Open Letter to Administrator KMC about Neglect of Galerie SADEQUAIN
By Dr Salman Ahmad
SADEQUAIN Foundation USA

The neglect and dilapidation of Galerie SADEQUAIN located at the historic Frere Hall is a bad reflection on KMC and disrespectful to Sadequain and his gift to the citizens of Karachi.

Galerie SADEQUAIN was established in Frere Hall in 1986, while Sadequain was working on the ceiling mural titled Arz-o-Samawaat.
Sadequain passed away in February 1987 before he could complete the ceiling mural. The night Sadequain passed away, dozens of his paintings kept in storage in Frere Hall were stolen and this was duly reported in the media, but no action was taken by the authorities.
Since Sadequain’s death, the Galerie SADEQUAIN has been a victim of neglect and left to deteriorate over time. There has been no measurable effort toward the upkeep and maintenance of the Galerie.
Disappointed and concerned over the desecration of Sadequain’s memory, SADEQUAIN Foundation USA in 2017 requested and was duly granted permission by the concerned authorities to take necessary actions and bring the Galerie to a respectable condition.
Subsequently, the Foundation spent US-$50,000 on the repairs of the Galerie, furnishing of the Galerie with new roof, new lighting, new carpets, new furniture, and provided several dozen high-quality framed artworks representing Sadequain’s wide array of work. Beides, a Galerie SADEQUAIN signage on a marble slab was mounted next to the main road in front of Frere Hall across from the Marriott Hotel.
In February 2017, the newly furnished Galerie SADEQUAIN was inaugurated by the Mayor of Karachi Mr Waseem Akhtar at an impressive ceremony.
I am disappointed to report that soon after the inauguration of the Galerie SADEQUAIN, most of the improvements made and paid by SAFDEQUAIN Foundation USA were dismantled, and the Galerie was rendered back to its old decrepit condition.
Sadequain is among a handful of Pakistanis, who can rightly be called a pride of Pakistan, and his work should transcend generations. But the responsibility of keeping Sadequain’s legacy alive falls on the new generations.
SADEQUAIN Foundation USA is located in the USA. It has limited exposure in Pakistan, yet it invested time, energy, and money to save Sadequain’s legacy in Pakistan in the form of an impressive Galerie in Frere Hall named after Sadequain. SADEQUAIN Foundation USA did not ask and did not receive anything in return. Yet, the custodians of Galerie SADEQUAIN, who are paid employees of KMC tasked to maintain the Galerie, were derelict and have witnessed the gradual deterioration of the hallowed shrine named after one of Pakistan’s true icons and did nothing to prevent it.
I urge you to take necessary action to restore the 2017-glory of Galerie SADEQUAIN. SADEQUAIN Foundation USA will once more stand firm with resolve to shoulder its responsibility for the restoration of Galerie SADEQUAIN.