Frere Hall
In Karachi
Pakistan
Frere Hall is one of the many remnant buildings of the British Colonial era that still exist in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
This majestic Hall, constructed in a Gothic/Venetian style, was built in 1865 in honour of Sir Bartley Frere, Commissioner and later Viceroy of the region. During the Colonial days it used to serve as a center for the cultural elite of Karachi, holding regular socio-cultural activities.
Today, Frere Hall contains a large public library, the Liaquat National Library, which is one of the few good libraries in Karachi. It has more than seventy thousand books in store, including rare manuscripts, technical reports and journals, and a marvellous collection of atlases.
The upper floor of the Hall is dedicated to Sadequain, a world renowned Pakistani painter and calligrapher. It is where Sadequain started painting the ceiling in brilliant colours and patterns, but he did not get a chance to complete his work as he passed away. The floor now contains some of his best masterpieces, inlcuding beautiful paintings and calligraphy samples.
While the Frere Hall has been shut down multiple times between 2003 and 2011 due to terrorist attacks on the US Consulate nearby, it opened permanently to the public in 2012. Since then, it has continued to attract frequent visitors eager to learn about its rich history. This national landmark was constructed around 1865 under the supervision of the second Chief Commissioner of Sindh, Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere. Previously used as a library for British Indian soldiers, the premises were eventually transformed into a monumental tribute to the Commissioner by the people of Sindh. Known for his tremendous hard work and honesty,
Perhaps the most impressive collection is that of old Dawn and Jang newspapers, which, according to Library Manager Mohammad Ali, date back to 1952. The Library itself is also almost just as old, he exclaims proudly. While the condition of the Library has deteriorated over time, especially since the reopening of the Frere Hall, some work has been started by concerned authorities to restore it to its original condition. While the Liaquat National Library attracts a fair share of visitors, the Sadequain Art Gallery on the first floor gets the most visits. Named after prolific Pakistani artist Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi, the gallery hosts a sizeable collection of some of his best works. Many of the paintings and calligraphy displayed at the gallery involve an eclectic mix of Western and local artistic appreciations – one of the reasons why Sadequain’s work is so highly regarded. Gallery Manager Mansoor Ahmed sums up the Gothic element in this building as one supporting “a well-ventilated design with no artificial lighting”. The ceiling of the Gallery Hall showcases the last piece created by Sadequain, and is the only “artificial” element featured in a building that has otherwise been preserved in its original state for the last 150 years
- Many of the city's most architecturally interesting British Raj buildings are now used as government offices. They include Frere Hall.
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