Need for new community centre stressed

Pakistani community members in Dubai have stressed the need to construct a new multi-purpose sports and recreation club building, as the existing one looks like a ruin.

Community members at a function hosted on Sunday by the Pakistan Professionals' Forum, lashed out at the management of the centre, and what they called the lackadaisical attitude of the Pakistan Consulate General, and successive Pakistan Association managing committee boards, for not making the community centre a place for the benefit of the community.

"We are ashamed of our centre as it looks like a ruin when compared with other community centres in the area. The place is used for self-projection by certain groups of people, not for the benefit of the community," participants said, while urging their affluent compatriots and corporate citizens to get together and play a role in building a real community centre for the benefit of all.

Responding to the call, Amanullah Larik, Consul General, said he was ready to take up the issue.

"There has been a lack of leadership. Now, we at the consulate will provide the leadership and help the community build the centre," he said. Larik assured the community members that he would call a meeting of leading Pakistani residents, including bankers, businessmen and professionals, to discuss the issue.

"Enough is enough, we have to act now. We will form a committee to construct the new building of the centre," he said.

He added that once the committee is formed, the affairs of managing the centre would be controlled by the consulate and not by the Pakistan Association, which would work under the umbrella of the centre and not as a supervising body.

"We will constitute a Board of Governors comprising leading community members and consular officials to construct and manage the centre.

"The practice of using it for personal projection will be checked and funds would be raised from all possible quarters to build a multi-purpose complex including restaurants, indoor games, separate offices for various wings, a community welfare section to help the destitute, restaurants, offices, hostel rooms, a dispensary and a display centre to exhibit Pakistani products."

Larik said he would not only ask the community members to pool money but would also request the Pakistan Government to donate some amount for this purpose, in addition to contributions from the consulate's community welfare funds.

The existing building of the Pakistan Sports and Recreational Club on Oud Metha Road was constructed in 1983 on a piece of land donated in 1974 by Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum, the late Ruler of Dubai.

The Pakistan Association Dubai was established in 1963 by expatriate Pakistanis to "highlight their national identity" and look after their socio-cultural welfare.

In addition to the existing dilapidated building, construction of a multi-purpose hall was started in the early 1990s when former federal minister of Pakistan, Ejazul Haq, laid the foundation stone.

Huge funds were raised and some Dh400,000 spent on the basic structure of the hall.

But, later, the issue was politicised because of the infighting of various groups, and lack of interest by the Pakistan mission. Construction stopped in 1994.

The money spent has also gone down the drain because now the centre needs to be reconstructed.

Larik, who has earned the trust of the community for his performance in projecting the community's image during the last two Dubai Shopping Festivals, said he was confident the community would respond positively.

"It is the first time the elite community members have shown their concern for the community centre project, and now we will try our best to get them involved," he said.