DAWN - Features; 09 February, 1998
A poor country with a grandiose capital
M. Ziauddin
PAKISTAN is situated at a distance of some 15 kilometres from Islamabad. That is how diplomats in the capital joke about the unexpectedly majestic splendour that sets Islamabad apart from the impoverished, dirt poor mainland Pakistan.
Stretching the joke to its farcical point, they say that some 5 kilometres from Islamabad you come across the country's real seat of power - the Constitution Avenue, rolling away from the foot of the picturesque Margalla Hills. A stroll or a drive down the avenue takes you to a different world. A world of picture-postcard grandeur.
The federal secretariat, the presidency, the parliament, the supreme court, the prime minister's secretariat, the Pakistan revenue service, the foreign office, a number of embassies etc, line the CA. An imperial setting all the way.
The first time I entered the presidency, I felt as if I had stepped into a Moghul palace. The route to the lift located down the sprawling lobby was lined on the two sides with smartly turned out guards standing statue like. But even before I could complete my walk up to the lift, I felt nauseated. What kind of a show of royal pomp is this? For whom? By whom? This is not the palace of some mediaeval middle eastern monarch, but the house of the president of a modern-day democratic but impoverished country. It would perhaps be a rare Pakistani, whatever be his background, who would not feel guilty finding himself inside this imperial building.
The inside of the presidency is royal. Tall beams, high ceilings, sprawling halls, rich carpets, luxurious furniture, expensive fixtures. The presidential secretariat which is housed inside the presidency is as elaborate as perhaps that of an all powerful president rather than a ceremonial head of state. The staff of the presidency which perhaps runs into hundreds enjoys a magnificent locale and free lunch and high tea. The total annual burden on the upkeep of this grand palace and its occupants is estimated to be around Rs15 million, minus the salaries. What a colossal waste for a country which, for want of resources, is finding it impossible to send even one quarter of its children to school!
Why cannot we reduce the presidential secretariat to the barest minimum, close down the building except those parts which are needed to house the family of the president and his offices?
The capital cost of this palace has become almost irrelevant today because it was constructed back in mid-1980s. But the amount spent on the construction of the recently inaugurated PM secretariat is so fantastic that it is unbelievable. The annual recurring upkeep cost of the secretariat is estimated at Rs75 million which works out to be about 7 per cent of the capital cost.
At Rs2670 per square foot, excluding the cost of the land, the construction cost of the PM Secretariat has been estimated as the highest ever spent on building a public structure in Pakistan. Its ornate finishes and opulent fittings, imported chandeliers add a thick touch of royalty to this building. Completed at a cost of more than a billion rupees (Rs1.10 billion, approximately), excluding the cost of land, the PM Secretariat is spread over 370,456 sq ft. And it is designed to house a staff of 180, including 40 for maintenance and operations. Who said anything about downsizing of the government?
Originally, the PM Secretariat was to be constructed at a total cost of Rs170.24 million within the plot boundary of the PM House. Later in 1991, it was decided to shift the site to the Constitution Avenue and a new PC-1 was approved for Rs570.50 million in March 1993. It was at this time that special finishes like granite/marble floor, wall cladding in red sandstone, bullet proof glass, marble work/finishes and imported chandeliers were added to the project.
"The architectural style of a new PM Secretariat evokes memories of the Moghul and Islamic splendour. We have kept this theme in mind throughout our design concept for the interior. We have not only tried to incorporate a Moghul touch but also tried to encompass a wider Islamic theme with echoes of Moroccan and Arabic artistic touches. The furniture and furnishing are to be the top quality and finishes. The office areas are practical and yet dignified and the special areas are regal and imposing as they should be," said the revised PC1 in August 1994.
Iranian tulip-shaped chandeliers are installed in the main offices. In the two floors of the secretariat that house the offices of the prime minister and his personal staff, the doors have lattice-work with touches of gold in places and inlay work. These floors are all white with effect similar to the one that is evident in buildings in Yemen. All furniture is made of top-quality sheesham. Fabrics and upholstery, too, are of top quality and heavy duty. Raw silk and leather have been used for the prime minister's office area and all other VIP locations.
According to a 1995 PC-1, the prime minister's office table costs Rs275,848 while the credenza (sideboard) near the table is priced at Rs116,204 and the bookshelf in the office is worth Rs245,784. In the "Darbar Hall" the main coffee table is worth Rs209,000. The pre-function area on the ground floor has four s-shaped "love seat" sofas, each costing Rs23,600. Wall hangings cost one million rupees and the calligraphic paintings Rs1.20 million. The costliest area in the building is perhaps the banquet hall which has furniture and furnishing worth Rs10 million, followed by the VIP waiting lounge (Rs3.72 million), the cabinet room (Rs3.41 million) and the PM's office (Rs3.17 million). In addition, nearly Rs10 million worth of visitors' chairs, Rs7 million worth of office tables, Rs3 million worth of file racks and Rs2.2 million worth of office chairs have been purchased.
Who sanctioned this massive waste of national resources and on what grounds? And who made how much on this project? Right questions to be asked in the parliament!