Platinum Jubilee Celebration of K.M.C. Building, Karachi (1932-2007) (2007-1)

The Foundation stone of historic KMC building was laid down by the then Governor of Bombay, Lord Sandhurst on 14th September 1895.2. It was designed by Mr. James C. Wynnes F.R.I.B.A of Edinburgh. Foundation and preliminary work was supervised by the Chief Engineer of the Municipality of that period and got completed by Executive Engineer, Gianter & Sons with the assistance of William Peris and S. J. Castellimo Clerk and Ali M. Imam Bux, Foreman on November 05, 1927. The construction and equipment cost of this historic building is Rs. 1,775,000/-. The pink stone used in construction of building was brought from Jodhpur. The total area allocated for this purpose was 179,200 square Feet Main building was constructed on 21,150 square feet, and annexe on 17,815 Square Feet. The building was completed on 31st December 1930. The clocks, placed below the cupola on four side of the central tower, commemorate the silver jubilee of King George V. Its diameter is 10 Feet. It was made by Swadeshi Electrical Clock Company, Bombay.3. The consecration took place on 7th January 1932 with the prayer\' \"Mayall be blessed in this city\" The contract of construction of the building was awarded to Mr. Shapurji Pollonji Mistry of Bombay who was the proprietor of the Ferro Concrete Construction Company. It is a double storied building having a big hall with the capacity of 255 members It also has two wide lawns with large parking space.4.This building remained Head office of municipality from January 1932 to October 1933 under Bombay District Act 1901. At that time Mr. Nasrwanji Mehta was elected President who remained on the position till 1922.5. On 21st October 1933 through gazette No. 24/33, Karachi Municipal Act was inducted. Under Bombay District Municipal Act-1901, Karachi Municipality was upgraded and given the status of Corporation. The post of President and Vice President of the Municipality were converted in to the post of Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively. The number of Council members of Karachi Municipal Corporation was 57.6. More than 80 Head of states/dignitaries including King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, King Hussain of Jordan, Colonel Moumer Qadafi, the Ex-President of Iraq, Saddam Hussain, Queen Elizabeth, King of Turkey and Head of Palestine Yasir Arafat etc had visited this building.7. After creation of Pakistan in 1947, a civic reception was arranged in honour of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in which first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan and Muhtarma Fatima Jinnah also participated. The first Muslim Mayor of Karachi, Hakim Muhammad Ahsan presented welcome address. The great Quaid in his presidential address said that he loved this city and he hoped that it would go up in the field of trade, economy and other departments.8. With the efforts of City Government and to strengthen good relationship with foreign countries, Karachi has been declared sister of five international cities in which Shanghai (China) and Chicago (United States of America) are eminent. Karachi has the distinction of being the biggest City of Pakistan and the 7th biggest City in the world. Courtesy: City District Government Karachi.To the occasion of Platinum Jubilee Celebration of K.M.C. Building, Karachi a commemorative stamp of Rs.10/- denomination, was issued by Pakistan Post on January 16, 2007