Frere Hall

Frere Hall is one of the few well-preserved buildings from the days of the British Raj that still exists in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It was built in honor of Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere (1815-1884), who was known for promoting economic development in Karachi. In the days of the British Rule, Frere hall served as a Town Hall and was the hub of Karachi’s socio cultural activities. This handsome Venetian Gothic building was built to commemorate the Commissioner-ship of Sir Bartley Frere and his elevation to the Viceroy’s Council in 1859. Construction of the building was commenced in August 1863 and was completed in 1865. The ground floor houses a fine public library named Liaquat National Library (after Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan, first Pakistani Prime Minister). It is one of the largest libraries of Karachi, contains over seventy thousand books, including rare and hand written manuscripts, newspapers, dictionaries. The upper floor serves as an art gallery containing masterpieces of Pakistan’s famous calligrapher and painter Sadequain. Park suurounding the main building is known as Bagh-e-Jinnah (Jinnah Park). Situated almost in the centre of Karachi, across the street from the Marriott Hotel and the US Consulate, and adjacent to the Sind Club, the building itself forms the centrepiece of a park known as Bagh-e-Jinnah (Jinnah Gardens). It is very green and beautiful. People come and relax here in free time. Due to security concerns, as well as the incidence of the US Consulate, which faces Frere Hall, the park has largely been declared off-limits to the general public.