October 1, 2007	Monday	Ramazan 18, 1428

KARACHI, Sept 30: The city government’s parks and horticulture department has identified 110 underdeveloped parks and open spaces in Clifton, Gulistan-i-Jauhar and Surjani towns as a part of its plans to make the city green.

Out of 110 spots, 16 have been identified in Clifton with a range of size from 0.94 acre to 8.13 acres; 42 ranging from 0.06 acre to 3.93 acres in Gulistan-i-Jauhar and 42 parks and open spaces ranging from 0.21 acre to 14.27 acres in Surjani Town.

Sources said the parks and horticulture department had forwarded its recommendations for the development of these schemes in order to curb the alarmingly declining ratio of greenery in Karachi.

Officials have already cited Baldia, Lyari and Liaquatabad as the towns where greenery is far less than other towns of the metropolis. According to an official document, the city has not enough parks and the deficiency is particularly true for the heavily built-up areas of Liaquatabad, Lyari, Kharadar and their immediate surroundings. Wherever facilities exist they are ill-maintained and substandard, according to the document.

The towns like Korangi and North Karachi have ratios lower than other towns i.e. 0.17 acre and 0.19 acre per 1,000 persons respectively. Even lesser are the ratios of Liaquatabad and Lyari; each offering 0.06 acre land for recreational activities of thousand persons on an average. Baldia with a ratio of 0.03 acre is the most deprived town of the city as far as recreational facilities are concerned.