Preserving Green Space: Why Beach View Park is the Wrong Site for Karachi’s New Museum

Karachi’s history is marked by a recurring pattern of public land being seized by government agencies for the benefit of political parties and the ruling elite.

Gutter Baghicha serves as a stark example; once spanning 1,016 acres, it has shrunk to 480 acres, with the remaining land used for housing political elites. More recently, land at Kidney Hill and Hill Park has been repurposed to create plots for local body representatives.

The renovation of Jahangir Park further demonstrates a lack of sensitive planning. This site once held immense historical and cultural significance, serving as a venue for cricket legends like Hanif Mohammad and Intekhab Alam, as well as political rallies led by Liaquat Ali Khan and Shaheed Suhrawardy. It was also a hub for the Afro-Asian solidarity group and intellectuals such as I.A. Rehman and Nisar Usmani. Unfortunately, the current renovation fails to acknowledge this heritage, effectively erasing it from history.

Now, the adjacent Beach View and Bin Qasim parks in Clifton face a similar threat. There is a proposal to build a Karachi Museum within Beach View Park. While the combined parks cover roughly 150 acres and the museum is estimated to require between 20 and 60 acres, the current utility of these spaces must be considered.

These parks serve a vital function for the local community. Residents of nearby apartments—many from the middle and lower-middle class—rely on these spaces for cycling and daily exercise. Given the existing congestion and haphazard development in the area, the government should conduct a comprehensive urban design exercise before finalizing any land-use decisions.

The ‘Karachi Museum’ can be located elsewhere in the city.

Building a major structure here would overshadow the Jahangir Kothari Parade, a protected monument already diminished by the bypasses constructed by Bahria Town. Any further obstruction of the parade’s visibility must be avoided.

Even a small architectural footprint would create a massive ripple effect, increasing congestion sixfold. Such construction often sets a precedent for further encroachment, as seen with the Village restaurant and McDonalds Park. Despite the 2006 Karachi Strategic Plan’s recommendations, development on the seaward side of Abdul Sattar Edhi Avenue has continued. Consequently, Beach View Park has shrunk from 47 acres in 2005 to just 21 acres today.

The area also supports significant informal activity due to the proximity of the Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine. On weekends and religious holidays, thousands of devotees from across Pakistan utilize the parks for rest and meals.

The space also provides a rare recreational outlet for youth from Lyari and other parts of District South, who frequently use the area for football and cricket matches.

While the creation of a Karachi Museum is essential for future generations to connect with their city’s identity, the Old Town offers far better alternatives. A study of the Newnham Road and Rampart Road areas reveals significant vacant land that could be repurposed.

Specifically, an old pre-Partition market on Rampart Road is large enough to house a museum and is surrounded by historic buildings and warehouses. If these warehouses are relocated, the entire area could be transformed into a cultural hub. This would preserve the city’s heritage without sacrificing precious green space.

While parking would present a challenge, it is a solvable problem with proper planning. It is time for citizens and civic organizations to unite and advocate for a Karachi Museum that serves the public without destroying the city’s remaining parks.

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