KARACHI, March 15: The City Nazim, Syed Mustafa Kamal, has directed officials concerned to ensure completion of development work at Bagh Ibne Qasim by the month’s end and forthwith start work on beautification of the four-kilometre long coastal belt to make it better recreational place.

He issued these directives while undertaking a three-hour visit to Bagh Ibne Qasim, Jehangir Kothari Parade, shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi, Clifton Beach Park and other localities near the seaside on Wednesday evening.

The DCO Karachi Fazalur Rehman, EDO Works and Services Sarfaraz Ali Shah, DO Parks Liaquat Ali and other officials accompanied the nazim.

The nazim said work on developing the Karachi beach as one of the best and beautiful beaches of the world was in full swing and it would be competed soon.

He informed that development of Bagh Ibne Qasim, which had been abandoned for several years, was being carried out in a way that it looked part of the Jehangir Kothari Parade.

About 75 per cent work on Bagh Ibne Qasim has been achieved.

The bagh will have swings, a fun land for children, 400 coconut palm trees, walkways, greenbelts besides over 200 Victorian benches.

The nazim further informed that uplift work on a four-kilometre long belt ahead of the Clifton Beach Park had also begun, which would enable people to get a view of the sea from their vehicles from the road along it.

He asked concerned officials to also arrange a band at the Clifton Beach Park and beach so that picnickers could enjoy pleasant melodies.

He said the city with a population of over 15 million lacked recreational facilities, adding that land allocated for the purpose in the past had been occupied by encroachers, but now parks and recreational spots would be developed on them.—PPI