KARACHI, Oct 16: Beaches and coastal areas are the most attractive places of recreation in Karachi not only for local and foreign tourists, but also for its citizens.
On weekends and special occasions these beaches witness huge crowds of picnickers as they treat rich and the poor equally by giving free access to all of them. But all such joys turn into tragedies when precious lives are lost due to callous and irresponsible attitude of the authorities, who have failed to make adequate arrangement of watch towers, safeguards and proper fencing in dangerous zones. Every now and then, one or another picnicker falls prey to high tide of sea, particularly when it is rough, while swimming or enjoying a walk in the surfing water of deep sea.
These views were expressed by the leaders of political parties while commenting on Gadani beach tragedy in which 16 youths lost their life one after another in an effort to rescue their two friends.
Expressing sympathies with the bereaved families, they called upon the authorities to take immediate measures for necessary surveillance, deploying safeguards and fencing the dangerous coastal area unsafe for swimming or a walk.
Pakistan Workers’ Party Senior Vice-President Yusuf Masti Khan said besides putting up signboards of danger and fencing the area where sea waves turn into whirlpool, police should also be deployed on holidays and festive occasions when hundreds of families not only from the city but also from other parts of the country throng the beaches.
He suggested that the government should make use of cable television channels for creating awareness among people about the risks involved in swimming and walking in deep sea, particularly when it is rough or there are odds of a high tide.
Additional Information Secretary of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Sardar Rahim said the lives of picnickers could have been saved if the government had acted responsibly.
He said beaches were the only place where people from all sections of society could enjoy free of cost. However, he regretted that the authorities had failed to realise their responsibility and despite the reports of drowning no practical step had been taken to lessen the chances of such accidents. He said had there been a watch tower and proper deployment of trained safeguards, the lives of picnickers would have been saved.
Commenting on the issue, eminent politician Mairaj Muhammad Khan suggested the government to set up swimming training institute in coastal areas like Gadani where lifeguards and local youth could get proper training so that their services could be hired on weekends, holidays and festive occasions.
Pakistan People’s Party leader and MPA Rafique Engineer said Gadani beach is located in Lasbela district constituency of the chief minister of Balochistan. The Sindh government, including the City district government and cantonments, ought to approach the Balochistan government and urge them to take proper safety measures to avoid recurrence of such tragedies in future.
Pakistan Labour Party’s central committee member Nasir Mansoor said with increasing commercialisation high-rise buildings had replaced the natural beauty spots and deprived people of clean and healthy environment over the years. Due to dwindling recreation and picnic spots in the metropolis, people had started visiting the nearest beaches. Gadani being one of the most attractive spots amongst all drew huge crowds, however, the authorities despite well aware of the growing number of picnickers have failed to deliver by making proper arrangement to avoid such tragedies.
