KARACHI, Aug 3: Announcing the city government’s plan to set up “Citizen Park Board” to manage the city’s parks in cooperation with citizens, City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has called for voluntary services by traders, industrialists, social workers and philanthropists for the formation of such boards.

He made the announcement during a visit to the Bagh Ibn-i-Qasim along with DCO Javed Hanif, EDO Investment and Promotion Dr Shahab Imam, EDO Works and Services Amanullah Chachar, Executive Director Parks Liaquat Ali Khan and other officials on Saturday night.

Mr Kamal said the city government had laid more than 15 family parks, besides the Bagh Ibn-i-Qasim Park, Jheel Park, National Park in a two-and-a-half year period, which was a record. However, he added, in order to ensure proper maintenance of these parks, it was imperative to associate citizens in managing these projects as all these facilities were meant for public.

He said the boards would be fully empowered to manage the affairs of parks. For selection of board members, he said preference would be given to horticulturists having some experience in gardening and related fields. However, separate boards would be formed for the city government parks.

Mr Kamal said that the boards for the “mohallah-level parks’ will consist of those living in the vicinity of the park.

“Bagh Ibn-i-Qasim is not only the city’s biggest park but also the most beautiful park of Asia,” he said, and called for its proper maintenance. He announced formation of a separate department for managing the affairs of the park which would have its office within the park area.—APP