KARACHI (The Thursday Times) — Karachi’s District Central has started putting blue plaques on the homes of celebrated figures, borrowing an idea London has used since the 19th century, and the first have gone up at the homes of the painter Sadequain, the qawwal Amjad Sabri, and the comedian Umer Sharif.
Deputy Commissioner Taha Saleem said plaques had been installed at Sadequain’s residence in Federal B Area Block 13 and at the homes of Amjad Sabri and Umer Sharif in Liaquatabad. The District Central Commemorative Plaques Initiative recognises people whose work in literature, education, arts, science, sports, and other fields brought recognition to Pakistan.
Plaques released by the district administration also mark the homes of the Test cricketer Asad Shafique and the hockey Olympian Syed Abbas Haider Bilgrami.
“It is our responsibility to honour these personalities and the places they called home. Through this initiative, we are not only recognising their contributions but also celebrating the identity of District Central,” Saleem said.
He said many families and notable figures had moved to other parts of Karachi or left the city, but their roots remained in the district. A committee will be set up to identify more people to honour, and QR codes will be added so that visitors can scan a plaque to read about the person’s life and work.
