Karachi’s forgotten heritage: Baba-e-Urdu Road water trough


Indus Vitals photos (7.9.2024)
KARACHI: On Baba-e-Urdu Road, off M A Jinnah Road, a historic water trough bears witness to Karachi's rich pre-partition past, yet lies abandoned and distorted, reflecting the city’s laxity in preserving its heritage.

Built in 1927 by Ms Aplibai Mirchandani in memory of her late husband, Diwan Dayaram Chellaram Mirchandani, a city surveyor, the trough was briefly restored by Dow Medical College students in 1995. 

However, the lack of maintenance has turned it into a garbage dump.

A plaque on the trough reads: "In continuation of the spirit of Aplibai Mirchandani, this water trough was repaired and restored by Dow graduates in 1995."

A senior citizen urges the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and relevant authorities to take responsibility and restore the water trough to its former glory, making it a source of pride for onlookers as well.

                                                            

                                                            --IV Desk




With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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