M A Ahed Profile Page | World Architecture Community

M. A. Ahed (Mohammad Abdul Ahed) (1919 - 2001), was born at Hyderabad Deccan Andhra Pradesh . During his school years, he used to draw and paint and often submitted his work for local competitions, occasionally winning an award. When he passed high school, he wanted to study painting. His elder brother however arranged for him to go to the Sir J.J. School of Art, Bombay, in 1940, on condition that he study architecture, painting being considered a not too viable profession to make a living.
Although he was offered a job in Bombay, he chose to return to Hyderabad in 1943 and joined the Town Planning Department there. In 1948 he proceeded to the United Kingdom to continue his studies in architecture at the Leicester College of Arts and Technology, an institute affiliated with the University of London. He obtained his Diploma in Architecture in 1950, and was subsequently elected Associate Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA). During this period he also worked at the Leicestershire County Council and remembers the hardships of the post-World War II years.
In 1951 he came to Karachi and joined the Pak PWD under Mehdi Ali Mirza, the doyen of Pakistani architects. Ahed remained at the Pak PWD for nearly 14 years, the last six as senior architect. During this period he was responsible for designing several important buildings for the government in both East and West Pakistan. Together with Mirza, he helped establish the first school of architecture in Karachi.