PESHAWAR: The historic Chowk Yadgar, one of the famous places of Peshawar, has become a victim of negligence of the authorities concerned.

Despite tall claims, successive governments have failed to restore the past glory of Chowk Yadgar, once a source of attraction for scores of visitors from other parts of the country and even foreigners.

Presently, people in the vicinity also visit the place, but not for enjoying its beauty rather attending call of nature. The apathy of the authorities concerned can be judged from the fact that a major portion of Chowk Yadgar is being used as ‘public latrine’.

A lot of used toilet papers of different colours can be seen around its main minaret. The authorities have failed miserably to protect rescue this historical place from these unwanted visitors.

Located in the heart of the walled city and surrounded by tall buildings, Chowk Yadgar has also become a permanent abode of drug addicts, who could be seen sleeping. The pedestrians are forced to cover their noses while passing through this historic place to avoid foul smell.

The old name of Chowk Yadgar was Hastings Memorial. Famous historian SM Jaffar in his book ‘Peshawar; City on the Frontier’ states that Hasting Memorial was erected in 1892 in the memory of Col EC Hastings, who died on December 2, 1884.

In 1969, the square was named after the heroes of 1965 war. The structure of Chowk Yadgar was changed several times in the past. Till recent past, it was famous venue for political rallies and protest demonstrations.

Besides graffiti on the walls, the local people have turned a corner of Chowk Yadgar into a garbage dump. “The garbage is removed by the sanitation staff after two or three days,” a shopkeeper at the adjacent market told Dawn.

A vendor said that police should be deployed to stop people from misusing the historic place. He said that a fine of Rs500 should be imposed on any person, using the place for attending call of nature. He said that people would not dare to misuse the historic place if punishment was awarded to them.

A shopkeeper at the adjacent Ander Shehr Bazaar told this scribe that they also placed barbed wire to stop people from misusing the historic place but in vain. “Municipal Corporation Peshawar should declare it a public latrine to earn money if it is unable to stop people from misusing it,” he added.

Municipal Corporation Peshawar (MCP) has contracted out the parking lot in the basement of Chowk Yadgar at Rs30 million for this year. “If MCP is earning millions of rupees every year through it then why it has turned a blind eye to the sanitation of this historic place,” questioned a shopkeeper.

MCP Chief Municipal Officer Javed Amjad, when contacted, said that Chowk Yadgar was washed by the sanitation staff several time recently and asked the shopkeepers in the adjacent markets to stop misusing it but in vain.

“I will try to depute a sanitation worker permanently there to stop this practice,” Mr Amjad said.