17 February 2004	Tuesday	25 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Feb 16: Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Park in block 10 of Gulshan-i-Iqbal has become a glaring example of the city government's Parks and Horticulture Department's neglect. Some parts of the park are in continuous use of drug addicts while some other have become dumping sites for garbage.

Developed in 1970s, the park was dedicated to general public for rest and recreation and had been maintained for the sole purpose till several years back by the concerned civic agencies. It has now lost due attention by the authorities.

At a meeting, presided over by City Nazim Naimatullah Khan in October 2001, it was decided that a comprehensive plan would be evolved to restore the park to its original status and improve conditions of 19 other big parks in the city which had fallen prey to the neglect of the now defunct KMC.

At present, the city government has to manage some 34 parks out of which 14 are in good condition while the reset need immediate attention. According to a proposed plan, encroachments over a total of some 20 acres would be removed and recreating facilities, like swimming pools, health clubs, etc., would be established within the park sites.

There is a large number of parks completely encroached upon by builders of illegal structures. Even the legal status of many such amenity plots has to be re-established now because they exist on papers only and highrise buildings, dwellings, shops, stalls, etc., stand on the sites.

Despite passage of more than two years, nothing has so far been done to restore these 20 neglected park sites or improve conditions there though they are located in posh areas of the city.

Following collapse of walls at some places, people had started dumping domestic waste and garbage into the affected portions of Aziz Bhatti Park. The situation worsened when the practice continued unabated and over the last few years, these portions of the park fully converted into garbage dumping sites creating an ugly look as well as foul smell affected those living around.

Finally, drug addicts made them their abode. The roads surrounding the park are also in shambles due to frequent movement of leaking water tankers. - PPI