KARACHI, Sept 11: About 35 houses and shops have been illegally built on a park in union council No 4, Khokhrapar, along Malir Extension Police Station. Inquiries revealed that the land was allotted for the park in 1984, but it could not be properly utilized. A number of cattle pens, earlier established on the ST-11 ground, were removed during an operation launched by a former KMC coordinator and PPP leader Mohammad Hussain. But houses and shops are still there. These encroachments emerged after the establishment of the police station.

As encroachments are hampering development of this park, area people have demanded retrieval of the land.

A majority of the parks in Malir are facing neglect, and are falling prey to encroachers.

The parks are in a pathetic condition owing to lack of interest on the part of the town administration.

Inquiries revealed that of the 15 major parks, at least seven parks are still undeveloped and no plans have been chalked out to rehabilitate them.

“Owing to the lack of commitment on the part of the town administration, parks are fast falling prey to land grabbers”, said a social worker.

Although the city government had decided to build one park in each union council, only Hakim Saadat Park was developed while at least two were renovated, but a majority of the parks and playgrounds still need attention of the government.

At least seven parks were developed about 15 years back by the then MPA Aijaz Ahmed.

The parks and playgrounds which are still undeveloped included Mufid-i-Aam; Quaid-i-Azam ground, Sheet 27 Model Colony, Kazimabad and Nishtarabad and district council ground. All these parks may fall prey to land grabbers, if no measures are taken to safeguard them.

The area social welfare organizations have time and again be pointing towards shortage of open spaces and stress the need for their protection, but the land department is not taking interest to safeguard the government land. Now when the chief secretary has ordered action against land grabbers, the area people are waiting for practical measures by the government.