Built to last — Karachi’s stonemasons leave their mark

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This historic Karachi Metropolitan Corporation Building located at M. A. Jinnah road of the city was constructed in 1930. Like over two hundreds government and private residential buildings in downtown Karachi, this building was also constructed by the Silawat stonemasons and builders. (AN Photo by M.F. Sabir)
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This Frere Hall building, which was completed in 1865, was Karachi's town hall and is now being used as an exhibition center and library. This is one of iconic buildings of Karachi being constructed by Silawat stonemasons and builders. (AN Photo by M.F.Sabir)
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This Sindh High Court building was completed on November 22, 1929. One of the stonemasons who worked to complete this building is being laid to rest in Silawat Graveyard, where this building has been designed on the plaque of his grave ( AN Photo by M.F. Sabir)
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On left, Jaisalmer Fort of Rajasthan, India, the original town of Silawat community, has been designed on plague/headstone of one of the graves in Silawat graveyard. The grave on right has historic ‘Beech Wali Masjid’ of Ranchor Line, Karachi being designed on it ( AN Photo by M.F. Sabir)
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The name plagues/headstones of graves in Silawat graveyard of Karachi has been decorated with designs of different historical government and private residential buildings of Karachi (AN Photo by M.F. Sabir)
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This grave in Silawat Graveyard of Karachi has design of the Sindh High Court on it. The deceased buried in this grave is said to be one of the craftsmen who constructed the SHC’s iconic building ( AN Photo by M.F. Sabir)
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Merewether Clock Tower, which was constructed as a memorial for Sir William L. Merewether, a Commissioner of Sindh from 1867 to 1877, was being designed by James Strachan, the Municipal Engineer, and constructed by Ibrahim s/o Pir Bux and his team in 1886. Ibrahim, who died in 1945, is being buried in this grave with design of the clock tower. (AN Photo by M.F. Sabir)
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Merewether Clock Tower, which was constructed as a memorial for Sir William L. Merewether, a Commissioner of Sindh from 1867 to 1877, was being designed by James Strachan, the Municipal Engineer, and constructed by Ibrahim s/o Pir Bux and his team in 1886. Ibrahim, who died in 1945, is being buried in this grave with design of the clock tower. (AN Photo by M.F. Sabir)
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This footstone of a grave has design of judges’ chamber in Sindh High Court ( AN Photo by M.F. Sabir)
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The name plagues/headstones of graves in Silawat graveyard of Karachi has been decorated with designs of different historical government and private residential buildings of Karachi (AN Photo by M.F. Sabir)
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Silawat graveyard Karachi (AN photo by M.F. Sabir)
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This grave of Ali Muhammad, founder of Pakistan Masjid Ranchore Line has design of the mosque on his grave. The mosque being built of the community of stonemasons within a day has now been reconstructed on modern lines, Shakeel Silawat community leader told Arab News ( AN photo by M.F. Sabir)
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Beech Wali Masjid, Ranchore line Karachi. The minaret on right side has been designed on the grave of its builder being buried in Silawat graveyard Karachi ( AN photo by M.F. Sabir)
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This iconic building of the D. J. Sindh Govt. Science College Karachi is one of the many buildings being constructed by Silawat community of Karachi ( AN Photo by Arab News)
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The Silawat community of stonemasons, who came to Karachi in early nineteen century, played an important part in the construction of this historical Empress Market. The building constructed between 1884 and 1889 is situated in downtown Karachi. One of the busiest markets, Express Market offers commodities ranging from condiments, fruit, vegetables and meat to stationery material, textiles and pets (AN Photo by M.F. Sabir)
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This iconic Merewether Clock Tower was constructed as a memorial for Sir William L. Merewether, a Commissioner of Sindh from 1867 to 1877. It was designed by James Strachan, the Municipal Engineer, and constructed by Ibrahim s/o Pir Bux and his team in 1886. Ibrahim, who died in 1945, is being buried in this grave with design of the clock tower. (AN Photo by M.F. Sabir)
Updated 06 September 2018
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Built to last — Karachi’s stonemasons leave their mark

  • Members of the Silawat community helped build some of the most iconic buildings of the region
  • Migrated from Rajasthan in the 19th century to settle down in Karachi where they found better employment opportunities

KARACHI: Next time you see the Taj Mahal, remember that there is a little bit of Karachi in it too.

“Our ancestors were among the people who [worked on the stones used in building] the Taj Mahal and the Jaisalmer Fort. You can see images of those buildings here,” Shakir Ali, caretaker of Karachi’s Silawat graveyard, told Arab News, pointing at one of the tombstones in the area. 

The cemetery, located in the Dhobi Ghat area of the city, is just one extension of the Silawats – a community that migrated to Sindh from India’s Rajasthan in the 19th century. 

Statistics from the 2017 population census estimate that there are more than 10,000 Silawats residing in Karachi, with the graveyard built as the final resting ground for the community members.

It is hard to miss the images of some of the most iconic buildings from the region that adorn the tombstones in the cemetery. “Our forefathers were highly-skilled builders who played a vital role in constructing some of the most prominent buildings in this region,” Ziauddin Parwaz, a community elder looking at the graveyard’s upkeep, said. 

“Everyone knows the British engineers who built the structures in Karachi. However, few realize that it was the skill of our elders that made the construction of those structures possible,” he added with a hint of resentment. 

Some of the buildings whose architecture traces its roots to the craftsmanship of the Silawat community include: the Frère Hall, Sindh High Court, Merewether Clock Tower, Empress Market, Karachi Port Trust, Radio Pakistan, DJ College, NJV School and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation.

At the entrance of the cemetery is the tomb of Ibrahim [known only by one name] who died in 1945 and is considered one of the finest stonemasons of his time. His gravestone now adorns the design of the Merewether Clock Tower since he was one of the artisans who helped dress the iconic structure. 

Similarly, an outline of the Pakistan Mosque can be seen on the grave of its builder, Ali Muhammad. While two other burial places have images of the Sindh High Court and the Judges’ Chamber marked on their headstone and footstone, designs of various residential buildings adorn other gravestones too. 

Ibrahim and Muhammad might probably be the last of the legion. With millennials from the community opting to take up other professions, the art of stonemasonry is unfortunately dying a slow death.  

However, this has not prevented the younger Silawats from taking pride in the accomplishments of their ancestors – a quality which they inherited from the few elders in their community. “We decorate the graves and their headstones with designs of historic buildings to applaud the achievements of our clan. It’s our tribute to their work,” Parwaz said.

Hailing from the Jaisalmer area of Rajasthan, the community witnessed a steady migration to Ahmednagar, Sukkar, Hyderabad and Karachi.

According to Shakeel Silawat, a senior journalist from the Silawat tribe, his forefathers decided to leave their ancestral land due to a dearth of employment opportunities. After exploring several areas, they finally zeroed in on Karachi -- a port city that was willing to offer more work, at better pay, to builders and stonemasons.

For some like Muhammad Hashim Gazdar -- an engineer-cum-politician who was born in Jaisalmer on February 1, 1893 – life has come a full circle. Gazdar remained the mayor of Karachi from May 1941 to May 1942 before he was elected to the Bombay Legislative Council in 1934. Post partition, he was appointed as the deputy speaker of the Sindh Assembly. His final resting place is the Silawat graveyard.

Gazdar is just one among several from the community who are still remembered for their contribution to the city. When the Endowment Fund Trust (EFT) began the conservation process of the historic Karachi Press Club building a few years ago, it invited members from the Silawat community to check the quality of stones. “The EFT replaced the stones on the recommendation of our elders, showing that our tribe’s expertise in the field is still valued,” Shakeel Silawat said.


Pakistan envoy identifies textiles, agriculture as key sectors to focus in exports to Saudi Arabia

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Pakistan envoy identifies textiles, agriculture as key sectors to focus in exports to Saudi Arabia

  • Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are close regional partners, and the Kingdom remains the largest source of remittances to the South Asian country
  • Ambassador Ahmad Farooq stresses need to improve vocational training of Pakistani workers to meet standards required for mega Saudi projects

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq on Wednesday identified textiles, agriculture and red meat as key sectors for Pakistani businesses to focus on in order to increase the country’s exports to the Kingdom.

Farooq identified the key sectors during his visit to the Karachi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Wednesday, where he met with leading Pakistani businesspersons and industrialists, according to the KCCI.

The ambassador highlighted that Pakistan’s exports to the Kingdom had registered a 40 percent increase during 2023-24, with the information technology (IT) sector witnessing an impressive 50 percent growth.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year signed 34 agreements worth nearly $3 billion, of which, memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth $700 million have already entered the implementation stage, according to Farooq.

“We want large businesses to connect with local distributors in Saudi Arabia to facilitate exports,” he was quoted as saying by the KCCI. “A list of key exporters in these sectors should be shared with the [Pakistani] embassy so we can work together to strengthen trade relations.”

Farooq said Pakistani textile, agriculture and meat (beef and mutton) products had already seen a “remarkable growth” in the Saudi market, adding that the Kingdom offers vast opportunities for Pakistani businesses.

“The purpose of my visit is to discuss business opportunities with the Karachi business community and update them on how Pakistan’s embassy can support them in accessing the Saudi market,” he added.

Speaking about the rising demand for skilled manpower, the Pakistani envoy said more than 3 million Pakistanis were currently living in the Kingdom, however, 97 percent of them were “blue-collar workers.”

Saudi Arabia is currently developing its public service sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation and tourism as part of a strategic framework, Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the Kingdom’s economy beyond oil. The

Kingdom’s ambitious plan coincides with Pakistan’s efforts to boost trade and foreign investment to revive its fragile economy.

“Saudi authorities have advised us to improve vocational training for Pakistani workers to meet the standards required for upcoming projects,” Ambassador Farooq said, stressing the need to enhance training programs to equip these workers with modern technical skills.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are close regional partners, and the Kingdom remains the largest source of remittances to the South Asian country, contributing $7.5 billion in the last fiscal year (July 2023-June 2024), according to KCCI President Jawed Bilwani.

Saudi Arabia has also regularly provided Pakistan oil on deferred payments and offered direct financial support to help shore up Pakistan’s forex reserves.

KCCI Senior Vice President Zia-ul-Arfeen stressed the need to enhance joint ventures between the two countries, urging Islamabad to further improve the ease of doing business for foreign investors.

“Saudi investors should consider Pakistan for investments, particularly in the food sector,” he added.


Pakistan’s Noman Ali enters ICC Test rankings of top five bowlers

Updated 30 January 2025
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Pakistan’s Noman Ali enters ICC Test rankings of top five bowlers

  • Ali became 5th Pakistan bowler to grab a Test hat trick in Pakistan’s second Test against West Indies
  • India’s Jasprit Bumrah ranked number 1, followed by Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada and Josh Hazlewood

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani spinner Noman Ali has made it to the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Test rankings of top five bowlers, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Wednesday.

Ali shone with his brilliant performance in Pakistan’s two-match Test series against West Indies, becoming the fifth Pakistan bowler to grab a Test hat trick.

“He is currently the top-ranked spinner in the format after taking 16 wickets across two Tests vs West Indies,” the PCB said in a statement.

India’s Jasprit Bumrah is ranked number one Test bowler by the ICC, followed by Australian Pat Cummins, South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and Josh Hazlewood, also from Australia.

Pakistan triumphed in the first Test in Multan by 127 runs. The West Indies won the second Test in Multan by 120 runs to draw the series 1-1.

This was the West Indies first Test win in Pakistan in nearly 35 years. The last time the West Indies won a Test in Pakistan was in Faisalabad in November 1990, having gone winless on their 1997 and 2006 tours.


Pakistan voices security concerns over presence of US weapons in Afghanistan

Updated 30 January 2025
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Pakistan voices security concerns over presence of US weapons in Afghanistan

  • The weapons and equipment were reportedly left in the aftermath of a chaotic withdrawal of US and allied forces from Afghanistan in August 2021
  • Islamabad says it has repeatedly asked authorities in Kabul to take necessary measures to ensure these weapons do not fall into the wrong hands

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday voiced “profound concern” over the presence of advance United States (US) weapons in Afghanistan, which Washington has sought to be returned by Kabul’s Afghan Taliban rulers.

The weapons and equipment, coopted by the Afghan Taliban, were reportedly left behind in the aftermath of a chaotic withdrawal of US and allied forces from Afghanistan in August 2021. The previous administration of Joe Biden maintained that US forces had not left behind any equipment during the withdrawal that could be used by militants to target Pakistan.

However, President Donald Trump on Jan. 20 accused the Biden administration of giving “our military equipment, a big chunk of it, to the enemy,” conditioning Afghan aid to the return of these weapons. Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities on Wednesday called for the humanitarian aid not to be politicized.

“The presence of US advance weapons in Afghanistan, left behind in the aftermath of the withdrawal of its troops in August 2021, has been an issue of profound concern for the safety and security of Pakistan and its citizens,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.

“These weapons have been used by terrorist organizations, including the TTP [Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan], to carry out terrorist attacks in Pakistan.”

The statement came months after Pakistani security sources said custom authorities had seized a large cache of US-made weapons and ammunition worth approximately Rs35 million ($125,000) at a border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The weapons seized at the Torkham border crossing in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province included M4 rifles and magazines, security sources said in Oct. last year.

Pakistan has struggled to contain surging militancy in KP since a fragile truce between the Pakistani Taliban, or the TTP, and the state broke down in November 2022.

The TTP and other militant groups have frequently targeted security forces convoys and check-posts, besides targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials in recent months.

In 2024 alone, the Pakistani military reported that 383 soldiers and 925 militants were killed in various clashes.

“We have been repeatedly calling upon the de facto authorities in Kabul to take all necessary measures to ensure that these weapons do not fall into the wrong hands,” the foreign office added.

The development comes at a time of strained ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Islamabad has frequently blamed the surge in militancy on Afghanistan, accusing it of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement and insist that Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.


Lion cub gifted to Pakistani YouTube star causes wedding chaos

Updated 30 January 2025
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Lion cub gifted to Pakistani YouTube star causes wedding chaos

  • Rajab Butt has one of the largest online followings in the South Asian country and his week-long nuptials in late December were plastered over celebrity gossip websites
  • Pictures spread rapidly online when a sleepy lion cub was presented to him in a gold-chained cage in front of thousands of guests who partied late into the night in Lahore

LAHORE: A Pakistani YouTube star who was gifted a lion cub on his wedding day has avoided jail after promising a judge to upload animal rights videos for a year.

Rajab Butt has one of the largest online followings in the South Asian country and his week-long nuptials in late December were plastered over celebrity gossip websites.

When a sleepy lion cub, resembling young Simba from the 2019 “Lion King” film, was presented to him in a gold-chained cage in front of thousands of guests who partied late into the night in the eastern megacity of Lahore, pictures spread rapidly online.

Butt captioned a video of the event “it’s raining gifts,” racking up nearly 10 million views.

The morning after, police raided his house, confiscated the cub and kept the newly-wed in custody overnight.

“We found out about the lion cub through social media,” said Faisal Mushtaq, an inspector from the Punjab provincial wildlife department.

Police officers went to Butt’s house and found the lion cub roaming around the garage, he said.

“It was in a poor condition, as it was very cold,” said Mushtaq.

Lion cubs rest beside their mother at a safari zoo in Lahore on January 28, 2025. (AFP)

Last week, Butt pleaded guilty to owning an undocumented wild animal but the judge waived a possible fine and prison sentence of up to two years for a more tailored punishment.

Every month for one year, he must post a five-minute video dedicated to animal rights, said the order by judge Hamid Ul Rahman Nasir.

The social media influencer agreed to the conditions, after admitting in a court statement that he “set a poor example” by accepting the gift and going on to “glorify it.”

Butt is one of the country’s highest-paid YouTube stars, according to the platform, and usually posts videos about his family’s daily life, from arguments to new car purchases.

Tanvir Janjua, a veteran wildlife official in Punjab, said the cub was likely bought for between 700,000 and 800,000 Pakistani rupees ($2,500-$2,900).

“It is so wrong, morally and legally, to take away such a small cub from its mother,” which was likely still feeding it, he told AFP.

NEW REGULATIONS

A week after the YouTuber was arrested, an adult lion escaped from his cage, running through the narrow streets of a Lahore neighborhood as residents clambered to their rooftops.

The full-grown adult male was eventually shot dead by a security guard, prompting heated outrage on social media about the dangers of keeping a big cat in a residential area.

Big cats are imported and bred across Pakistan, seen as symbols of wealth and power to the elite that own them.

Last year, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, which rules the government, banned supporters from bringing lions — the symbol of the party — to political rallies.

However, stringent new regulations banning private ownership of big cats in residential areas are currently making their way through Punjab’s provincial government.

Breeders would have to buy a license and have at least 10 acres (four hectares) of land on a site approved by wildlife officials.

‘NEVER BE YOUR PET’

The gifted lion cub, which hasn’t been named, is now enjoying the winter sun in an open pen at Lahore’s sprawling Safari Zoo on the edge of the city, under the watchful eye of a handler.

Janjua, also the zoo’s deputy director, has conducted hundreds of raids against owners, breeders and poachers over the past 33 years to confiscate wild animals, including lions which often had their teeth and claws removed.

“Look at these YouTubers who use these animals to get clicks. What kind of a message are they spreading by being cruel to these animals?” he said, scornful of those who parade them in their cars and at political rallies.

“They can never be your pet. For two or three months it won’t say anything but after that, it will turn aggressive.”

As he nears retirement, Janjua says attitudes toward animals have worsened throughout his career. Laws, however, have improved, he says.

“Now wildlife officials have dedicated uniforms, weapons and we will get our own courts,” he told AFP.

“The courts that already exist are now strict about animal cruelty.”


Next two years ‘crucial’ for Pakistan to expand presence in key Saudi business sectors— envoy

Updated 30 January 2025
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Next two years ‘crucial’ for Pakistan to expand presence in key Saudi business sectors— envoy

  • Ahmad Farooq urges Pakistan to impart skills to its workforce in line with requirements of Saudi market
  • Says Pakistanis can enhance presence in Kingdom’s construction, IT, health care, hotels and hospitality sectors

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq this week said that the next two years are crucial for Pakistani entities to expand their presence in key Saudi business sectors, urging them to capitalize on Riyadh’s ambitious measures to make its economy less dependent on oil. 

Saudi Arabia is consolidating its economy on modern lines under the Vision 2030 program, which is a strategic development framework intended to cut the Kingdom’s reliance on oil. It is aimed at developing public service sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation and tourism.

Pakistan has pushed for greater trade and economic ties with the Kingdom in recent months. In October 2024, the two countries signed business agreements worth $2.8 billion. Saudi Arabia is also home to over two million Pakistani expatriates, serving as the largest source of foreign workers’ remittances for the South Asian nation. 

Farooq visited the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Wednesday to engage with Pakistani businesspersons and industrialists, a statement from the KCCI said. 

“Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq, while highlighting the massive transformation in Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030 focused on diversifying the economy beyond oil, emphasized that the next one to two years will be crucial for Pakistan in expanding its presence in Saudi Arabia,” the KCCI said. 

Farooq noted that the there would be “abundant opportunities” in Saudi Arabia’s construction, information technology, health care and hotels & hospitality sectors in the next two years.

He stressed the need for Pakistan to impart skills to its workforce so that they can secure employment in the Kingdom. 

“If we do not claim our share immediately, it will be taken by competitors but to achieve this, Pakistan needs to focus on improving its workforce by imparting training as per Saudi requirements.”

The Pakistani envoy stressed that Saudi Arabia aims to become a regional IT hub, creating a substantial demand for human resources and expertise. 

He said this presented Pakistan’s IT companies a “significant opportunity” to provide services and products to the rapidly growing sector. 

Farooq said Saudi Arabia will host four major international events in the next decade, namely the Asian Football Cup in 2027, the Asian Winter Games in 2029, the World Expo in Riyadh in 2030, and the FIFA World Cup in 2034.

“To support these events, Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in infrastructure, including the construction of 250 new hotels,” Farooq said. 

“This expansion creates opportunities for Pakistan’s home textile industry, food exports, and trained workforce in hospitality and housekeeping.”

He said mega construction projects in Saudi Arabia, such as Neom City, also presented opportunities for Pakistani contractors. 

“Companies from around the world are securing lucrative contracts, and Pakistan must also seize this opportunity,” Farooq said.