Museum dept bars tenant from using park for commercial purposes

HYDERABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Mar, 2026) The Sindh Provincial Museum department has barred Khanabadosh Writers' Cafe from using Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Children's Park, located in the premises of Sindh Museum in Hyderabad, for commercial activities.

In a letter addressed to the cafe's management here on Monday, Director Zulfiqar Ali Panwar took notice of a video posted by Prof Amar Sindhu on her Facebook, advertising availability of space for organizing iftar and dinner events.Buffet tables surrounded by sofas with the park's grass covered under carpets were shown in the video which also provided contact number for commercial bookings.

Sindhu and her friend Prof Dr Arfana Mallah, both of whom are also human rights activists, had acquired a ground-floor structure in the park's premises on rent from the culture department in 2015.

The cafe was inaugurated in May, 2015. The department's Director noted that the park was being offered for commercial bookings for iftar parties and dinner events through a manager named Hubdar Ali.

"It is categorically stated that the said premises were allowed to you strictly and exclusively for the purpose of facilitating artists, writers and literary figures to organize cultural and literary activities for the promotion of arts and literature," Panwar stated.

"The allocation was never intended, either expressly or impliedly, for commercial exploitation, private bookings, or profit-oriented events," he reminded.

He reiterated that the park was public property for which the Sindh government was bearing all utility expenses, including electricity and water bills, besides maintenance and cleanliness expenditures. He said those expenditures were a burden on the public exchequer.

The Director also reminded the cafe's management that the provincial government had borne expenses for 'cleaning and restoration' of the park after their recent events, which had attracted thousands of visitors."Your act of publicly offering the premises for commercial bookings amounts to misuse of government property and violation of the understanding under which the space was provided," he stated.

Panwar warned that if the cafe's management continued their such activities, the department would have to initiate appropriate action, including recovery of proceedings in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.

He concluded the letter with a warning to immediately stop advertising, booking, or using the premises for commercial purposes, including iftar and dinner events or private gatherings.