Address Saddar, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan Similar Karachi Club, Mövenpick Hotel Karachi, Meezan Bank Ltd, Avari Towers, Pearl Continental Hotel | ||
Hina palace is an apartment building located in the heart of Karachi City, close to Cantt Station Karachi. The building is located on Hoshang Road, close to Karachi Club, Clifton Bridge and Clifton Flyover, Frere Hall and Karachi Cantonment Railway Station.
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Construction and statistics
Construction began in 1984. All three buildings are 50 feet tall with ground plus four floors. It consists of 94 apartments comprising two and three bedrooms depending on type. There is no elevator in any of these buildings. The three buildings are
Maintenance is collected monthly by an elected committee called Hina Palace Flat Owners Welfare Committee. The apartment has its own masjid named "Masjid-e-Hina", where prayer is held five times a day.
The building front is located on Hoshang Road, and is connected by two separate entrance gates, of which one remains closed as it is converted in motorcycle parking.
Maintenance
The building faces serious maintenance issues, with respect to water, electrical wiring, paint and leaking sewage lines. Due to crisis faced from the KWSB, the maintenance committee in 2011 decided to go forward with boring and get a sustained supply of water, but the water supplied is not fit for drinking and plantation and hence can only be used for washing clothes and bathing. As a result, between 2011 and 2012, all metal-body water tanks in the apartments were switched with plastic water tanks along with the pipes for sewage and water supply, hence raising the cost of maintenance in high-inflation economy.
The second important issue is the depleting condition of maintenance. The building is in dire need of paint works, last paint being done in 2005–06. However, the maintenance committee strives to protect the falling conditions; however, they were unable to keep up with it due to frequent change of hands.
The building wiring caught fire twice during 2010, and the electricity had to be cut for almost twenty-four hours each time.
The building has three guards which operate round the clock and keep an eye on the things.
On 14 August, the Independence day of Pakistan is celebrated since 1997 and the youth take an active part in performing a musical evening worth remembering. The kids present tableau, sing and dance to the live music, professional singers are also hired to play. Separate portion for ladies and gents are kept. Eatables were served for the first time in 2008. Since 2009, 14 August is falling in the midst of the holy month of Ramadan, which is why this festive night was postponed over the period between 2009 till 2012.