KARACHI, Feb 26: President General Pervez Musharraf will inaugurate Bagh Ibn-i-Qasim on Tuesday. The city government claims it to be the largest park of the country, spread over 130 acres.

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, taking to newsmen in his secretariat on Monday, said that Bagh Ibn-i-Qasim had been completed after vacating a large portion of land worth over Rs50 billion from the allottees and land grabbers.

He said the city government had not only completed this park in a record time but also achieved another mega project. He said this place had been a no-go area for the last 20 years as a large number of people from different parts of the country visiting the beach had no access through this portion which was completely grabbed by encroachers and converted into an abode for drug peddlers.

He stated that the credit goes to Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan who visited this area and issued directives for developing this into a beautiful park.

The nazim said that some 22 influential persons had obtained illegal allotment of 70 acres, worth Rs50 billion, and built hundreds of shops and 14 houses.

The government had cancelled the unauthorized allotment and removed encroachments to lay this beautiful park. He said that similar park will also be laid in Landhi near Rehri Goth.

The park, Bagh Ibn-i-Qasim, is laid on 130 acres which will be opened to the public on February 28.

The park was completed in record 10-month time and also has a beautiful view of the sea at Kothari Parade.

The government has also built 24 wash-rooms besides installing ramps for handicapped people and eight counters of fast food which can accommodate 500 people. Around 200 private security guards have also been hired for the security of the park and visitors to discharge their duties round the clock.

The park has also a pond for turtles while in Horticulture Zoo over 100 plants have also been carved into different shapes of animals to attract the visitors.

Besides others, 20 stone canopies, 2,500 stone benches and 200 wooden benches, 1,000 dustbins, 1,000 small and 30 light towers as well as amusement park and playland for children in its vicinity.