, the Municipal Commissioner of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), and the Managing Director of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KW&SC), among others.
Restoring Dignity and Grandeur
Briefing the media after the meeting, Senator Waqar Mehdi said the Senate had constituted the sub-committee after the issue of the mausoleum’s peripheral areas was raised in the main committee. He stated that the committee had taken the matter as a dedicated project to restore the dignity and grandeur of the national monument. All relevant institutions had been taken on board to resolve the issues faced by the QMMB.
Cleanliness and Beautification Plans
The Sindh Solid Waste Management Board has been asked to improve cleanliness around the mausoleum, while the KMC has been tasked with preparing a beautification plan. These steps aim to enhance the overall appearance and hygiene of the site.
Security Concerns and Measures
Highlighting security concerns, Mehdi said the Additional IGP Karachi had been requested to deploy Special Security Unit (SSU) commandos at the site. The mausoleum has remained closed to the public for the past several years due to security concerns. To address this, the sub-committee constituted a committee under the Commissioner Karachi, comprising representatives of the police, Rangers, and other law enforcement agencies, to evaluate the security situation and submit recommendations. The sub-committee will meet again after 15 days to review progress.
Installation of CCTV and Water Charges Exemption
The committee also recommended the installation of CCTV cameras at the mausoleum and requested the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation to exempt the mausoleum from future water charges, noting that outstanding dues required clarification. Expressing optimism, Mehdi said he hoped the mausoleum would soon be reopened for visitors.
Incidents of Theft and FIRs
During the meeting, the Resident Engineer informed the sub-committee that drug addicts had stolen grills from parks surrounding the mausoleum, and four first information reports (FIRs) had been registered. The committee directed the Additional IGP Karachi to coordinate action on the matter.
Audit Reports and Staffing Issues
The committee also sought audit reports of the QMMB and recommended a third-party audit. Officials informed the meeting that, against a sanctioned strength of 113 employees, 53 posts were vacant, while 59 employees were currently serving in the organization. The committee also recommended that the mausoleum management activate its vigilance teams to strengthen monitoring and protection of the premises.
