Mayor opens book fair at Empress Market

KARACHI: Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab on Saturday inaugurated a book fair at the Empress Market, turning a once-encroached public space into a venue for books, cultural events and community activities. Wahab said the nearly 150-year-old heritage site had been restored after the removal of encroachments and would now be used as a cultural centre and public space. “Citizens should visit Empress Market, buy books and support local publishers, ” Wahab said while speaking at the inauguration of the fair, titled “Kitabon Ka Jahan” (World of Books). He said books were an important source of knowledge, awareness and positive thinking, and that promoting reading among young people was essential for building an educated and tolerant society. Wahab visited the bookstalls and bought several books himself. Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentary leader in the City Council, Karamullah Waqasi, council members, elected representatives and municipal officials also attended the event. The mayor said the restoration of Empress Market was part of efforts by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to preserve the city’s historic buildings while giving them practical public uses. He said the market had previously become difficult to access because of encroachments, particularly for children, young people and senior citizens. “We have decided that Empress Market should not remain only a historic building. It should also become a cultural centre and a public space, ” he said. A Bohra food festival was recently held at the venue, he said, adding that more cultural events would follow. A Qawwali programme was also scheduled for Sunday at Burns Garden. Responding to remarks made by former mayor of Karachi, Syed Mustafa Kamal, about spending during his tenure, Wahab said that “political claims” should be backed by official records. He disputed the claim that Rs300 billion had been spent by the former City District Government Karachi. Its budget documents should be produced if such an amount had actually been approved and spent. Wahab also criticised what he described as inconsistencies in claims over development projects carried out during the period, and said political debate should focus on facts rather than allegations. “I respect Mustafa Kamal because he served as Karachi’s Nazim, but political statements should be based on facts and documentary evidence, ” he said. The mayor also criticised what he called double standards in political criticism of the Sindh and Punjab governments over rainfall and urban problems. He said Karachi needed “positive politics and constructive thinking” rather than a return to confrontation and fear. Referring to the debate over the creation of new provinces and administrative units, Wahab said changing boundaries alone would not solve governance problems unless there was a change in political thinking. “Even if 500 provinces are created, problems will not be solved if the mindset remains negative, ” he said. Wahab said the focus should instead be on effective governance, constructive politics and practical solutions to the problems facing Sindh, including Karachi. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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