Declared as National Heritage in 2009, the building was handed over through District Administration for conservation in compliance of Sindh High Court verdict.
Sindh Courier Report
Hyderabad
The 86-year old historic building of Sindh Divisional Cooperative Institute, known as Khan Bahadur Azim Khan Cooperative Building, was handed over on Thursday to the provincial Antiquities Department for carrying out conservation work.
The building was handed over by the Hyderabad administration in compliance of Sindh High Court (SHC) Hyderabad Circuit Bench verdict in a constitutional petition. The historic building is located adjacent to SHC at Meeran Muhammad Shah Road.
The Antiquities Department through a letter to Divisional Commissioner Muhammad Abbas Baloch dated October 26, 2021 had requested for handing over the possession of the building so that conservation work could be started as per court orders. The department had informed the Commissioner that all the Codal formalities including conservation plan and tender process have been completed and the physical work is to be started under the supervision of Ms. Naseem Akhtar, Assistant Conservation Officer Architect.
Commissioner Baloch had directed the Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad Fuad Ghaffar Soomro for arranging the handing over of building to the Antiquities Department.
On Thursday, Mukhtiarkar Abubakar Sadhayo on behalf of district administration and the Assistant Conservation Officer of Antiquities Department Ms. Naseem Akhtar signed the handing and taking over papers in the presence of Assistant Commissioner Hyderabad City Muhammad Ashraf.
The construction of historic building had started in early 1930s and was opened on February 7, 1935 by the then Governor of Bombay Lord Brabourne.
The building was in possession of the provincial cooperatives department. The employees of Cooperative Society Bank were also present on the occasion of signing of the document by the officials.
A couple of years back, the Sindh Cooperative Society had invited bids for auction of the building in complete contrast to the fact that the building was declared as a protected heritage by the Sindh Culture Department, under the Sind Cultural Heritage Preservation Act 1994, in 2009. The Act is aimed at protecting and preserving buildings and historical places, having historical, archaeological, artistic and ethnological significance.
However, in January this year, Sindh High Court Hyderabad circuit bench comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Amjad Ali Sahito restrained the registrar of the Sindh Cooperative Housing Society (SCHS) from allotment or auction of the Cooperative Bank building, located opposite Radio Pakistan off Meeran Mohammad Shah Road, in any manner as it’s a heritage property.
The bench directed the culture secretary, Hyderabad Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner to ensure restoration of the building in its original shape and establish a library there for students.
The court passed the order on a constitutional petition filed by a resident of Kotri, Irfan Ali, who stated that the Cooperative Building was inaugurated by Lord Brabourne, the then governor of Bombay, on Feb 7, 1935 in memory of Bombay Legislative Council member Azim Khan Durrani, who was awarded the titles of ‘Khan Bahadur’ and Khan Sahib’ in recognition of his services. Khan Bahadur was born in 1882 in Husri village near Hyderabad, Sindh.
This gorgeous edifice of gothic architecture was built during the days of cooperative society’s movement on a most vital artery of the city, when Sindh was still under the Bombay Presidency.
The first occupant of the building was Khan Bahadur Azim Khan, leader of the cooperative movement and the first Deputy Registrar of the Cooperative Society, Sindh.
It is worth mentioning that most of the buildings of historical significance such as Besant Hall, Metharam Hostel, Dayaldas Club, City Courts, the Collector’s residence, Novidyala High School (Old campus Sindh University), Sadhu Nawal Rai Academy (Government High School) are located in the same vicinity.
In February last year, a meeting convened by the Commissioner, while discussing the preservation of the archaeological and heritage sites, had decided once again to stop the damage, alteration and demolition of these buildings in Hyderabad.
The buildings in questions included the Sindh University Old Campus, KB Azim Khan Building, Basant Hall, Pakka Qila, Jamia Arabia High School, Nawal Rai High School, Thora Charhi Girls School, Sindh Government Law College, Ganga Ram Building, Mukhee House and Market Tower.
Unfortunately due to incessant criminal negligence of civic agencies, inattention of the provincial government and apathy of citizens almost all distinctive features of this beautiful city have gradually disappeared.
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