BAHAWALNAGAR, Oct 2: Roaming donkeys, stagnant water, broken jogging tracks and crumbling boundary walls.

This is Khalid Maqbool Park, which was established in 2004 on the directions of then governor Khalid Maqbool in 2004.

The park covering 6.2 acres was established initially with Rs4.7 million. Another Rs1 million were spent on its maintenance within two years, says municipality staff.

In its early days, the park had a boundary wall, two gates, a jogging track, proper lights and lush green lawns.

The municipality, however, did not hire any caretaker, watchman and gardener to look after the facility. Local residents also did not own the park.

As a result, the people not only broke the boundary walls, but also stole iron bars and fences. The administration played the role of a silent spectator.

Ayaz, a resident of the locality, said the park would be the favorite hangout of the youth of the area providing them a place for healthy activities.

Another denizen of the area and sports fan Irfan said since there was an acute shortage of recreational venues and playgrounds in Bahawalnagar, the restoration of the park was a burning demand of the people of the area.

Mahmood Husain Najaf, a lawyer of the area, demanded that the administration take measures for the revival of the park in the best interest of the area people.

Tehsil Municipal Officer Arshad Virk blamed the lack of civic sense among people and the shortage of resources for the poor state of the park.

He said the TMA had an acute shortage of staff so it could not appoint gardeners and a caretaker for the park.

District Coordination Officer Malik Ashraf Awan said a Rs30 million proposal was being prepared for the maintenance and renovation of the park. He called the park an ill-conceived project set up at water-logged area.

He said he was thinking to establish a fish pond on one fourths land of the park. He said he asked the Parks and Horticulture Authority of Lahore to prepare a feasibility report for the park.