The house of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, at Malabar Hill in Mumbai has been handed over to the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and part of it will be used for cultural activities, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

"The property has since been renamed ICCR Mumbai branch office," Minister of State for External Affairs Digvijay Singh told the House in a written reply.

He said the proposal was to have a small auditorium, library, reading room, seminar room and an arts gallery in the house, which successive Pakistani governments over the years have been asking for the purpose of a consulate in the metropolis.